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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