AFNR Course Descriptions & Outlines

ISBE Career Pathways in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (AFNR)
Click on a pathway to view career titles or click on a course title to view the description and outline. Course outlines for newly added courses are currently in development and will be posted soon. Printable version - 2024-25 AFNR Course Matrix and FY23 Course Descriptions. For assistance, contact a FCAE program advisor.

AFNR State Curriculum Index identifying 834 lesson plan titles.
ISBE Work-Based Learning Manual. Teacher qualifications are listed on page 26.
Suggested list of courses that can fulfill academic graduation requirements in science, consumer education, math, and social studies. School Code that allows you to use CTE classes to count for academic Credit: code
Industry-Recognized Credentials Running List
AFNR Standards
AFNR Model of Study and AFNR Competencies
Essential Skills
NCAA Approval for Agricultural Courses and Recording

Illinois Career Programs in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources These career programs are focused on the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products or resources. Quality AFNR programs utilize the Three Circle Model. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral program component for le adership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. All career and technical education programs provide students opportunities for practical application of academic concepts. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) emphasizes student achievement in science, English language arts, and mathematics. To assist local education agencies in selecting courses best suited for this purpose, specific CTE courses with emphasis on these subjects have been highlighted below. Courses best suited for science applications are shown in yellow, mathematics are shown in blue, and English language arts are shown in orange. Local boards of education may allow CTE courses to be substituted for graduation requirements. Refer to 105 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/27-22 and 105 ILCS 5/27-22.05 for more information.

Science Applications

Math Applications

ELA Applications

	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
	01.0101	01.0901	01.0000	15.0507	01.0401	03.0101	01.0601	01.0201
	Agribusiness Systems	Animal Systems	Biotechnology Systems	Environmental Service Systems	Food Products and Processing Systems	Natural Resource Systems	Plant Systems	Power, Structural and Technical Systems
GROUP 1: ORIENTATION COURSES (Minimum Selection: One course from Group 1 or 2)
	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture	Exploring Food &Agriculture
	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR	Principles of AFNR
	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR	STEM In AFNR
	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration	Career Exploration
GROUP 2: INTRODUCTORY COURSES
	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry	Introduction to the Agricultural Industry
	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)	Foundational Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science	Basic Agricultural Science
	Basic Agricultural Business	Basic Animal Science	Basic Biotechnology	Basic Environmental Science	Basic Food Processing	Basic Natural Resource Management	Basic Horticultural Science	Basic Agricultural Mechanics
	Applied Mathematics in Agriculture	Agricultural Biology	Agricultural Biology	Agricultural Biology	Agricultural Biology	Agricultural Biology	Agricultural Biology	Applied Mathematics in Agriculture
		Basic Biological Science Applications in Agriculture - Animals		Basic Physical Science Applications in Agriculture			Basic Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA)- Plants	Basic Physical Science Applications in Agriculture
GROUP 3: SKILLS COURSE (Minimum Selection: One Course from Group 3)
	Agricultural Business Management	Animal Science	Agricultural Biotechnology	Environmental Science	Food Science	Natural Resources Conservation Management	Horticulture Production & Management	Advanced Agricultural Mechanics
	Agricultural Sales and Marketing	Veterinary Science	Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE)	Water Treatment	Animal Processing	Wildlife Management	Landscape Construction and Maintanence	Agricultural Construction
	Agricultural Communications	Service and Support Animal Training			Plant Processing	Hunter Safety	Landscape Design and Management	Agricultural Welding
	Agricultural Economics	Advanced Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA)			Community Food Production	Forestry	Greenhouse Production	Agricultural Metal Fabrication
	Global Agriculture	Advanced Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA) Animals				Urban Forestry	Crop Science	Agricultural Engineering
	Agricultural Entrepreneurship						Urban Agriculture	Agricultural Engine Maintenance
							Advanced Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA)	Agricultural Electrical Systems
							Advanced Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA)-Plant
GROUP 4: ADVANCED COURSE (Optional)
	Agribusiness Systems Independent Study	Animal Systems Independent Study	Agricultural Biotechnology Systems Independent Study	Environmental Service Systems Independent Study	Food Products and Processing Systems Independent Study	Natural Resources Systems Independent Study	Plant Systems Independent Study	Power, Structural and Technical Systems Independent Study
	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology	Agriculture Computers and Technology
	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership	Agricultural Leadership
	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR	Current Issues in AFNR
	Agricultural Commodity Marketing	Drone Operation and Maintenance	Drone Operation and Maintenance	Drone Operation and Maintenance	Food Manufacturing & Management	Drone Operation and Maintenance	Drone Operation and Maintenance	Drone Operation and Maintenance
	Agricultural Government	Animal Nutrition	Sustainable Agriculture	Sustainable Agriculture	Sustainable Agriculture	Soil Science	Turfgrass and Sports Field Management	Agricultural Machinery Service
	Agricultural Finance & Accounting	Animal Genetics	Integrated Pest Management	Alternative Energy	Aquaculture Science and Technology	Alternative Energy	Floral Design and Marketing	Advanced Agricultural Welding
	Agricultural Operations & Supply Management	Small Animal Care	Soil Science	Precision Agriculture		Aquaculture Science and Technology	Sustainable Agriculture	Advanced Agricultural Engine Maintenance
	Agritourism Management	Large Animal Care	Biotechnical Engineering	Soil Science		Outdoor Park & Recreational Management	Specialty Crop Production	Biotechnical Engineering
		Equine Science		Advanced Environmental Science and Issues			Integrated Pest Management	Precision Agriculture
		Aquaculture Science and Technology		Outdoor Park & Recreational Management			Soil Science	Advanced Physical Science Applications in Agriculture (PSAA)
		Advanced Veterinary Science		Biotechnical Engineering			Aquaculture Science and Technology	Advanced Agricutlural Construction
				Advanced Physical Science Applications in Agriculture (PSAA)			Viticulture	Advanced AMA Structures
							Fruit and Vegetable Production
GROUP 5: WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE COURSES
	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience	Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Workplace Experience
	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience	GAST Workplace Experience
	Agribusiness Systems Workplace Experience	Animal Systems Workplace Experience	Agricultural Biotechnology Systems Workplace Experience	Environmental Service Systems Workplace Experience	Food Products and Processing Systems Workplace Experience	Natural Resource Systems Workplace Experience	Plant Systems Workplace Experience	Power, Structural and Technical Systems Workplace Experience
A quality CTE (Career and Technical Education) program delivers all required elements of Illinois’ definition of Size, Scope, Quality. CTE program elements include: a sequence of courses, each educational entity offering approved courses provides assurance that the course content includes at a minimum the State course description, meets the State’s minimum requirements for course offerings by program, curriculum aligned to state recognized learning standards & industry standards, career pathway guidance, resources to support program/course delivery (licensed & qualified staff, appropriate facilities, adequate equipment, instructional materials, work-based learning experiences, special populations support services, an active affiliated CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) chapter), articulation/dual credit agreements, documentation of state agency certification or licensing requirements for occupations regulated by law or licensure, and content which prepare students for reflective of current labor & opportunity for workplace experience or a structured capstone course. Orientation courses are suggested to be taught at the prior-to-secondary or 9th grade levels. Introductory level courses are suggested to be taught at the 9th-11th grade level. Skill level courses are suggested to be taught at the 10th – 12th grade levels. Workplace Experiences Courses are suggested to be taught at the 12th grade level.