Major in Agricultural Education, Teacher Development Concentration

Program Overview

The Agricultural Education, Teacher Development Concentration at Colorado State University prepares students to become secondary school agricultural education teachers. The program emphasizes classroom instruction, experiential learning, and leadership development, providing students with a strong foundation in agricultural content and educational theory. Graduates are in high demand, with many filling teaching and administrative positions in public schools or pursuing advanced degrees in agricultural education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Agricultural Education, Teacher Development Concentration is a Bachelor of Science degree program offered at Colorado State University. This program prepares students to become agricultural education teachers in secondary schools. The program emphasizes a three-part model of teacher development: classroom instruction, experiential learning, and leadership development. The program aims to equip students with a strong foundation in agricultural content and educational theory. Students gain a broad understanding of agricultural topics, including animal science, plant science, agricultural mechanics, natural resources, food products and processing, and agriculture business. They also develop skills in educational theory, instructional design, and classroom management.

Outline:

The program is structured over eight semesters, with a total of 120 credit hours required for graduation. The curriculum is divided into four years:

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1: AGED 210 (History of Agriculture in the United States), AGED 220 (Understanding Agricultural Education), AREC 192 (Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ), CO 150 (College Composition), ANEQ 101 (Food Animal Science) or ANEQ 102 (Introduction to Equine Science), BZ 110 & BZ 111 (Principles of Animal Biology) or BZ 120 (Principles of Plant Biology) or LIFE 102 (Attributes of Living Systems).
• Semester 2: AREC 202 (Agricultural and Resource Economics), AGED 240 (Technical Tool Applications in Ag Education), ANEQ 250 (Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation), CHEM 107 (Fundamentals of Chemistry), MATH 117 (College Algebra in Context I) or MATH 118 (College Algebra in Context II) or MATH 124 (Logarithmic and Exponential Functions) or MATH 141 (Calculus in Management Sciences) or MATH 155 (Calculus for Biological Scientists I) or MATH 160 (Calculus for Physical Scientists I).

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3: AGED 244 (Power, Structure, and Tech.
Systems in Ag Ed), SOCR 100 (General Crops), Agricultural Science Elective, Arts and Humanities, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Semester 4: EDUC 275 (Schooling in the United States), FW 104 (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation), SOCR 240 (Introductory Soil Science), Agricultural Science Elective, Arts and Humanities.

Junior Year:

• Semester 5: EDUC 340 (Literacy and the Learner), AREC 310 (Agricultural Marketing) or AREC 311 (Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing) or AREC 342 (Water Law, Policy, and Institutions) or AREC 375 (Agricultural Law) or AREC 408 (Agricultural Finance) or AREC 478 (Agricultural Policy), RS 300 (Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship) or SOCR 320 (Sustainable Forage Management for Livestock), ANEQ 360 (Principles of Meat Science) or ANEQ 450 (Processed Meats) or FTEC 110 or FSHN 125 (Food-From Farm to Table Food and Nutrition in Health).
• Semester 6: AGED 420 (Developing School-Based Ag Education Programs), AREC 305 (Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis), EDUC 350 (Instruction I-Individualization/Management), EDUC 331 (Educational Technology and Assessment), EDUC 386 (Practicum-Instruction I), Advanced Writing.

Senior Year:

• Semester 7: AGED 440 (Managing Experiences in Ag Ed Laboratories), EDCT 425 (Methods/Materials in Agricultural Education), EDUC 450 (Instruction II-Standards and Assessment), EDUC 486 (EPracticum: Instruction II), HORT 100 (Horticultural Science).
• Semester 8: AREC 492 (Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics), EDCT 485 (Student Teaching), EDCT 492 (Seminar-Professional Relations).

Assessment:

• Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75.
• Students must pass the Praxis II assessment for Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources licensure.
• Students must complete a student teaching semester internship.

Teaching:

• The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, group projects, and hands-on activities.
• Students have the opportunity to work with experienced faculty members who are experts in their fields.
• The program emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

Careers:

• Graduates of the Teacher Development concentration are in high demand to fill a shortage of agricultural education teachers.
• Two-thirds of program graduates take teaching and administrative positions in public schools.
• Other graduates fill positions in agribusiness, feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery and finance companies, and human resource positions in agribusiness companies.
• Graduates often pursue advanced degrees in teaching agriculture and work at community colleges, in extension, or as curriculum specialists in organizations.

Other:

• Agricultural education is delivered through approximately 120 secondary programs located throughout Colorado.
• Over 6,000 young people are enrolled in agricultural education programs in Colorado.
• Students in the Teacher Development concentration take classes in agriculture and in the Center for Educator Preparation (CEP).
• The curriculum requires students to demonstrate a competent knowledge of educational theory and a broad-based understanding in agricultural content.