PROGRAM DEFINITION
The agricultural education major offers two distinct options - Teaching or Agricultural Leadership. Both options emphasize interpersonal communication and leadership theory, a breadth of required agricultural science and natural resource course work, and field experiences to reinforce classroom learning.

Completion of the teaching option program provides professional endorsement and certification to teach agricultural education 7-12 in secondary educational institutions. It supports excellent mobility for employment with 135 positions statewide as well as over 10,000 nationally. Should teaching not be an immediate decision, the program provides outstanding preparation to enter extension education or the service sector of the agribusiness industry ultimately opening the door to post-secondary teaching.

The agricultural leadership option allows a student to pursue their passion in agriculture or natural resources by requiring a content minor, in addition to solid leadership instruction for the interpersonal dimension of the agribusiness industry. Comprehension for applying leadership theory to interpersonal situations provides the graduate excellent mobility within the dynamic industry of agribusiness. Graduates find employment in, but not limited to: extension education, human resources and training, non-profit organizations, state and federal government, sales and service positions, and production agriculture.

NEBRASKA POINTS OF DISTINCTION
• Internationally recognized Land-Grant College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural  Resources
• Department’s foundation is in teacher education; therefore, experiential education is prevalent throughout the coursework.
• A Focus within the Department exists on leadership development.
• Emphasis is on teaching competence, i.e. teach to the learner in the context the learner will use the information.
• Applied teaching with numerous field experiences beginning the first semester and continuing until graduation.
• Breadth of technical agricultural coursework is included to provide exposure to the diversity of the industry.
• Relevant internship and student teaching opportunities throughout the state, nation, and world.
• Specialized courses provide students with opportunities to enhance human relations and leadership skills.
• Students in this major can interact with students in specialized organizations in this and related fields as well as a wide variety of other groups and co-curricular activities.
• The department is the only source for endorsement preparation to teach secondary agricultural education in Nebraska.

FACILITIES
The classroom includes the real world. Students utilize on and off campus facilities as their learning laboratories. Department is connected to the field’s practitioners. Technology is utilized through Internet, Blackboard, and e-mail.

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS (What’s expected of you as an undergraduate student)
• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 to remain eligible for student teaching or paid internship.
• Complete either a 16-week student teaching experience or paid internship.
• The paid internship is to be taken as pass/no pass credit.
• Students must have a minimum of C+ from their student teaching semester to be eligible for the Nebraska Teaching Certificate.
• Document 1,000 hours of agricultural and/or natural resources experiences prior to student teaching or paid internship.

FACULTY 
http://www.aglec.unl.edu/meetourfaculty.html

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students must meet the admission requirements of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to be admitted to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.