Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major - Leadership 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
SOC 240 - The Sociology of Rural America* ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity:
PHIL 220 - Introduction to Ethics * ** (COM)
and 3 credit elective. Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics
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: 6

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: 33-36

ABS 100 - Exploring Ag and the Food System Credits: 1
ABS 203 - Global Food Systems ** (G) Credits: 3
ABS 310 - Leadership for Families and the Food System ** Credits: 3
or EHS 310 or LEAD 310.
ABS 482-582 - International Experience ** (G) Credits: (2-4)
or XXX 494- Internship, or XXX 498- Undergraduate Research Credits: 2-4
AGEC 479 - Agricultural Policy (AW) (G) Credits: 3
AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3
LEAD 210 - Foundations of Leadership Credits: 3
LEAD 410 - Leadership: Senior Seminar Credits: 1
LEAD 433 - Leadership and Organizations Credits: 3
LEAD 496 - Field Experience: Leadership in Action Credits: 2
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

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: 52-60

Group I Agricultural Electives Credits: 2
MCOM Elective Credits: 2
General Electives Credits: 48-56

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.