2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
The Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech is committed to preparing students for success in professions that apply agricultural content to social settings. We offer a majors in Agricultural and Extension Education and Community Leadership and Development. Our minors include Leadership and Social Change and Teaching and Learning in Agriculture. Our students will experience an interdisciplinary program of study designed to address the growing needs of today's evolving agricultural and food systems. The Leadership and Social Change minor is for students planning to pursue careers in a variety of different fields including non-profit organizations, government governmental and non-governmental agencies, industry, and educational sectors. The minor for Teaching and Learning in Agriculture is a great opportunity to learn more about the practical skills of teaching agriculture to supplement your major. Throughout this minor’s curriculum, you will examine educational practices and use them to learn applicable skills for your future career.
The Agricultural and Extension Education major prepares individuals to excel in careers related to youth education in community programs, middle and high school agricultural education, and adult education.
The Community Leadership and Development major is intended for students interested in bridging community-based education efforts with leadership development in agricultural contexts, including non-profit, government, commodities, and industry/corporate roles.
For additional information about both degrees, contact the department's interim undergraduate coordinator, Dr. Michelle Greaud at 540-231-6337 or mgreaud@vt.edu.
The Leadership and Social Change minor introduces students to the academic study of leadership and provides them with interdisciplinary skills to solve complex societal issues at the local, national, and international levels. While engaging in the study of leadership, students will also learn about the Social Change Model of Leadership Development created specifically for college students. This model helps students understand themselves (individual values), how to work with others (group values), and how to better serve their communities (society values). In this process, students will not only learn about leadership but will also answer the question: leadership for what?
The Leadership and Social Change minor requirements may be found by visiting the University Registrar website at https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/checksheets.html.
For additional information about the minor, contact Dr. Austin Council at (540) 231-8188 or adc@vt.edu.
The minor for Teaching and Learning in Agriculture will capture the interest of individuals interested in learning how to apply practical educational pedagogy in diverse career settings across all areas of agriculture and life sciences. Completion of the minor will offer students job market opportunities beyond those specifically associated with their major.
The Teaching and Learning in Agriculture minor requirements may be found by visiting the University Registrar website at https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/checksheets.html.
For more information about the minor, contact Dr. Brett Milliken at (540) 231-1003 or bmilliken@vt.edu.
Once students enrolled in the AEE or CLD major have attempted 72 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing and credit by examination), "satisfactory progress" will consist of:
Head: Tracy Rutherford
Professors: L. V. Crowder, E. K. Kaufman, K. L. Niewolny, R. D. Rudd, T. A. Rutherford, and D. M. Westfall-Rudd
Associate Professors: T. G. Archibald, C. R. Friedel, and H. H. Scherer
Assistant Professors: T. A. Drape, R. Nayak, J. Parrella, and H. M. Sunderman
Collegiate Faculty: A. D. Council, K. McCain, D. B. Milliken, and J. H. Walz
Instructor/Lecturer: S. C. Mariger and M. M. Seibel
Adjunct/Affiliate Faculty: S. J. Manchester, D. Odoom, J. Obeng-Baah, and R. J. Rateau
Adjunct Associate Professor: F. Shushok
Emeritus Faculty: S. R. Burke, W. G. Camp, J. R. Crunkilton, and J. H. Hillison
Undergraduate Program Director: D. M. Westfall-Rudd (540) 231-5717; mooredm@vt.edu
Introduction to metal working tools, equipment/operation and safety practices. Including the fundamentals of Oxy-Acetylene (OA) gas welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).
Functional considerations in facilities development for production agriculture. Concepts of farmstead planning and system development. Techniques for providing safe and efficient animal production environments, especially for confinement facilities.
Examines histories of persons representing different social identities, statuses, space, place, and traditions in agricultural and life sciences. Explores how differences influence experiences individuals may have in agricultural and life sciences. Apply ethical reasoning practices to recognize and addresses critical issues surrounding inclusion of diverse populations within agricultural and life sciences education and leadership.
Engine and power train technology with an emphasis on the fundamentals of internal combustion engines, electrical systems, power transmission systems and maintenance practices.
Offers a foundation for student engagement and exploration of educational programs within agricultural and life sciences. Formal and non-formal learning contexts in local community programs. Opportunities include fieldwork assignments.
Leadership theory and skills required to perform effectively in leadership positions within agricultural organizations and communities. Leadership skills, personal development, teamwork, and social responsibility in agriculture industry.
Introduction to metal working tools, equipment, and processes. Fundamentals of hot and cold metal working, plumbing, and welding applications, including inert gas welding processes. Junior standing or consent of instructor is required.
Techniques in metal work and welding that include tool maintenance, Oxy-Acetylene (OA), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). Design of welded structures, fundamentals of heat treatment, plastic welding and Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC). Pre: Junior standing.
Communication skills necessary to carry out work with the general public and audiences in the food, agriculture, and natural resources fields. Professional writing for diverse audiences, assessing best written communication practices, and on creation of a portfolio, utilizing multiple platforms of written communication. Pre: Junior standing.
Strategies and techniques for effective oral communication in professions related to food, agriculture, and natural resources. Oral, visual, and interpersonal communication, ethical framing of complex problems, group leadership, and meeting management.
Identifying principles of inclusive and culturally responsive public engagement. Creating life sciences communication strategies and community-centered approaches that maximize public engagement. Evaluating effects of life sciences communication strategies on public engagement.
Application of academic knowledge and skills to in a work-based experience aligned with post-graduation goals using research-based learning processes. Satisfactory completion of work-based experience often in the form of internship, undergraduate research, co-op, or study abroad; self-evaluation; reflection; and showcase of learning. Pre: Departmental approval of 3900 plan.
Organizing classes, developing programs of instruction and teaching techniques applicable to out-of-school groups in Agriculture.
An overview of the Cooperative Extension Service as it applies to non-formal education for citizens and communities. Major areas discussed include history, organization, functional areas, responsibilities of local agents, employment in extension, and educational program planning.
Major emphasis will be given to the agricultural teachers responsibility for supervision of the Supervised Occupational Experience Program (SOEP). The course will emphasize the ownership project, the cooperative placement project, maintaining record books, and supervising the SOEP.
Course examines the procedures involved in the development of courses, curriculum, and instructional materials for education programs in agriculture.
A senior capstone course addressing issues of importance for majors in Agricultural Sciences. The course will emphasize a synthesis of research results from collected data and information on contemporary problems in agriculture and related fields and a sharing of the results. It will emphasize the development of skills in critical analysis. Senior Standing required.
Off-campus participation experience for those preparing to become extension agents in the Cooperative Extension Service. Variable Credit; 6-16 credits.
Plan, organize, and manage secondary school mechanics laboratories. Management of the instructional program, facility, equipment, inventory, safety, liability, personnel, material control, and student customer work.
Provides current and prospective career and occupational education teachers with research bases, resources, and available curricula for teaching content in the respective disciplines. Develops the ability to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate curricula. The prerequisite EDCT 2604 will be waived for Agricultural Education students. Pre: Junior Standing
Survey of strategies for design, implementation, and evaluation of instruction and training practices in agricultural life sciences. Applications of principles in formal and non-formal educational settings, including schools, extension, and industry. Pre: Junior standing
Theory, practices, and procedures involved in planning, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating adult education programs in Vocational and Technical Education. Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, courses in teaching methods and curriculum required.
Comprehensive examination of community education and development. Community/sustainable community development, strategies for mobilizing social change in/with communities. Explore participatory, popular, and community-based education from rural and urban settings. Globalization, sustainability, and social movement discourse with emphasis on agricultural, health, and food system examples. Pre: Junior standing.
Planning, using, evaluating classroom procedures; selection and organization of subject content and materials in vocational and technical education. Maximum credit: 6 Consent required.
Planned program of clinical practice in education under the direction and supervision of a university supervisor and a selected practitioner. Recommendation of program area and successful completion of Professional Studies required.
Organizational design of educational youth programs such as 4-H and FFA, including administrative planning, human resource development, recruitment, marketing, and budgeting.
Language, theories, concepts, and competencies associated with practicing effective leadership and social change and developing intercultural and global awareness.
Application of foundational knowledge of leadership, intercultural and global awareness, the social change model, and socially responsible leadership concepts toward a service-learning project.
Theories and basic principles associated with being a positive influence on fellow students, identification of contemporary college student issues, leadership skills utilized to motivate peers in teamwork-based scenarios, leadership skills associated with human development, ethics, maintaining community, and conflict in decision making. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6 credits.
May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
This course examines advanced leadership theories and leadership effectiveness in todays organizations.
Develop effectiveness in leading, delegating, and communicating within a team environment. Emphasis on motivation of team members, emotional intelligence, ethical issues, team member dynamics, team management, and effective team processes.
Culmination of comprehensive knowledge gained about leadership and social change throughout a students undergraduate career. Involves reflection on collegiate leadership experiences and coursework in the leadership and social change minor. Results in student development of an electronic portfolio (i.e., ePortfolio). Pre: Senior standing.
Skills essential for leading nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit sector, governance, fundraising, financial administration, managing personnel, media communications, strategic planning, and leadership skills. Pre: Junior Standing.
May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
Honors
Honors
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