Technical Systems Pathway

You can prepare for a career as an agricultural mechanic while still in high school by taking vo-tech classes that allow you to really get under the hood of large vehicles. Many brick-and-mortar vo-tech high schools offer courses in auto mechanics, and there is a significant overlap between auto mechanics and agricultural mechanics. Great preparation, of course, is to take classes in agricultural vehicle mechanics. That’s why our tuition-free Technical Systems pathway includes three courses in agricultural mechanics.

Precision agriculture uses technology, such as GPS and drones, to apply water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural inputs in a more targeted, effective, and efficient manner. The goal is to reduce costs and negative environmental impacts while driving agricultural productivity.

No. You don’t necessarily need a college degree to get a job in environmental science. You will need a bachelor’s degree to become an environmental scientist. Environmental scientists design and lead studies to identify and measure hazards to ecosystems and human health, design or oversee projects to reclaim contaminated lands or waterways, or make recommendations to minimize the environmental impact of construction projects. However, large teams of environmental science technicians often support environmental scientists—and these professionals do not necessarily need a college degree. Environmental science technicians perform the vital work that makes these studies possible. They collect water, air, and soil samples; analyze them in a laboratory; and prepare the results in charts and graphs. Alternatively, they may work on construction sites implementing environmental protection measures or in industrial workplaces, ensuring compliance with environmental and worker safety requirements. Most environmental science technicians have two-year associate’s degrees from a community college, but some have only a high school diploma and significant on-the-job training.