Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications: Agricultural Education, BS

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, Agricultural Education concentration


Students pursuing the Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, BS select from three concentrations:

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, Agricultural Education concentration


Agricultural Education concentration:

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. 

Composition I 4-6
Advanced Composition3
fullfilled by AGCM 220
Humanities and the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences and Technology (6 hours)6
fulfilled by ACES 102 or CPSC 112; FSHN 101 or 120
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
fulfilled by ACE 100 or ECON 102; PSYC 100
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
Major Requirements15
ALEC 110Introduction to Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications3
ALEC 123ALEC Orientation to Illinois1
ALEC 451Professional Development in ALEC2
AGCM 220Communicating Agriculture3
LEAD 340Leadership Ethics & Society: Addressing Contemporary Challenges3
Oral Communication3-6
Let’s Talk about Food, Agriculture, and the Environment
Public Speaking
Oral & Written Comm I
and Oral & Written Comm II
Agricultural Education Concentration Requirements72
ACE 100Introduction to Applied Microeconomics3-4
or ECON 102 Microeconomic Principles
CPSC 112Introduction to Crop Sciences3-4
or ACES 102 Intro Sustainable Food Systems
PSYC 100Intro Psych4
AGED 220Prog Del in Ag & Leadership Ed3
AGED 250Observation and Program Analys4
AGED 350Early Field Experience3
AGED 420Curr Design & Instruction3
AGED 421Teaching Strategies in AGED3
AGED 450Program Delivery and Eval4
CI 473Disciplinary Literacy3
EPSY 201Educational Psychology3
EPOL 201Foundations of Education3
or EPOL 202 Foundations of Education-ACP
SPED 405General Educator's Role in Special Education3
EDPR 442Educational Practice in Secondary Education8
Technical Subject Matter Required
ANSC 100Intro to Animal Sciences4
ETMA 100Technical Systems in Agr3
Choose one of the following:
ACE 222Agricultural Marketing3
ACE 232Farm Management3
ACE 345Small Business Finance3
Choose one of the following:
HORT 100Introduction to Horticulture3
HORT 105Vegetable Gardening3
Choose one of the following:
FSHN 101The Science of Food and How it Relates to You3
FSHN 120Contemporary Nutrition3
Choose one of the following:
NRES 100Fundamentals of Env Sci3
NRES 101Wildlife Conservation in the 21st Century3
NRES 201Introductory Soils4
NRES 219Applied Ecology3
Choose one of the following:
LEAD 260Foundations of Leadership3
LEAD 425Leading Teams3
Electives
Free electives as needed to total 126 hours minimum
Total Hours:126

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, Agricultural Education concentration


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 SemesterHours
ALEC 1103
ALEC 1231
Oral Communication or Composition I3
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 17
Total Hours 17
First Year
Second SemesterHours
Composition I or Oral Communication4
PSYC 1004
ACE 100 or ECON 1023
Technical Subject course3
EPOL 2013
 17
Total Hours 17
Second Year
First SemesterHours
AGCM 2203
General Education course3
General Education course3
Technical Subject course3
ACES 102 or CPSC 1124
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
General Education course3
General Education course3
EPSY 2013
Technical Subject course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 18
Total Hours 18
Third Year
First SemesterHours
LEAD 3403
General Education course3
AGED 2203
ANSC 1004
Technical Subject course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
AGED 2504
AGED 4203
CI 4733
ETMA 1003
Technical Subject course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
ALEC 4512
AGED 3503
AGED 4213
SPED 4053
Free Elective course3
 14
Total Hours 14
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
AGED 4504
EDPR 4428
 12
Total Hours 12

Total Hours: 126

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, Agricultural Education concentration


  1. Within the scope of food, agriculture, human, and natural resources systems in contemporary society, ALEC students will solve challenges and take advantage of opportunities.
    1. Engage in critical thinking about current issues
    2. Assess situational strengths and obstacles
    3. Use effective communications
    4. Create solutions that respond to current issues
  2. 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.
    1. Describe current and historical challenges facing people within food, agriculture, human, and natural resource systems
    2. Recall summarize and apply key theories, models, principles and terminology
    3. Apply knowledge to global contexts
    4. Integrate knowledge across courses and content areas
    5. Critique current theoretical and empirical knowledge and methodological approaches
  3. 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.
    1. Critically examine personal backgrounds, biases, and experiences
    2. Use ethical principles and practices
    3. Facilitate environments that foster a sense of belonging

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, Agricultural Education concentration


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