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.
CAFLS Degree + Agricultural Education Teaching Certificate
The Agricultural Education Teaching Certificate is a great option for students enrolled in any of the bachelor's degree programs within the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. Qualified students can add the certificate as an enhancement to their current degree, requiring an additional 31 credit hours of specified coursework and a semester of directed-student teaching.
Curriculum
Popular Minors
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences
- Agricultural Mechanization and Business
- Agricultural Business Management
- Communication Studies
- Forest Resource Management
- Horticulture
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Similar Majors
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Communication (B.A.)
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Horticulture (B.S.)
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Secondary Education (B.A.)
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.





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.
WHERE OUR RECENT GRADUATES HAVE GONE
KEY
- 41-100%
- 21-40%
- 11-20%
- 0-10%
RECENT EMPLOYERS
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Agriculture Teacher
Woodmont Middle School
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Agriculture Teacher
Silver Bluff High School
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4-H Youth Development
Clemson Extension
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Extension Associate
UGA Cooperative Extension Service
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External Sales
Helena Agri-Enterprise
RECENT POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
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M.S. Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication
Texas A&M University
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M.S. Agricultural Communications
Oklahoma State University
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M.S. Agricultural Communications
Texas Tech University
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Ph.D. Turfgrass Management
Oklahoma State University
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M.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Clemson 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.
Madison Cutts
Coordinator of Student Recruitment
mcutts@clemson.edu