Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication

Welcome to Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC). Our programs and faculty are housed in the Department of Agricultural Business and Education in the College of Agriculture. Our degree programs in Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Leadership, or Agricultural Education will move you to the front of the line for good paying, high demand jobs in our industry.

Specializations:

• Agricultural Leadership – Agricultural leadership utilizes a multidisciplinary curriculum to help graduates be successful both professionally and personally. Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in local, state, regional, and national groups, organizations, and agencies that are involved in the agricultural industry.
• Agricultural Education – Agricultural education focuses on the teaching and learning process in both formal classrooms and other settings. A broad understanding of agriculture is required so that students will be able to communicate effectively agricultural information to a variety of audiences.
• Agricultural Communication – Agricultural communication graduates integrate communication theories and technologies to report agricultural information to audiences such as consumers, legislators, homeowners, farmers, agribusinesses, commodity groups, and governmental agencies.

If you’d like more information about our programs in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication, just CLICK HERE to enter some personal information and we’ll send it out to you asap.

What Are the Career Possibilities?

Following are some sample careers students from our degree option have entered:

• Consultant, Extension Agent, Extension Specialist
• Agricultural Educator/Teacher
• Professor, Human Resources Specialist
• Business Manager
• Training and Development Officer
• Social Scientists
• Program Leader/Coordinator
• Marketing Specialist
• Educational Supervisor
• Farm/Ranch Manager
• International Agriculture Consultant
• Production Agriculture Manager
• Sales/service Representative
• Wildlife Educator
• Museum or Zoo Educator
• Natural Resources Officer
• Agritourism Manager/Educator
• Marketing Communications Manager
• District Sales Representatives
• Advertising Manager
• Reporter, Editor
• News Producer

If you want to learn more about our exciting field and the awesome career availability, contact Dr. John Ricketts at jricket1@tnstate.edu.

What Is It Like to Be a Student in ALEC?

In ALEC, we are a family. You’ll take most of your courses with other ALEC students. Chances area you’ll also be working with them during the week too. In ALEC we also place big value on leadership skills. Organizations that hire our students value those leadership skills too! You can develop your leadership skills through student organizations like Collegiate FFA/4-H. Leadership skills and competencies in your future career are also developed through student internships. Students have completed internships with the following organizations:

• United States Department of Agriculture
• County Extension Offices
• County School Systems
• Walt Disney World
• Tennessee State University

What Courses Do I Take?

Click on the link below to see Degree Map for each Specialization.

• Agricultural Education or Leadership, 4-year plan

Who Will Be My Professors?

Click on the links below to  learn  about who will teach and advise you while you are here at TSU.

• Dr. Thomas Broyles
• Dr. John Ricketts
• Dr. Gabriel Spandau
• Dr. Lana Petrie

Sample Activities for Students

The following lesson plans can be downloaded, and the kits are available upon request while supplies last.

PhytoForensics Class Activity

Three PCR Cycles (6 & 10 bp)

Featured Events

Our faculty in ALEC are here for you, and we will do whatever we can to help you succeed. Contact us anytime.

^{Got JOBS?}

One of the greatest things about our area of study is the job market. Check with our faculty for jobs in School-based Agricultural Education, Extension Education, and Leadership and Communications in the agriculture industry.