A new University of Georgia four-year degree to be offered in
Tifton, Ga., is one step closer to becoming a reality. The degree
was approved by the UGA curriculum committee Friday.
“It was passed unanimously,” said David Bridges, the UGA College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ assistant dean for
the Tifton campus. “This was a big hurdle.”
The new agriscience and emerging technologies major will be
convenient for south Georgia students. Offered only on the UGA
Tifton campus, it would be available to anyone entering UGA.
The UGA CAES will work in partnership with Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College in Tifton. In the past, agricultural
students have been able to get only an associate degree at ABAC.
Students wanting a four-year UGA degree have had to move to
Athens to continue their agricultural education.
With the new major, though, students can take courses required
for the first two years at ABAC. Once they finish their ABAC
degree, they can transfer to UGA and attend classes in Tifton,
not Athens. The students become UGA students in Tifton and would
have to meet university standards and requirements.
“With this degree, prospective UGA students will be able to take
full advantage of the people, facilities and resources on the UGA
Tifton campus,” Bridges said. “This will also offer us (UGA) a
unique opportunity to partner with ABAC.”
About 80 percent of the students in the ABAC college transfer
program expressed interest in the new program. And of the more
than 900 south Georgia high school biology students who returned
a survey, with more than 35 percent expressed interest.
The major will enable students around the Southeast to study the
latest in agricultural sciences and technologies.
“Students will be able to live and learn in southwest Georgia,
one of the world’s largest agricultural classrooms,” Bridges
said.