Agricultural Leadership and Communication Option The Leadership and Communication option prepares students to become effective leaders, ambassadors, and/or advocates for the agricultural industry at local, state, national and international levels. Students pursue a course of study that is multidisciplinary providing them with a strong foundation in the agricultural sciences and natural resources, as well as transferable skills in leadership and communication. In addition to completing general education requirements, the option allows students to enroll in a breadth of coursework in technical agriculture areas such as agricultural mechanics, agricultural resources and economics, animal science, entomology, plant and soil sciences. Concurrently, students complete professional course work in areas of leadership and communication, as a focus.
Coursework An emphasis on a core of leadership and communication courses drives the professional coursework that includes youth leadership development, leadership principles and practices, team and organizational leadership, communicating knowledge in agriculture, and technology management. Additionally, students have the flexibility to develop an area of specialization in one of many selected technical agriculture areas.
Internships and Field Experiences Students enrich their professional and technical preparation by participating in one or more internship experiences and/or a defined field experiences during their junior or senior year. Internships provide students an opportunity to link theory with practice and further serve as a temporary labor pool for those agencies that have committed to participate in the internship program. The leadership and communication internships focus on experiences in non-formal teaching, professional presentations, leadership and management of projects and as well as experience in communicating with various audiences within the agricultural and related industries.
Selected Course Requirements
A ED 195a...Freshmen Colloquium
A ED 301.....Leadership Principles and Practices
A ED 309.....Youth Leadership Development
A ED 409.....Team and Organizational Leadership
AGTM 422....Communicating Knowledge in Agriculture & Life Science
AGTM 432....Technology Management
A ED 438......Methods in Teaching Agriculture Subjects*
A ED 462......Curriculum Development
A ED 493......Internship
* Title Pending
Possible Career Areas for Graduates Adult/Youth educator
Agricultural advocate
Agricultural promotions
Agriculture – related media and publications
Public relations
Farm service agency representative
Human resource development