Agricultural Leadership
The Agricultural Leadership curriculum is guided by five core values: commitment to agriculture, authentic leadership, diversity, critical thinking, and professionalism. Agricultural Leadership faculty align course objectives, learning opportunities and student experiences with the five core values. Beginning students study historical and theoretical foundations in leadership, authentic leadership, and transformational leadership before exploring contemporary leadership issues, leadership program facilitation and current scholarship in the discipline. Specific topics within coursework include leadership styles, power, decision-making, ethical leadership, motivational theories, and team processes.
In addition to leadership coursework, the curriculum provides a broad introduction to the agricultural sciences and natural resources and allows students to develop an area of emphasis or pursue a minor in areas such as Animal Science, Soil Science or Agricultural Economics.
Minor in Leadership Education
The minor is designed to prepare students to serve as leaders in the context of their chosen major. Students develop an understanding of their leadership style and philosophy, acquire knowledge about leadership theories, explore contemporary issues in leadership, evaluate current leadership research and learn to design and facilitate leadership training. Requirements of the minor include 15 hours of leadership coursework.
AGLE 1511 Introduction to Leadership in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Description: Introduction to the concept of leadership as a field of study. Emphasis placed on the application of acquired knowledge to practical problems. Previously offered as AGED 1511.
Credit hours: 1
Contact hours: Lecture: 1 Contact: 1
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 2303 Agricultural Leaders in Society (S)
Description: Analysis of agricultural leaders and societal impacts. Theories of authentic leadership and values-based leadership. Organizational, community, and workforce changes including diversity, technology, and globalization and the relationship to leader behavior.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
General Education and other Course Attributes: Social & Behavioral Sciences
AGLE 2403 Agricultural Leadership in a Multicultural Society (DS)
Description: The study of leadership as it relates to a multicultural society. Cultural changes in the agricultural workplace and future impact on the industry. Personal barriers to fulfilling leadership roles in the agricultural sciences and natural resources. Skills related to managing teams in a diverse workplace specifically related to differences in gender, race and ethnicity.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
General Education and other Course Attributes: Diversity, Social & Behavioral Sciences
AGLE 3101 Introduction to Agricultural Leadership
Prerequisites: Major in AGLE or consent of instructor.
Description: Exploring leadership in the context of agriculture. Specific topics will include authentic leadership, independent thinking, commitment to agriculture, open minds and professionalism. Graded on a pass/fail basis.
Credit hours: 1
Contact hours: Lecture: 1 Contact: 1
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 3303 Agricultural Leadership: Theory and Practice
Description: A study of the concepts and theories of leadership with emphasis on the development of leadership abilities in the individual for different group situations. Previously offered as AGED 3303.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 3333 Contemporary Issues in Leadership
Prerequisites: AGLE 2303, AGLE 3303.
Description: Explore current issues in the study of leadership. Themes based on current leadership research and writings that reveal new understandings of the leader's role as a servant, facilitator and collaborator. Previously offered as AGED 3333.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 3403 Facilitating Social Change in Agriculture
Description: Examination of processes by which professional agriculturists influence the introduction, adoption, and diffusion of technological change. Previously offered as AGED 3403.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 3503 Introduction to Cooperative Extension
Description: Cooperative Extension mission, philosophy, history, organization, structure, administration, and program areas. Extension program development, Extension teaching and delivery methods, and the involvement and use of volunteers.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 3803 Global Leadership in Agriculture (I)
Description: Contemporary global leadership in the context of agriculture. Challenges, cross-cultural conflict, managing diversity, and ethical behavior. Exploration of global leaders including Africans, Asians, Europeans, and Middle Easterners.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
General Education and other Course Attributes: International Dimension
AGLE 4101 Seminar in Leadership Education
Prerequisites: AGLE 2303, AGLE 3303.
Description: In-depth exploration of leadership topics related to agricultural sciences and natural resources.
Credit hours: 1
Contact hours: Lecture: 1 Contact: 1
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 4203 Professional Development in Agriculture
Prerequisites: AGLE 3101; junior standing.
Description: Preparation of professionals in agricultural business and industry and related areas who have career goals directed toward service, leadership, management, communications, production, processing, marketing, and education outside the public school setting. Development of professionalism through relationship building, networking, interviews, community involvement, business correspondence, websites and the resume. Previously offered as AGED 4203.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 4300 Agricultural Leadership Internship
Prerequisites: AGLE 3101, AGLE 4203 and consent of instructor.
Description: Supervised full-time internships in approved agribusinesses, governmental agencies or country extension offices. Requires written reports and a final presentation. Previously offered as AGED 4300. Offered for variable credit, 3-6 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.
Credit hours: 3-6
Contact hours: Contact: 3-6 Other: 3-6
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Independent Study
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 4303 Facilitating Leadership Education Programs
Prerequisites: AGLE 2303, AGLE 3303.
Description: Identification and application of methods and techniques for teaching leadership education programs in formal and non-formal educational settings. Focus on using experiential methods of teaching leadership.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 4803 International Agricultural Leadership Tour
Description: An experiential approach to the study of contemporary culture, agriculture, and leadership in a region outside the United States. Contemporary leadership of the region and implications related to agriculture. Comparison of leadership and agricultural practices in the designated region to that of the United States. Includes a two-week international travel component.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 4990 Problems in Agricultural Leadership
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Description: Small group and/or individual study and research in problems related to agricultural leadership. Offered for variable credit, 1-6 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.
Credit hours: 1-6
Contact hours: Contact: 1-6 Other: 1-6
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule types: Independent Study
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 5102 Creative Component in Agricultural Leadership and Extension Education
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Description: Independent project under the direction and supervision of a major advisor. Creative component projects address an agricultural leadership and/or extension education issue with the goal to inform or improve practice based upon scholarship. Open to students pursuing a Master of Agriculture degree (M.Ag.) with an option in Agricultural Leadership.
Credit hours: 2
Contact hours: Contact: 2 Other: 2
Levels: Graduate
Schedule types: Independent Study
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 5303 Foundations of Leadership Theory
Description: Study of leadership theory including definitions of leadership, a history of modern leadership theory, and current trends in leadership practice and research. Models of leadership including contingency models, situational leadership and transformational leadership. Previously offered as AGED 5303.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Graduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 5353 Leadership in Agriculture
Prerequisites: AGLE 5303 or consent of instructor.
Description: Concepts, principles, and philosophies of leadership applied to agricultural contexts. Importance of traits, perceptions, and behaviors to success of agricultural professionals in leadership roles. Dimensions and style of leadership for varying situations. Previously offered as AGED 5353.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Graduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 5990 Problems in Agricultural Leadership and Extension Education
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Description: Investigation in designated areas of agricultural leadership and/or extension education. Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.
Credit hours: 1-3
Contact hours: Contact: 1-3 Other: 1-3
Levels: Graduate
Schedule types: Independent Study
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
AGLE 6203 Extension Program Development
Description: A systematic study of the history, culture and functions of the Cooperative Extension System in America. Focus on program planning, including needs assessments, involvement of local constituent groups, use of the logic model, teaching methods, program evaluations, marketing and planning for the future. Previously offered as AGED 6200.
Credit hours: 3
Contact hours: Lecture: 3 Contact: 3
Levels: Graduate
Schedule types: Lecture
Department/School: Ag Ed, Comm & Leadership
Students may pursue graduate studies in agricultural leadership through a Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Education and Leadership, the Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education and Leadership, or the department’s Doctor of Philosophy degree programs.
The Master of Agriculture degree is an advanced studies program for practitioners seeking to develop their knowledge related to education, leadership, and their applications to the agricultural industry. Graduates pursue careers in teaching, school administration, Extension, government, corporate agriculture, and human resources and training. The Master of Agriculture program requires 32 approved semester hours of coursework including a 17-hour area of emphasis.
The Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education and Leadership offers students two options for completion of the degree: thesis option or formal report option. The thesis option requires 30 approved credit hours of coursework, which includes a six-credit hour formal thesis following the graduate college format. The formal report option requires 32 approved semester credit hours of coursework, including a two-credit hour formal report.
The Doctor of Philosophy program in Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership is designed to prepare graduates for careers in professional education, supervision, administration, curriculum development and other areas of professional leadership in Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Career and Technology, and Agricultural Communications. Within the minimum 60-credit hour requirement, 15 credit hours must be completed in the core area. In addition, 15 credit hours must be completed in an area of specialization such as Agricultural Extension, Technical Agriculture, Educational Administration, or other similar areas. The additional hours include 15 hours of research design and statistics and 15 hours for the dissertation.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the master's degree programs must have earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural leadership or a closely related field. A student with background deficiencies must compensate for such deficiencies before completing the Master of Science degree. Evidence of academic ability (2.80 GPA or above) in undergraduate coursework is required. Three letters of reference and a statement of purpose are also required. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are required for students seeking admission to the Master of Science degree program.
Admission to the doctoral degree program is based upon evidence the applicant meets the general requirements of the Graduate College, has demonstrated superior achievement, and can successfully complete a doctoral program as evidenced by three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a minimum of 2.80 undergraduate grade-point average and 3.00 graduate grade-point average, and a philosophy statement and goals. Alternative criteria may be considered by the graduate committee for those who submit ample supportive evidence of other exemplary qualifications.
J. Shane Robinson, PhD—Professor and Head
Professors: D. Dwayne Cartmell, PhD; M. Craig Edwards, PhD; Shelly R. Legg, PhD; Jon W. Ramsey, PhD; Robert Terry, Jr., PhD
Associate Professor: Angel Riggs, PhD; Quisto Settle, PhD
Assistant Professors: Courtney Brown, PhD; Lauren Cline, PhD; Bradley Coleman, PhD; Chris Eck, PhD; Audrey King, PhD
Lecturers: Kenna Sandburg, MS; Nathan Smith, MS; Kaylee Travis, MS