Applications are now open for Yakima Valley College’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Agricultural Sciences program for the 2025-26 academic year. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2025.

YVC’s program is designed both for students at the very beginning of their careers who are interested in a four-year degree as well as working adults who want to advance in their careers by earning their bachelor’s degree.

“Students enrolled in the BAS program will gain the advanced technical skills, problem-solving capabilities and leadership abilities that are in high demand in our region’s crop and animal production and supporting industries,” said Trent Ball, chair of YVC’s Agriculture Department.

The program provides students in the region an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences close to home. Classes are offered on the college’s Yakima and Grandview campuses for the convenience of students in both the upper and lower Yakima Valley. Students will develop broad skills in finance, strategic operations, harvest technology, soil health, plant physiology, pest management and more.

“The first class I took at Yakima Valley College was Intro to Washington Wines, and that class made me fall in love with the wine world,” says Emilse Osorio, who has earned two associate degrees from YVC and is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree.

For Osorio, the BAS program connects deeply with her family's roots and offers her opportunities for professional growth.

“I really love the agriculture side. Since I grew up working in the fields here in the valley, I decided that that was the route I wanted to take for my education — to keep growing in the field. Now I work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture as a pesticide investigator and want to keep growing within the department.”

Key features of the BAS in Agricultural Sciences program include:

  • Hands-on learning is incorporated in all classes.
  • Classes are taught by agriculture science faculty with extensive experience in the industry.
  • Hybrid courses combine in-person and online instruction, with evening classes meeting once or twice a week.
  • Cohort model that enables students to progress through the program together, offering additional opportunities for professional networking.
  • Completion of the program in two years for full-time students who have already earned their associate degree.

For more information about the BAS in Agricultural Sciences program email BASAg@yvcc.edu or call 509.834.4522.