GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Education
Overview
Professional options
Agricultural education prepares students
to become agricultural leaders in their
communities. Agricultural education involves
coursework in the broad field of agriculture,
including animal sciences, agronomy,
horticulture, agribusiness, food science and
agricultural mechanics.
Careers
The agricultural coursework, along with
professional education courses, gives students
the knowledge and skills to make a difference
in their communities as teachers or agricultural
professionals. Graduates in agricultural
education are in high demand. Most graduates
receive job offers before they graduate.
Graduates have nearly a 100 percent job
placement rate. Agricultural education teachers
are well respected in their communities
and
make positive impacts on their students. They
introduce students to the diversity of agriculture
in the classroom, lab, shop and greenhouse.
Teachers help young people set and reach their
goals through active involvement in the national
FFA organization. They help students learn to
excel as individuals and as members of teams.
Graduates are also recruited as agriculture
and 4-H extension agents and in many
agribusinesses. The human relations and
presentation skills students learn in the
professional education courses make them in
demand in sales, finance, customer relations and
many technical areas.
Agricultural education graduates are qualified
for many careers in the broad field of agriculture.
The human relations skills they learn in the
program make them strong candidates for
careers as:
n Agricultural education teacher
n Extension agent
n Agriculture finance representative
n Crop consultant
n Educational supervisor
n Farm/ranch manager
n Human resource specialist
n International agriculture consultant
n Production agriculture manager
n Program coordinator
n Sales/service representative
Employers
High schools
Cooperative extension
n Community colleges
n Animal health companies
n Soil conservation service
n Agricultural finance firms
n Government agencies
n
n
Job experience
Agricultural education students are exposed
to field experience throughout their degree.
Students spend time visiting agricultural
education programs and secondary schools
around the state. The final semester is dedicated
to a teaching internship, giving students handson career experience prior to graduation.
Academics
Degree options
Points of pride
Kansas State University agricultural education
graduates often receive job offers before they
graduate. Graduates have nearly a 100 percent
job placement rate.
The agricultural education curriculum develops
a diverse agricultural background. Along with
majoring in agricultural education, many
students easily achieve a minor within a
department in the College of Agriculture, such
as animal sciences and industry or agronomy.
Accreditation
The secondary education program is accredited
by the Council for the Accreditation of
Education Preparation, or CAEP, and the Kansas
Department of Education. The university is
accredited by the North Central Association of
Colleges and Universities.
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
Advising
Students are assigned an agricultural education
advisor who helps guide academics and
assists with career planning. Advisors are an
excellent source for finding help with student
employment and other personal concerns.
Licensure
The K-State Agricultural Education program
includes all requirements for teacher licensure
set forth by the Kansas State Board of
Education.
Activities
Clubs
Students in agricultural education are active in
College of Agriculture and university student
organizations. The Agricultural Education
Club is a great way to develop friendships,
gain leadership skills and learn more about
agricultural education. The Agricultural
Education Club supports FFA and agricultural
education in Kansas.
Students in the Agricultural Education Club plan
and host many activities, including the K-State
Agricultural Education Club Speech Contest,
Ag Fest activities and a scavenger hunt for the
College
of Agriculture Open House.
The Agricultural Education Club offers excellent
opportunities to gain important leadership
skills, such as public speaking, planning,
time management, delegation, teamwork,
decision-making, parliamentary procedure and
responsibility. Other activities include attending
the National FFA Convention, professional
development seminars, picnics, an annual
banquet and regular monthly meetings.
Suggested coursework
The required courses provide students a
well-balanced introduction to all areas of
agriculture.
In addition, students are well
equipped with knowledge and experiences
for success in formal
or informal instructional
settings. The second semester of the senior year
is devoted
to completing a teaching internship.
General education courses in the humanities,
mathematics, the natural sciences, and social
and behavioral sciences will expand student
perspectives.
Students receive in-depth preparation by
taking extensive coursework in agriculture.
The required courses provide students a wellbalanced introduction to all areas of agriculture.
Students also select an additional 12 hours
of agriculture. This allows students to gain
knowledge and experience in their areas of
interest.
The professional portion of the program
includes courses in educational psychology,
methods of teaching, foundations of education,
special education, and multicultural and
interpersonal relations. Students learn about
teaching in the classroom and how to adjust
teaching methods to the needs of exceptional
students.
The following is a sample of what a student
schedule might look like.
Freshman
First Semester
Hrs.Courses
3 ENGL 100
Expository Writing I
1 AGED 300Introduction to Agricultural
Education
3 Social science elective#
3 ASI 102
Principles of Animal Science
3 MATH 100
College Algebra
or
Any math course with College Algebra as a prerequisite
3 Additional required agricultural electives
16
Second semester
Hrs.Courses
3 CHEM 110
General Chemistry
1 CHEM 111
General Chemistry Lab
3 AGEC 120Agricultural Economics and
Agribusiness
4 HORT 201Principles of Horticulture
Science
or
4 AGRON 220
Crop Science
6 Additional required agricultural electives
17
Second semester
Hrs.Courses
2 COMM 105
Public Speaking IA
4 AGRON 305
Soils
3 STAT 320
Elements of Statistics
3 ASI 318
Fundamentals of Nutrition
or
3 ASI 500
Genetics
2 AGED 262
Ag Structures
1 AGED 505
Field Experience
3 Humanities elective*
18
Junior
First semester
Hrs.Courses
3 AGED 260
Ag Construction
3 EDSEC 620Principles and Philosophy of
Career and Technical Education
3 FSHS 110Introduction to Human Growth
and Development
3 AGEC 308
Farm and Ranch Management
or
3 AGEC 318Food and Agribusiness
Management
3 Social science elective##
3 Elective
18
Second semester
Hrs.Courses
2 AGED 264
Ag Power
3 Humanities elective**
2 EDSEC 405
Middle Level Education
2 EDCEP 315Educational Psychology
(Block II)
2 EDSP 323Exceptional Student in
Secondary Schools (Block I)
3 EDSEC 376Core Teaching Skills and Lab
(Block I)
2 DED 318
Educational Technology
16
Senior
First semester
Hrs.Courses
1 EDCEP 325Interpersonal Relations
in
Schools (Block II)
1 EDCIP 455Teaching in a Multicultural
Society (Block II)
2 AGED 400Leadership and Professional
Development in Agricultural
Education (Block II)
2 EDSEC 477Middle Level/Secondary
Reading (Block II)
3 AGED 500Methods of
Teaching
Agriculture (Block II)
2 AGED 520Content and Reading
Methods
Lab (Block II)
3 AGED 615Laboratory and Safety
Techniques in Teaching
Agriculture (Block II)
3 AGED 621Program Planning
in Agricultural Education
(Block II)
17
Second semester
Hrs.Courses
12 EDSEC 586Teaching Participation in
the Secondary School and
Professional Development
Seminar (Block III)
12
#Elective from one of the following departments:
AMETH, ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POLSC, PSYCH,
SOCIO, WOMST (3 credit hours).
##Global issues and perspective course to meet K-State
8 requirements. Must be from one of the following
departments: AMETH, ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST,
POLSC, PSYCH, SOCIO, WOMST (3 credit hours).
*One course in English literature is required for teacher
certification.
**One fine arts appreciation class in the humanities.
FEach student must successfully complete credit
bearing courses/experiences to cover all of the K-State
8 areas.
For more information about
agricultural education, contact:
Department of Communications and
Agricultural Education
Kansas State University
301 Umberger Hall
1612 Claflin Road
Manhattan, KS 66506–5305
785-532-5804
communications@k-state.edu
communications.k-state.edu
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
Sophomore
First semester
Hrs.Courses
3 HORT 570Greenhouse Operations and
Management
or
3 HORT 350
Plant Propagation
4 BIOL 198
Principles of Biology
3 ENGL 200
Expository Writing II
3 Additional required agricultural electives
3 EDSEC 310
Foundations of Education
16
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Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
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ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016