Agricultural and Extension Education (AEE)
Program Coordinator
Dr. Dennis Scanlon
814-863-7850
aee.cas.psu.edu/ugrad/uaged.html
Agricultural and Extension Education is about doing. It’s about working with youth and adults in agriculture, agribusiness, and natural resources. It’s about working with applied agricultural science in education or employing human relations and leadership skills. It’s about working in positions where teaching, leadership development, and communication skills are important. Agricultural and Extension Education can help prepare you for positions in education and leadership in agriculture, including schools and colleges, cooperative extension, business, trade and professional associations, and government agencies. The teacher education options in this major are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the preparation of agriculture teachers in public school systems.
Why Major in Agricultural and Extension Education?
Think about majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education if:
- You want to work with youth and adults in agriculture, agribusiness, and natural resources.
- You want to work with applied agricultural science in education.
- You want to work in positions where teaching, leadership development, and communication skills are important.
Career Opportunities for Graduates
Agriculture teachers are needed everywhere. Many Agricultural and Extension Education graduates find employment in teaching with cooperative extension, trade organizations, and governmental agencies where leadership abilities are essential. Agribusiness firms employ graduates in managerial, sales, and public relation positions. Opportunities in developing countries also exist for our graduates.
This major can prepare you for positions in education in agriculture, including schools and colleges, cooperative extension, business, trade and professional associations, and government agencies. The major is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the preparation of agriculture teachers in public school systems. These teachers instruct students about topics including agricultural production, mechanics, supplies, resources, products, forestry, horticulture, and other areas.
There are three options in this major: Agricultural Production, Environmental Science, and Leadership Development and Communications. Graduates are certified to teach agriculture and/or environmental science in public high school programs for youth and adults. Graduates may also qualify to teach general science.
Course Scheduling Tips
Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisers when scheduling courses as to meet their academic goals and plan to exit. Depending on availability of courses, it may be necessary to schedule other courses and keep on track. However, some courses must be taken in a specific semester by semester sequence.
All Penn State campus course suggestions are based on enrollment at University Park by fourth semester.
Recommended Academic Plans
Environmental Science (ENVSC) Option: Penn State Campuses (PDF), University Park (PDF)
Leadership Development (L DEV) Option: Penn State Campuses (PDF), University Park (PDF)
Production (PRODT) Option: Penn State Campuses (PDF), University Park (PDF)