Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

The Agricultural Education major, Agricultural Studies track, is designed for students who desire to pursue education-related careers such as educational specialists for industry, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Agricultural Education provides the foundation courses for students to earn a degree in agriculture along with the professional education courses preparing them as an education specialist. The discipline-specific courses are paired with courses that prepare students to teach and work with a diverse student population in an agricultural setting.

Coursework includes essentials such as curriculum planning, teaching for special needs, educational technology partnered with agricultural sciences, and principles of agriculture. Students may choose from a diverse selection of additional coursework to tailor their degree to fit their specific interests or area of focus.

Learn More About the Ag Studies Track

Students with an interest in teaching secondary agricultural education will be best suited pursuing the Education track of the Agricultural Education major. Those in the program will receive the knowledge and experience necessary for a successful career working with diverse student groups in an agricultural setting. Students can expect to learn all the necessary elements of the agriculture world, as well as the practical skills required for classroom management, curriculum planning, and instructional design. Students can also specify their degree by choosing from a variety of coursework focusing on topics such as plant and soil science, forestry, animal science, to agricultural economics. A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to this program.

Learn More About the Ag Education Track

Georgia has broken new ground with a formal approved course offering in public schools by providing Elementary Agriculture.  The AEC Department is the first program in the country to have an approved endorsement program for elementary agriculture!  Through a series of courses, students will learn how to teach agriculture at the elementary level.  Completing the three-course sequence AGED 4101, 4102, & 4103, while completing the degree requirement for teacher certification in 6-12 Agriculture, students can receive the Elementary Agriculture Endorsement through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

In addition, the Agriculture Elementary Endorsement is offered to current teachers who hold a teaching certification.  Current agriculture teachers as well as elementary teachers can enroll into courses to complete the three-course series to gain the endorsement through the GaPSC.

Interested individuals not already an ABAC student can apply to ABAC and contact the department for completing courses toward the endorsement.