Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
The major in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications is for students wishing to pursue careers in various professional contexts. The major currently offers three concentrations. Agricultural Communications, where students will learn and apply communication skills in telling the story of food, agriculture, and the environment. Students wishing to pursue a career as a teacher of agricultural science, agribusiness, agricultural mechanics, and horticulture in Illinois high schools should select the Agricultural Education concentration. The Organizational and Community Leadership concentration prepares students for supervisory, training, sales, and outreach positions in agricultural, extension, community, and governmental agencies.
Students pursuing the Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications, BS select from three concentrations:
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 126 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by AGCM 220 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by concentration coursework and any other course approved as Natural Sciences & Technology | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6-8 | |
fulfilled by concentration coursework | ||
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by LEAD 340 | ||
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | 15 | |
| ALEC 110 | Introduction to Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications | 3 |
| ALEC 123 | ALEC Orientation to Illinois | 1 |
| ALEC 451 | Professional Development in ALEC | 2 |
| AGCM 220 | Communicating Agriculture | 3 |
| LEAD 340 | Leadership Ethics & Society: Addressing Contemporary Challenges | 3 |
| Oral Communication | 3-6 | |
| Let’s Talk about Food, Agriculture, and the Environment | ||
or CMN 101 | Public Speaking | |
| Oral & Written Comm I and Oral & Written Comm II | ||
| Required Concentration (choose one): | 52-72 | |
| Agricultural Communications | 54 | |
| Agricultural Education | 72 | |
| Organizational & Community Leadership | 52 | |
| Electives | ||
Free electives as needed to total 126 hours minimum | ||
| Total Hours: | 126 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ALEC 110 | 3 | Composition I or Oral Communication | 4 |
| ALEC 123 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| Composition I or Oral Communication | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 2 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AGCM 220 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| LEAD 340 | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Concentration course | 2 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ALEC 451 | 2 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Concentration course | 3 |
| Concentration course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 126 | |||
for the Bachelor of Science major in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
- Within the scope of food, agriculture, human, and natural resources systems in contemporary society, ALEC students will solve challenges and take advantage of opportunities.
- Engage in critical thinking about current issues
- Assess situational strengths and obstacles
- Use effective communications
- Create solutions that respond to current issues
- Within the scope of food, agriculture, human, and natural resources systems in contemporary society, ALEC students will demonstrate a strong foundation in theories and empirical knowledge associated with leadership, education, and communications.
- Describe current and historical challenges facing people within food, agriculture, human, and natural resource systems
- Recall summarize and apply key theories, models, principles and terminology
- Apply knowledge to global contexts
- Integrate knowledge across courses and content areas
- Critique current theoretical and empirical knowledge and methodological approaches
- Within the scope of food, agriculture, human, and natural resources systems in contemporary society, ALEC students will lead, educate, and communicate with an awareness and commitment to inclusion.
- Critically examine personal backgrounds, biases, and experiences
- Use ethical principles and practices
- Facilitate environments that foster a sense of belonging
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications
Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications Website
174 Bevier Hall
905 S. Goodwin Ave
Urbana, IL 61801
217-333-3165
aces-alec@illinois.edu
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Website
ACES Office of Academic Programs
128 Mumford Hall
1301 West Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3380
ACES-Academics@illinois.edu
Advising
Advising Website
217-333-3570
aces-alec@illinois.edu
Admissions
ACES Undergraduate Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
217-333-3380
visitACES@illinois.edu