Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major - Communication specialization

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Bachelor of Science

Students in the Agricultural Education, Communication, and Leadership major must choose one of three specializations: Education, Communication, or Leadership. Students in the Education Specialization will complete a professional education curriculum, as well as supportive instruction in technical agriculture, basic science, and other competencies. Graduates of the Education Specialization will qualify for a secondary teaching certificate, and will also be prepared for a variety of careers in the agricultural industry. Graduates of the Communication Specialization will be well prepared for employment in journalism, promotion and marketing, sales, and other career opportunities. The Leadership Specialization requires courses in leadership skills development, basic science, and agriculture, and allows considerable flexibility for students to choose supporting elective courses. Graduates of the Leadership Specialization will pursue careers of service to such entities as agricultural commodity organization, breed associations, community development organizations, government, and businesses.

System General Education Requirements* Credits: 31

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I *
and
ENGL 201 - Composition II *
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101* - Fundamentals of Speech (COM)
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics * (COM)
or
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics * (COM) (G)
and 3 credit elective. Credits:6
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/Diversity
Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 102 - College Algebra * (COM)
Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 101-101L - Biology Survey I and Lab ** (COM)
, and
CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 7

Institutional Graduation Requirements** Credits: 8-9

Goal #1 Land and Natural Resources
Credits: 3
Goal #2 Personal Wellness
Credits: 2-3
Goal #3 Social Responsibility/Cultural and Aesthetic Awareness
Credits: 3

Major Requirement Credits: 44-45

ABS 100 - Exploring Ag and the Food System Credits: 1
ABS 310 - Leadership for Families and the Food System ** Credits: 3
AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3
MCOM 155 - Information Gathering Credits: 2
MCOM 220-220L - Introduction to Digital Media and Lab Credits: 2
MCOM 265-265L - Basic Photography and Studio (COM) Credits: (2-3)
MCOM 311-311L - News Editing and Editing Lab(COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 370 - Advertising Principles (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 430-530 - Media Law (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
MCOM 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: (1-12)
PHYS 101-101L - Survey of Physics * (COM) and Lab Credits: 4
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 3
SPCM 215 - Public Speaking (COM) * Credits: 3
or
SPCM 410-510 - Organizational Communication (COM) (AW) Credits: 2-3
Choose one of the following:
MCOM 316 - Magazine Writing and Editing Credits: 3
MCOM 332-332L - Broadcast Writing and Reporting and Lab Credits: 3
MCOM 410 - Advanced Reporting (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 438-438L - Public Affairs Reporting and Studio (COM) (AW) Credits: 3

Capstone Requirement Credits: 3-4

Choose one of the following:

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab (AW) Credits: 3
AGEC 421-521 - Farming and Food Systems Economics ** Credits: 3
AGEC 478-478L - Agricultural Finance and Lab Credits: 3
AS 474-474L - Cow/Calf Management and Lab Credits: 3
AS 475 - Feedlot Operations and Management Credits: 3
AS 477-477L - Sheep and Wool Production and Lab Credits: 3
AS 478-478L - Swine Production and Lab Credits: 3
AST 303-303L - Design Management Experience and Lab Credits: 3
AST 463/563 - Agricultural Waste Management ** (AW) Credits: 3
DS 412-412L - Dairy Farm Management and Lab Credits: 4
PS 440-440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab Credits: 3
RANG 485-485L - Advanced Integrated Ranch Management and Lab Credits: 3

Electives: 43-45

Note: Must have at least 25 credits in 300+ level courses, excluding internships, cooperative education, or field experience courses.

General Electives, Credits: 19-21
Agricultural Electives, Credits: 9
Group I Agricultural Electives (see College of ABS listing), Credits: 5
MCOM Electives, Credits: 10

Total Required Credits: 128

Curriculum Notes:

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has an 8-9 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.