Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership (B.S.) - Communication Specialization

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Mary Christensen, Coordinator
Agricultural Leadership, Education, Communication and Science (ALECS)
Berg Agricultural Hall 156
605-688-5133

Lyle Olson, Director
School of Communication and Journalism
Yeager Hall 211
605-688-4171

Program Information

The Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major is a multidisciplinary program that provides a strong foundation in agricultural sciences. The major allows students the flexibility to select a plan of study based on their interests and skills by choosing one of three specializations: Education, Communication, or Leadership. Students specializing in communication take courses in agriculture along with courses in the School of Communication and Journalism.

Graduates of the Communication specialization report agricultural information to farmers and ranchers, consumers, governmental agencies, agribusinesses, commodity groups, and legislators through positions in public relations, sales, marketing, journalism, social media, and the government.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Communication Specialization of the Agricultural Education, Communication, and Leadership Major, students will:

Demonstrate knowledge and skill across the broad field of the Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources industries.
Demonstrate and apply in-depth knowledge of journalism and mass communication.
Explain the importance of and show evidence of ethical and professional behaviors. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
Locate and evaluate information to solve real world problems. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Problem Solving)
Evaluate core competencies and create plans for effective lifetime learning. (Cross-curricular Skill: Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
Evaluate a diverse spectrum of agriculturally related global challenges to communicate culturally responsible solutions to a variety of audiences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

Equipment and Supplies

Agricultural Communication students need a laptop and appropriate software to successfully complete the coursework and be adequately prepared for their professional careers. Apple Macs are the dominate choice in the industry. Necessary software includes Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Word-compatible word processing software, as well as presentation and spreadsheet software, such as PowerPoint and Excel.

Course Delivery Format

The program offers coursework in classroom, studio, online, and field-based settings.

Requirements for Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major - Communication Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3 and ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity: SGR #3 Elective Credits: 3 and ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 (recommended) or ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: SGR #5 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: BIOL 101-101L - Biology Survey I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3 and CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 11

Students who wish to complete a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences must complete a minimum of 11 credits from the approved list of Group 1 courses. Some departments require specific courses from the list, whereas others leave the selection entirely to the student and the advisor.

System General Education Requirements and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Please review major requirements and the Group 1 list to determine if additional courses are required.

AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3, 1 (Major Requirement)
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 2, 1 (Major Requirement)
Group 1 Courses in Agriculture Credits: 4

Major Requirements

ADV 370 - Advertising Principles (COM) Credits: 3
AGED 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
or MCOM 119 - Mass Communication Fundamentals Credits: 2
AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3, 1
MCOM 210-210L - Basic Newswriting and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 220-220L - Introduction to Digital Media and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 265-265L - Basic Photography and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
or MCOM 331-331L - Video Production and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 316 - Magazine Writing and Editing Credits: 3
or MCOM 336 - Feature Writing (COM) Credits: 3
or PUBR 345 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
MCOM 394 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required)
or MCOM 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required)
MCOM 430-530 - Media Law (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 434 - Advanced Multiplatform Storytelling (COM) Credits: 3
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 2, 1
SPCM 215 - Public Speaking (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
or SPCM 410 - Organizational Communication (COM) Credits: 3

Capstone Requirements

Select one of the following. Credits: 3-4

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab Credits: 3
AGEC 471-571 - Advanced Farm & Ranch Management Credits: 3
AS 389 - Current Issues in Animal Science Credits: 3
DS 480-480L/580-580L - Dairy Farm Operations I and Lab Credits: 4
DS 481-481L/581-581L - Dairy Farm Operations II and Lab Credits: 4
HO 434-534 - Local Food Production Credits: 2
HO 435 - Local Food Production: Harvest and Storage Credits: 2
PRAG 440-440L/540-540L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab Credits: 3
RANG 374-374L - Habitat Conservation and Management and Lab Credits: 4

Electives

Agricultural Elective Credits: 9
Select from the following disciplines: ABS, AGEC, AGED, AS, AST, DS, EES, FS, HO, NRM, PRAG, PS, RANG, VET, or WL
ADV, MCOM, or PUBR Elective Credits: 9
Electives Credits: 27-29

Total Required Credits: 120

Notes

Students must have at least 25 credits in 300+ level courses, excluding internships, cooperative education, or field experience courses.

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
System General Education Requirements	31 Credit Hours
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements*	11 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	38-40 Credit Hours
Electives**	45-47 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.