Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture
Kristen Govoni Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and Director, Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture
The Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture confers Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Animal Science, Plant Science, and Urban Forestry and Arboriculture. This two-year program of technical and applied education is only available at the Storrs campus. The School was established in 1941 by the University of Connecticut through a bequest from Mr. Ratcliffe Hicks of Tolland, Connecticut.
Students include recent high school graduates as well as adults who are interested in continuing education or a career change. Course work offers a balance between technical and theoretical aspects of each subject with emphasis on hands-on learning.
Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture graduates have the skills and knowledge to enter challenging and exciting careers. They are highly qualified for competitive positions and often manage or own businesses and production operations. Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture graduates can also continue their education and pursue baccalaureate or higher degrees.
Scholarships
The Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture offers scholarships for qualified individuals entering the two-year program. Selected applicants receive up to $1,500 toward educational expenses in their first semester. Based on academic performance, scholarships may be renewed for three additional semesters.
Incoming students are automatically reviewed for scholarships prior to entering the program. Selection is based on academic and career-related accomplishments, and potential for continued success.
Many scholarships in Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources are available to Ratcliffe Hicks students, for more information please see: grow.uconn.edu.
Field Trips and Transportation Costs
Many courses require off-campus field trips. Students should budget money for participation.
University Fees and Expenses
For fees and expenses, see statement under Undergraduate Fees and Expenses.
Faculty Advisors
Faculty advisors are assigned to students upon entry into the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture according to a student’s major and area of special interest. Advisors assist students in the selection of appropriate courses and help them develop an individualized program that will meet educational and career goals. The Ratcliffe Hicks Director’s Office and Academic Advisory Center provide additional support to faculty advisors and students.
Registration
Ratcliffe Hicks students are restricted primarily to Ratcliffe Hicks courses, numbered 100-999. Ratcliffe Hicks students may register for 1000-level courses listed in the Associate Degree requirements, and all courses within TOI-5.
Ratcliffe Hicks students must have approval of the advisor and Director to register for courses not listed in the "Associate Degree Requirements" and/or not listed in TOI-5. Inappropriate registration may result in administrative changes to a student’s schedule or credit restrictions toward graduation requirements.
Majors
The Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture students major in Plant Science, Animal Science, or Urban Forestry and Arboriculture.
Plant Science majors may concentrate in ornamental horticulture, turfgrass management, or sustainable crop production. Graduates pursue careers in golf course management, sports turf management, floriculture, landscape and grounds maintenance, greenhouse and garden center operations, nursery management, interiorscaping, park and land management, public horticulture or various positions within the entire food crop production chain from field to fork.
Animal science majors focus on equine studies or production agriculture, including both dairy and livestock. Graduates seek positions in the horse industry, production enterprises, animal health, breeding and genetics, nutrition, meat science and food handling, or related industries.
Urban Forestry and Arboriculture majors focus on the care and maintenance of individual trees and urban forest tracts near buildings, roads, and other developments. This major provides students with needed vocational skills to pursue a career in arboriculture and urban forest management, including the knowledge required to sit for the CT Arborist license exam.
Admission Requirements
Admission is open to qualified graduates of approved secondary schools. For required courses and units, please refer to the Admission section of this Catalog. Foreign language study is not required for admission into the two-year program; college preparatory level courses are recommended, but not required.
Applicants follow the same process as other undergraduate programs at UConn. Applicants submit the Common Application or the UConn Admission Application, high school transcript, SAT or ACT scores, and personal essay, which is included in the application. Applicants are encouraged to emphasize their interest, experience, and career goals when completing the essay and activities sections of the application. Applicants with prior post-secondary course work must submit official college transcripts. Applicants who are not graduates of a secondary school must present a copy of a State Equivalency Diploma and a personal statement.
Students from some New England states may be eligible to enroll in the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture at a reduced tuition rate through the New England Regional Student Program. Eligibility for Associate degree programs in Animal Science, Plant Science, and in Urban Forestry and Arboriculture are described in the Admissions section of this Catalog.
Non-Degree Study
Individuals interested in obtaining specific skills and knowledge relating to the many diverse areas of plant, forestry, and animal science may also register for Ratcliffe Hicks courses as non-degree students. Non-degree students do not have to apply for formal admission to the University.
Transfer to Four-Year Program
Approximately 60 percent of Ratcliffe Hicks graduates continue their education to earn baccalaureate or higher degrees. Students must complete the A.A.S. program to transfer into the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources or other baccalaureate programs at the University. Students should contact the Ratcliffe Hicks Director’s Office to obtain an application and verify procedures. The Ratcliffe Hicks School will review applications for transfer and submit recommendations to the Transfer Admissions Office and the Registrar’s Office for final decisions. Admission decisions will be based primarily on courses completed in the School and earned grade point average (minimum 2.7). Students transferring to a baccalaureate program at the University of Connecticut will receive transfer credit for courses based on the following criteria:
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Ratcliffe Hicks courses (three-digit courses in SAAG, SAAS, SANR, SAPL, SAPB, SARE) with passing grades will be applied to the baccalaureate program except as noted below. Course equivalency is determined by departmental review.
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If a passing grade is earned, the following courses allow for credit transfer, but grades do not: SAPB 301 Health and Disease Management of Animals , SAPL 991 Internship .
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Baccalaureate courses (four-digit course numbers) with passing grades will be applied to baccalaureate program.
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Courses graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory or pass/fail with passing grades will be applied to the baccalaureate program.
Associate Degree Requirements
Upon recommendation of the faculty, the degree of Associate of Applied Science is awarded by vote of the Board of Trustees to students who have met the following requirements:
- earned a total of 60 degree credits;
- earned at least a 2.0 grade point average for the total number of calculable credits for which they have registered;
- passed all courses required by the faculty of the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture; and
- earned at least 40 credits at the University of Connecticut in Ratcliffe Hicks courses numbered 100-999. Transfer students may be eligible for an exception with approval of the Director.
All students must pass the following courses to earn the Associate of Applied Science Degree. No single course can be used to satisfy more than one requirement.
Ratcliffe Hicks Common Curriculum Requirements
Common Curriculum requirements for Ratcliffe Hicks students differ from University Common Curriculum requirements for baccalaureate students.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| SAAG 250 | First Year Student Seminar | 1 |
| Writing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Academic Writing | ||
| Seminar and Studio in Writing and Multimodal Composition | ||
| Seminar in Academic Writing | ||
| Seminar in Writing through Literature | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1011Q | Introductory College Algebra and Mathematical Modeling (or higher - based on SAT scores) | 3 |
| Topics of Inquiry | ||
| At least nine credits of Topic of Inquiry coursework 1 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
- 1
The courses must be from three different Topics of Inquiry (TOI) selected from TOI 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, at least three of which must be from TOI 5. The courses must also represent at least three different subject areas as designated by subject code (e.g., ANTH).
Pass/Fail
Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture students who have earned at least 24 credits and are not on academic notice may place a course, for no more than four credits, on Pass/Fail. Credits earned from a Pass/Fail course may be used toward the total credit requirement for the Associate of Applied Science degree, but cannot be used to meet any other graduation requirement.
Supplementary Scholastic Standards
The Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture follows the same academic regulations and procedures regarding scholastic standards and academic notice as all other schools and colleges of the University except:
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Ratcliffe Hicks students are on academic notice for the next semester in which they are enrolled if their academic performance is such that they have earned less than a 2.0 semester grade point average or cumulative grade point average. No warning semester is permitted.
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Students who are dismissed from the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture for the first time may, upon approval, matriculate no sooner than one semester following dismissal.