In addition to receiving a quality education, Agricultural Education & Communications students are part of a family-like atmosphere and attend many classes together at the university. Faculty members in the department use a student-centered approach to show students how to successfully function in today's fast-paced, technologically advanced job market.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The Agricultural Education and Communications Department offers two majors: Interdisciplinary Agriculture and Agricultural Communications. Students majoring in Interdisciplinary Agriculture for the B.S. degree may choose from two tracks: teacher certification or agricultural leadership.

The teacher certification track involves courses from many departments in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. Elective courses can be selected in areas of special interest. Job placement in high schools, cooperative extension and community colleges offers a life-long career for many graduates and alternative employment opportunities for others. Students seeking teacher certification may also receive a degree in another agricultural area and, with proper planning, receive certification in agricultural education. Students seeking teacher certification should also refer to the section entitled "Teacher Education."

The agricultural leadership track prepares students to enter a broad array of careers either in the public sector (legislative assistants, agricultural agencies) or private sector (training and development, management or sales in agricultural, food, and natural resource industries). This degree is also recommended for students interested in continued studies in professional schools such as Law or Business Administration).

Agricultural communications allows students to specialize in both mass communications and agriculture. The communications component consists of prescribed courses in journalism, speech, telecommunications, photography, and advertising. Students must select one of three areas for specialization: electronic media, print media, or public relations/marketing. Selection of technical agriculture courses allows students to specialize in areas of interest and to reinforce their general knowledge in agriculture.

The department offers a minor in agricultural leadership for students majoring outside the department.

Degree Programs

The department supervises the following degree programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Agriculture (teaching or leadership options)
• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications
• Master of Science in Agricultural Education
• Master of Science in Agricultural Communications
• Doctor of Education in Agricultural Education

The department participates in the interdepartmental program leading to the Master of Agriculture degree with an option in agricultural communications or agricultural extension education.

Career Opportunities for Graduates
The number of job openings in the agricultural industry annually exceeds the number of available qualified graduates. A variety of career choices are available to you:

• Agribusiness
• Agricultural Communications
• Business Administration
• Distance Education
• Education
• Extension
• Government Service
• International Agricultural Development
• Law
• Leadership Education
• Management
• Marketing
• Mass Media
• Production Agriculture
• Public Relations
• State and Federal Agencies
• Teacher Education
• Trade and Professional Organizations