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  • Agricultural Education and Communication

    The agricultural education and communication major prepares students for careers in teaching, communication organizations, community and government agencies, and the Cooperative Extension Service.

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

    Overview

    Two specializations are offered: agricultural education, and communication and leadership development. Each requires core technical agriculture courses and preprofessional education. Department advisors help students in selecting appropriate electives.

    Agricultural Education

    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    The agricultural education specialization provides the basic courses for agricultural teacher certification in Florida. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to enter the teacher education specialization and, during their first semester, attain a passing score on the general knowledge portion of the FTCE. An internship is required for this specialization. In addition, graduates must apply to the Florida Department of Education for certification.

    This specialization is also offered at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Plant City, Fla.

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    Critical Tracking

    Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • Complete 2 of 4 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: AEC 3030C (or equivalent), BSC 2005, BSC 2005L (or any GE-B or P laboratory), EDF 3110 (or equivalent) and MAC 1140 (or equivalent)
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.5 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.5 UF GPA required

    Semester 3

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.5 UF GPA required

    Semester 4

    • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.5 UF GPA required
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    Model Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

    Semester 1 Credits
    AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You, 3 credits or
    ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 credits or
    ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 3 credits or
    AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics, 4 credits (GE-S)
    3-4
    BSC 2005 Biological Sciences
    State Core GE-B/P
    3
    BSC 2005L Laboratory in Biological Sciences (GE-B) or
    Any GE-B or GE-P laboratory
    1
    EDF 3110 Human Growth and Development or
    EDF 3122 The Young Child or
    EDF 3132 The Young Adolescent or
    EDF 3135 The Adolescent (GE-S) or
    EDF 3210 Educational Psychology (GE-S)
    3
    Composition
    State Core GE-C
    3
    Elective 2
    Total 15-16
    Semester 2 Credits
    ​IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
    GE-H
    ​3
    MAC 1140 Precalculus: Algebra
    State Core GE-M
    3
    Elective 3
    Humanities
    State Core GE-H
    3
    Science elective
    GE-B or P
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 3 Credits
    AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication 3
    EDF 2085 Introduction to Diversity for Educators 3
    RED 3312 Content Area Literacy 3
    Composition
    GE-C
    3
    Mathematics
    STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics recommended; GE-M
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 4 Credits
    AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
    WR
    3
    Elective 3
    Humanities
    GE-H
    3
    Physical Science
    GE-P
    3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences
    State Core GE-S
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 5 Credits
    AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management 3
    AEC 4323 Development and Philosophy of Agricultural Education 3
    AEC 4504 Curriculum and Program Planning for Agricultural Education 3
    ANS 3006 Introduction to Animal Science, 3 credits, and
    ANS 3006L Introduction to Animal Science Laboratory, 1 credit
    4
    TSL 4324 ESOL Strategies for Content Area Teachers 3
    Total 16
    Semester 6 Credits
    AEC 4228 Laboratory Practices in Teaching Agricultural Education 3
    ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology, 2 credits, and ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory, 1 credit or
    IPM 3022 Fundamentals of Pest Management or
    ENY 3030C Insect Field Biology or
    ENY 3007C Life Science or
    ENY 4161 Insect Classification
    3
    SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment, 3 credits, and
    SWS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory, 1 credit
    4
    Agricultural or life sciences elective 3
    Horticulture or plant science elective 3
    Total 16
    Semester 7 Credits
    AEC 4200 Teaching Methods in Agricultural Education 3
    ​AEC 4202 Curriculum Development and Assessment Techniques in Emerging Agricultural Technologies ​3
    AOM 3220 Agricultural Construction and Maintenance 3
    Agricultural or life sciences electives 7
    Total 16
    Semester 8 Credits
    AEC 4224 Special Methods in Teaching Agricultural Education 3
    AEC 4942 Agricultural Education Internship 9
    Total 12

    Total agricultural or life sciences courses required: 30 credits in at least four areas.

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    Communication and Leadership Development

    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    Communication and leadership development prepares students for entry into agribusiness and communication positions related to human resource development, strategic communication, governmental relations, media relations, corporate training and development, and non-formal education. To build the capacity of students within the CLD undergraduate specialization to serve as catalysts in society, they will take a sequence of courses in both communication and leadership to build upon individual skill sets and specific interests of the student. All students within this specialization will further enhance their knowledge and skills in communication and leadership within the context of agricultural and life sciences through courses that will provide them foundations in all forms of communication (digital, speaking, and writing) and leadership (interpersonal, groups and teams, organizations and global) in addition to specific areas such as social media, change, public issues and campaign strategies.

    To graduate, students must earn minimum grades of C in AEC 3073 Intercultural Communication, AEC 3070C Digital Media Production in Agricultural and Life Sciences, AEC 3414 Leadership Development, AEC 4031 The Communication Process in Agricultural and Life Sciences, AEC 4052 Communication Campaign Strategies in Agricultural and Life Sciences and AEC 4434 Communication and Leadership in Groups and Teams.

    This specialization is also offered at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Plant City, Fla.

    Critical Tracking

    Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students

    Semester 1

    • Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: AEC 3030C (or equivalent), AEC 3033C (or equivalent), BSC 2005, BSC 2005L (or any GE-B or P laboratory), MAC 1140 (or equivalent), PSY 2012
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 3

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 4

    • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
    • 2.0 UF GPA required
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    Model Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

    Semester 1 Credits
    AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You, 3 credits or
    ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics, 4 credits or
    ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 4 credits or
    AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics, 4 credits (GE-S)
    3-4
    BSC 2005 Biological Sciences
    State Core GE-B/P
    3
    BSC 2005L Laboratory in Biological Sciences (GE-B) or
    Any GE-B or GE-P laboratory
    1
    Composition
    State Core GE-C; WR
    3
    Elective 2
    Humanities
    State Core GE-H
    3
    Total 15-16
    Semester 2 Credits
    AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication 3
    ​IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
    GE-H
    ​3
    MAC 1140 Precalculus: Algebra
    State Core GE-M
    3
    Elective 3
    Science elective
    GE-B or P
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 3 Credits
    PSY 2012 General Psychology
    State Core GE-S
    3
    Composition
    GE-C
    3
    American history or political science elective
    GE-S
    3
    Elective with international or diversity focus
    GE-N or D
    3
    Mathematics
    STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics recommended; GE-M
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 4 Credits
    AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
    WR
    3
    AEC 3065 Issues in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
    Electives 6
    Physical Science
    GE-P
    3
    Total 15
    Semester 5 Credits
    AEC 3070C Digital Media Production in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
    AEC 3073 Intercultural Communication
    GE-S, D or N
    3
    AEC 3413 Working with People: Interpersonal Leadership Skills 3
    AEC 3414 Leadership Development 3
    AEC 4031 The Communication Process in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
    Total 15
    Semester 6 Credits
    AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management 3
    AEC 4035 Communication Practices for Agricultural and Life Sciences
    WR
    3
    Choose two courses
    AEC 3209 Instructional and Event Planning in Agricultural and Life Sciences or
    AEC 4036 Advanced Agricultural Communication Production or
    AEC 4417 Leadership for Personal and Organizational Change or
    AEC 4465 Global Leadership or
    FYC 4408 Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits or
    PUR 3000 Principles of Public Relations
    6
    Approved elective in area of concentration 3
    Total 15
    Summer Credits
    AEC 4943 Leadership Development Internship or
    AEC 4948 Agricultural Communication Internship or
    Approved elective
    3
    Total 3
    Semester 7 Credits
    ​AEB 4085 Agricultural Risk Management and the Law (fall) or
    AEB 4123 Agricultural and Natural Resource Law (spring) or
    AEB 4126 Agriculture and Natural Resource Ethics or
    Similar ethics course (see advisor)
    ​3
    AEC 4434 Communication and Leadership in Groups and Teams 3
    Agriculture/natural resource elective
    See advisor
    ​3
    Approved electives in area of concentration 6
    Total 15
    Semester 8 Credits
    AEC 4052 Communication Campaign Strategies in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
    Choose one course
    AEC 3209 Instructional and Event Planning in Agricultural and Life Sciences or
    AEC 4036 Advanced Agricultural Communication Production or
    AEC 4417 Leadership for Personal and Organizational Change or
    AEC 4465 Global Leadership or
    FYC 4408 Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits or
    PUR 3000 Principles of Public Relations
    ​3
    ​Agriculture/natural resource elective
    See advisor
    ​3
    Approved elective in area of concentration 3
    Total 12
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    Related Agricultural Education and Communication Programs

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majors: agricultural-education-and-communication