Agricultural Education (B.S.)

ABOUT

If you have a passion for agriculture and enjoy working with people, then the Agricultural Education major may be a perfect fit for you! By linking the influences of agriculture and education, you will be prepared to instruct the next generation of agricultural leaders as well as consumers. There continues to be a high demand for agriculture teachers, and graduates of this program are also sought after for numerous positions outside of formal education. 

Students in this major have a wide variety of technical interests including animal agriculture, science, plant agriculture, agricultural mechanics, agribusiness, and natural resources. Within the degree, you can choose from two concentrations to meet your career goals: leadership and teaching.

FAST FACTS

  • Most of our students are heavily involved in the collegiate FFA or 4-H chapters.
  • Agricultural education is the most diverse agricultural degree available covering multiple disciplines.
  • Each student is required to spend a semester in a supervised student teaching experience or an internship.
  • Ag Ed majors take course work in animal science, horticulture, forestry, agricultural mechanics and agribusiness.

WHAT YOU'LL STUDY

In order to be successful in any of the career opportunities that lead from the agricultural education degree, graduates must have gained a broad knowledge of agriculture. At Clemson, you'll gain understandings from the science behind genetically modified soybeans, to the political challenges of water management, and on to the complexities of agricultural marketing and commodities. While the curriculum is balanced to expose you to the many facets of agriculture and natural resources, there are also opportunities to select course work specific to your interests.

Teaching Concentration
The teaching concentration is for students who wish to pursue teacher certification for working in secondary education. You must complete a supervised student teaching experience as well as the Praxis examination required by the S.C. Department of Education.

Leadership Concentration
The leadership concentration trains you to become a leader, trendsetter and innovator for the agricultural industry. Graduates may find themselves in positions with agricultural corporations, government agencies or nonprofit organizations.

Popular Minors

  • Animal and Veterinary Sciences
  • Agricultural Mechanization and Business
  • Agricultural Business Management
  • Communication Studies
  • Forest Resource Management
  • Horticulture

EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

With agriculture as a leading industry in South Carolina, there are many opportunities to feel its impact within just a few short steps of the classroom. Our Ag Ed program places an emphasis on learning through doing and requires all students to complete an internship or student teaching semester.

Depending on the selected concentration, each student is required to complete one semester of experiential learning. This semester is fundamental for putting into practice the theories and ideas learned through the program.
Each year, the Clemson Collegiate FFA Chapter sends some members to the National FFA Convention. Programming for collegiate members allows for professional development opportunities and career-focused networking.
Clemson's Collegiate FFA Chapter provides members professionally relevant workshops, speakers and networking. They also support the S.C. FFA Association through activities such as career development events.
You'll regularly be required to get out and see firsthand where our graduates are in industry and how agriculture takes product from the field or forest to the table or retail store.
Each year, agricultural education students have the chance to travel to Russia and enroll in a semester of agricultural communications course work while gaining a unique cultural experience.

AFTER GRADUATION

Your college decision isn't really about the next four years. We get it. It's about what doors are opened by your degree and whether those opportunities are what you had envisioned for yourself. Here's a snapshot of what life after graduation looks like for some of our most recent students.

RECENT EMPLOYERS

  • International Marketing

    Florida Citrus Growers Association

  • Program Specialist

    USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service

  • Regional Coordinator

    S.C. Farm to School Program

  • Agricultural Education Instructor

    Crestwood High School

  • Ag Mechanics Instructor

    Madison County High School

  • Flock Supervisor

    Columbia Farms/House of Raeford

  • Integrated Solutions Manager

    Sparrow & Kennedy Tractor Company

RECENT POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

  • M.S. Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication

    Texas A&M University

  • M.S. Agricultural Communications

    Oklahoma State University

  • M.S. Agricultural Communications

    Texas Tech University

  • Ph.D. Turfgrass Management

    Oklahoma State University

COMMON CAREER AREAS

    • Education
    • Teaching
    • Administration
    • Student Affairs 
    • Extension
    • Agricultural Extension Service
    • Family Consumer Sciences Education
    • 4-H and Youth Development
    • Economic and Community Development
    • Agricultural Leadership
    • Sales
    • Management
    • Human Resources
    • Organizational Training
    • Management Consulting
    • Policy Development
    • Governmental Relations
    • Community Development
    • Informal Education
    • Agricultural Communications
    • Journalism
    • Public Relations
    • Technical/Scientific Writing
    • Advertising Sales
    • Promotion
    • Government and Nonprofit
    • State and Federal Conservation
    • Health and Regulatory Inspection
    • Agricultural Inspection
    • Policy Analysis
    • Legislation
    • Association Representation

FIND OUT MORE

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact. If you’d also like to receive general University information from Clemson’s admissions office, please follow the link to the right and sign up to join our mailing list.

McCauley Frierson

Student Recruitment Coordinator
864-656-1534
mccaulf@clemson.edu

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