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Department of Agricultural Education and Communications

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

About the Program

This department supervises the following degree programs:

        • Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Agriculture
        • 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 educational leadership, agricultural communications, agricultural extension education, or agricultural education. Back to Top


Undergraduate Program

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 college. 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 also may receive a degree in another agricultural area and, with proper planning, receive certification in agricultural education. Students seeking teacher certification also should refer to the College of Education section of this catalog. The agricultural leadership track prepares students to enter a broad array of careers either in the public sector (legislature 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.

Two women working on a laptop.The department has two new partnerships related to teacher certification. The first partnership is a dual B.S. degree program with Angelo State University (ASU). Students in the program complete three years in ASU’s Animal Science program and spend an additional three semesters in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications at Texas Tech completing certification. At the conclusion of the program, students will receive both a B.S. in Animal Science from ASU and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Agriculture from Texas Tech. The second partnership involves dual B.S. degree programs with Lubbock Christian University (LCU). Students in this program complete approximately three years in LCU’s agriculture business, animal science or plant science programs and spend an additional three semesters of certification completion in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications at Texas Tech. At the conclusion of the program, students will receive both a B.S. in Agriculture Business, Animal Science or Plant Science from LCU and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Agriculture from Texas Tech. For additional information on either the ASU or LCU program, contact the department chair.

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 concentration: 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.

This department offers an 18-hour minor in agricultural leadership for students majoring outside the department. Required courses include AGSC 3301, AGED 3315, AGED 3314 or AGED 4308, and nine hours from the following courses: ACOM 2301, ACOM 2302, ACOM 3300, AGED 2300, AGED 3330, AGED 4000 (3 hours only), AGED 4303, or AGED 4309.

Curriculum Tables

 

Graduate Program

Master’s Programs

The department offers two Master of Science programs, one in agricultural education and one in agricultural communications. These programs may be completed with 30 hours of graduate courses plus 6 hours of thesis research, or 36 hours of approved graduate courses. The Master of Agriculture degree is a 36-hour program. Public school teachers may have a particular interest in the Master of Agriculture degree with an agricultural education concentration and an educational leadership emphasis. Courses in this unique program count toward the 42-hour Texas Tech Principalship Professional Certification Program. Students in this program must have at least two years of Texas Education Agency-approved experience and apply for admission into the certification program during the first semester of enrollment in this program.

 

Doctoral Program

The Doctor of Education program is available as an on-campus program. This 64-hour program (beyond a master’s degree) requires a 25-hour disciplinary core, 9 hours in research and evaluation, 6 hours in statistics, 12 hours in an area of specialization, and 12 hours of dissertation.

The department also participates in a unique distance-delivered doctoral degree in agricultural education that is awarded by both Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University. Students in this program must apply for admission at both universities. Most coursework associated with this joint doctoral degree is delivered via the ITV and the World Wide Web. Students in this program take a 40-hour disciplinary core, 12 hours in an area of specialization, and 12 hours of dissertation or record of study.

Each doctoral candidate (whether on-campus or distance) is expected to demonstrate competency by satisfactorily completing (1) a comprehensive written examination, (2) a dissertation or record of study research project that demonstrates original, independent scholarship, and (3) a final oral examination.
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Course Descriptions

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

Steven Fraze, Ph.D., Chairperson

Professors: Briers, Doerfert, Dooley, Elliot, Fraze, Larke, Lawver, Lindner, Murphy, Shinn
Associate Professors: Akers, Boleman, Boyd, Brashears, Cummings, Elbert, Harlin, Rutherford, Vestal, Wingenbach
Assistant Professors: Burris, Irlbeck, Meyers, Murphrey, Ritz (Visiting), Ulmer
Adjunct Faculty: Alexander, Dromgoole, Matthies-Hanson
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