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

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. Graduates of the Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major - Leadership specialization will be well prepared for employment with agricultural organizations such as breed associations and commodity organizations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Leadership 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 leadership principles.
Upon completion of the program students will 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)

Course Delivery Format

Most courses are delivered by traditional lecture/format, and some are offered by online delivery.

Requirements for Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Major - Leadership 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.

ABS 203 - Global Food Systems [SGR #3] Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
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: 1

Major Requirements

ABS 203 - Global Food Systems [SGR #3] Credits: 3
ABS 482-582 - International Experience Credits: 2-4
or XXX 494 - Internship Credits: 2-4
or XXX 498 - Undergraduate Research Credits: 2-4
AGEC 479 - Agricultural Policy Credits: 3
AGED 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3, 1
LDR 210 - Foundations of Leadership Credits: 3
LDR 310 - Leadership in Context Credits: 3
LDR 410 - Leadership: Senior Seminar Credits: 1
LDR / LMNO 435 - Organizational Leadership and Team Development Credits: 3
LDR 496 - Field Experience (COM) Credits: 2 (Leadership in Action)
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 2, 1
SPCM 215 - Public Speaking (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
or SPCM 410-510 - Organizational Communication (COM) Credits: 3

Capstone Requirement

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 Electives - select from the following disciplines: ABS, AGEC, AGED, AS, AST, DS, EES, FS, HO, NRM, PRAG, PS, RANG, VET, or WL. Credits: 9
Electives: 42-45

Total Required Credits: 120

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	34-37 Credit Hours
Electives**	51-54 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.