Areas for Holistic Development
Welcome!
In addition to the scientific and technical material
covered by the curriculum, the academic program also includes a
series of 11 formative areas considered indispensable for students'
holistic development. Due to the nature and importance of these
areas, their development transcends the course structure and is
incorporated throughout the four-year curriculum.
For this reason, a series of behavioral goals have been established
for each one of these key areas, which strengthen and reinforce
all courses throughout the four year curriculum to varying degrees
according to the complexity and complementariness of the subject.
The student is evaluated on his/her development and performance
in these formative areas, in the same manner as for her/his classes,
and is expected to demonstrate satisfactory growth in these areas
during the four years of study. The 11 formative areas are the following:
1. Professional and Ethical Behavior,
Self Discipline and Responsibility
EARTH students and graduates must demonstrate professional behavior
at all times, including the highest moral and ethical values. In
both their personal and professional lives, they shouldt be able
to make decisions based on judgments such as "What is right?"
and "What should be done?".
The students must develop exemplary personal and
professional behavior so as to serve as models within the companies
that employ them and in the communities with which they interact.
2. Communication
EARTH professionals must understand and be skilled in the practice
of oral, written, non-verbal and audio-visual communication, permitting
them to perceive and process information, feelings and beliefs.
3. Entrepreneurial
Mentality
The entrepreneur as an agent of development plays an important role
in social, ethical and environmental issues, and in natural resource
management. EARTH seeks to develop ethical professionals with the
mentality and business skills required for planning, organizing,
implementing, managing, and evaluating an agricultural business
as a sustainable system.
4. Social
and Environmental Conscience
As the agronomy and natural resource management professionals for
a new century, EARTH graduates must possess, in addition to a solid
theoretical background in the sciences and a wide range of practical
skills, a strong concern and commitment to the region's ecosystems
and the lives of the local inhabitants. The development of sustainable
production systems requires the consideration not only of technical
and economic issues, but also the impact that each decision will
have on the environment and society
5. Teamwork
The professionals of the 21st century must be able to interact and
work as part of a team, both with peers and colleagues, and with
individuals whose levels of professional or technical education
differ from their own.
6.The
Individual and His or Her Environment
The individual must be aware that he or she is part of a system
that includes both other human beings and the natural world. The
professional therefore requires a solid humanistic education based
on the principles and ethical values of a pluralistic society.
7. Critical
and Creative Thinking
The EARTH curriculum seeks to develop students' creative abilities
and critical thinking in order to permit them to set goals, identify
obstacles and solve problems.
8. Analysis
and Synthesis
The modern professional is exposed to enormous quantities of information
requiring critical analysis. Because the agricultural sciences make
use of tools from both the natural and the social sciences, the
ability to analyze information and extract the elements necessary
for professional activities is a basic necessity.
9. Safety
and Security
EARTH professionals must be prepared to meet the growing challenge
of assuring their own and others' occupational, social and personal
safety and security. Occupational safety refers to those risks inherent
in the exercise of one's profession. Social safety is the security
shared by all members of a given social group, including their values
and social practices. Personal security refers to the individual
actions that each human being takes as a direct manifestation of
his or her freedom.
10.
Sustainability
The EARTH professional can not work effectively without a very clear
understanding of the concept of sustainability. Although "sustainability"
remains a point of reference more than a fully functioning system
or method, the idea of providing our descendants with a better world
than we inherited must guide the decisions of the agronomists educated
at EARTH.
11.
Leadership
In order to change society, EARTH students and alumni must be leaders
able to assume responsibility, help their peers and communities
resolve problems, promote self-esteem among members of their work
teams, and learn from experience.
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