College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Agricultural Economics
Type: W
Status: Approved
REPORT ON CERTIFICATION OF W COURSE: AGEC 117
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 9/1/20 to 9/1/24
Thank you for submitting AGEC 117 Thinking and Decision Making in Agricultural Economics as a W course. It has been approved by the Faculty Senate for four academic years (9/20 to 9/24). We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 100% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 3250; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:50; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
AGEC 117 is a one-credit course. Five assistants help with the course, and the instructor is primarily responsible for teaching. Writing includes a public policy research paper, with separate sections turned in and graded separately: an analysis of national public policy; an analysis of regional public policy; and summary and conclusions. Students also write a resume and a cover letter and reports on guest lecturers’ video presentations. Formative feedback includes written instructor comments on a rough draft of the public policy research paper. Students submit written reports on video presentations. The class lecture time, one hour a week, is devoted to writing and professional development. Topics covered include introductions, citations in research, memorandums, ag policy papers, writing economic analysis, proper conclusion, interview skills, virtual interviews, handling criticism.