Atwater High School Agriculture Courses

(Integrated)  Ag Biology
Prerequisites: 9th through 12th grade students

This life science course emphasizes laboratory, “hands-on” learning and problem solving skills. Course content includes cells, energy, transformations, genetics, DNA, genetic engineering, evolution, human systems, and ecology.

The classroom and course content matches the AHS Biology course content, however this course also qualifies students to participate in all local, state, and national FFA events/activities throughout the  year as an official state and national FFA member.

This course meets AHS graduation and UC/CSU “D” credit for admissions

​This course meets CTE Agriscience pathway concentration course credit

Agriscience Pathway Courses


Ag Biology                  Ag Earth Science                  Agriculture & Soil Chemistry

Ag Earth Science
Prerequisites: 9th through 12th grade students

This physical science college laboratory course is designed to provide students with quantitative analysis and experimental tools that will enable them to critically analyze content knowledge in the areas of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy.

The classroom and course content matches the AHS Earth Science course content, however this course also qualifies students to participate in all local, state, and national FFA events/activities throughout the  year as an official state and national FFA member.


This course meets AHS graduation and UC/CSU “G” credit for admissions

​This course meets CTE Agriscience pathway concentration course credit

Agriculture and Soil Chemistry​    
Prerequisites: Ag Biology, Ag Earth Science, and/or equivalent / 10th through 12th grade students

This course explores the physical and chemical nature of soil as well as the relationships between soil, plants, animals and agricultural practices. Students will examine properties of soil and land and their connections to plant and animal production. Using knowledge of scientific protocols as well as course content, students will develop an Agriscience research program to be conducted throughout the first semester of the course.To complete that whole project each student will investigate and test an Agriscience research question by formulating a scientific question related to the course content, formulating a hypothesis based on related research, conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis, collecting quantitative data, and forming a conclusion based on analysis of the data. The result of this research program will be an in depth research and experimentation paper that is technically written, based on scientific protocol, and cited using APA formatting. Additionally, students will develop and present a capstone soil management plan for agricultural producers, using the content learned throughout the course​

The classroom and course content is a UC Curriculum Integration (UCCI) course, and this course also qualifies students to participate in all local, state, and national FFA events/activities throughout the  year as an official state and national FFA member.


This course meets AHS graduation and UC/CSU "D" credit for admissions  (UCCI course)

​This course meets CTE Agriscience pathway capstone course credit