Concentrations

Agricultural and Natural Resources

Youth Leadership Development (Effective July 2010)

Agricultural Communication (No longer accepting students)

Click on the links above to see requirements for each degree program.

Undergraduate Coordinator:

Dr. Mark Kistler
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
210-C Ricks Hall
Box 7607
Raleigh, NC 27695

Phone: (919) 513-2349
Email: mark_kistler@ncsu.edu

Students in Extension Education have two options: (1) Careers in Cooperative Extension and (2) Careers in Agricultural Communications. Both options provide a number of opportunities to graduates upon completion of the degree programs.

Cooperative Extension offers exciting and rewarding careers to graduates. There are Cooperative Extension offices in every county in North Carolina and on the Cherokee Reservation. Each county is staffed with agents who specialize in either livestock production, crop production, horticulture, community development, or 4-H. (County extension offices also provide programs in family and consumer sciences, but NC State does not have an undergraduate degree program in family and consumer sciences.) These agents work with adults and youth in the counties to provide information and opportunities to improve the lives of their clientele through education programs in agriculture, families, and youth development. Students in the Agricultural and Natural Resources concentration select an area of study that prepares them for the important role as agricultural and/or natural resource Extension agents. Students in the Youth Leadership Development concentration take courses to prepare them to be the catalysts for positive change within communities as the educators and administrators of youth leadership programs (such as 4-H). Demand for graduates is strong.

The Agricultural Communication concentration focuses on public relations in agriculture. These industry-based careers require graduates with a good general knowledge of agriculture and the communication skills that are necessary to provide information to various publics about agricultural products and services. Strong writing and speaking skills are an asset to students in this program. Career options include communication and public relations departments within government agencies, and sales in the agricultural industry.  Beginning in the fall 2009, we will no longer accept students into this concentration.