BS Agriculture: Agriculture Communications

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Southeast Missouri State University

Program Overview

The BS in Agriculture: Agriculture Communications at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) prepares students to communicate agricultural and environmental information effectively to consumers, legislators and industry stakeholders, combining agricultural knowledge with journalism, advertising, digital media, graphic design and strategic communication. The program suits students interested in careers across media, marketing, public relations, agriculture advocacy, sales and communication, while providing hands-on opportunities to develop professional skills using different media and technology resources.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their agricultural foundation through AO120/125 – Introduction to Plant Science and Lab, AY101 – Introduction to Animal Science, AG140 – Communicating in Agriculture and AG245 – Agricultural Economics. They also begin developing media skills through MC221 – Digital Media Production, connecting agricultural knowledge with professional communication.

Second Year: The curriculum expands students' understanding of agriculture and communication through subjects such as AG208 – Agriculture Business Data Analysis, AG250 – Agribusiness Management, AG313 – Agribusiness Social Media and MC231 – Social Media Content Creation. Students also study GD222 – Introduction to Graphic Design and MC320 – Media News, building practical skills for producing and communicating agricultural content across digital and traditional platforms.

Third Year: Students move into more specialised communication work through GD322 – Introduction to Typography, MC322 – Design for Media, MC327 – Media Visual Production, AG436 – Agriculture Ethics and AG447 – Commodity Markets in Agriculture. AG355 – Agriculture Seminar & Career Preparation further supports professional development, while courses in technical communication or strategic writing strengthen students' ability to communicate effectively to industry audiences.

Fourth Year: The final year focuses on advanced agricultural communication and professional application through AG515 – Agribusiness Communication, AG520 – Agriculture Connections & Organizational Behavior, GD411 – Identity Design, and either MC410 – Converged Media Campaigns or MC429 – Media Management. Students can also complete AG465 – Agriculture Internship or AG469 – Undergraduate Research, providing an opportunity to apply their academic learning in a professional or research setting.

Focus areas:

Agricultural communication, agricultural journalism, digital media production, social media, graphic design, typography, web design, media production, strategic writing, public relations, marketing, agricultural economics, agribusiness and agriculture advocacy.

Learning outcomes:

Students develop the ability to communicate specialised agricultural information, create communication materials using media and technology resources, understand agricultural business and science, and connect agricultural industries with consumers, legislators and other stakeholders.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The official SEMO program page does not state a specific professional accreditation for the Agriculture Communications option. The program instead emphasises practical preparation for professional careers in agricultural communication, media, marketing, sales, policy and related fields.

Reputation (employability rankings):

SEMO states that its Agriculture Communications degree is the only program of its kind in Missouri, and the university identifies career opportunities across media design, journalism, broadcasting, sales, marketing, finance, policy and consulting. The university also reports a $149,270 median annual salary for advertising, promotions and marketing managers, $86,480 for market research analysts, and $73,130 for fundraisers, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS Agriculture: Agriculture Communications at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is strongly focused on learning by doing, combining agricultural knowledge with communication, media and business skills. Students gain practical experience through internships, undergraduate research, media production, social media, marketing projects and hands-on agricultural activities, while SEMO’s greenhouse and Agriculture Research Center provide opportunities to work directly with plants, animals and agricultural operations.

Students can build professional experience through:

Agriculture Internship: AG465 – Agriculture Internship allows students to gain practical industry experience, while SEMO states that every agriculture major completes an internship as an important part of preparation for employment.
Undergraduate Research: AG469 – Undergraduate Research gives students an opportunity to participate in research as part of the Agriculture Communications curriculum.
Digital media production: Students develop communication and media skills through courses including MC221 – Digital Media Production, MC322 – Media Design, MC231 – Social Media Content Creation and MC327 – Media Visual Production.
Agricultural social media: AG313 – Social Media in Agribusiness gives students a specific opportunity to develop communication skills for agricultural organisations and businesses.
Communication and campaign projects: Students can progress into MC410 – Converged Media Campaigns and MC434 – Public Relations Campaigns & Case Studies, applying communication strategies to campaign and public-relations scenarios.
Agricultural communication practice: AG140 – Communicating in Agriculture and AG515 – Agribusiness Communication develop students' ability to communicate specialised agricultural information to consumers, organisations and other stakeholders.
Hands-on agricultural facilities: SEMO provides access to a student-run greenhouse and fully operational farm, while the Agriculture Research Center gives students practical exposure to agricultural operations and research.
Real industry experience: SEMO's Agriculture Department works with agricultural employers and professionals, and recent internship experiences have included research trials, planting, monitoring and harvesting, as well as marketing, social media, public relations and agricultural brand activities.
Professional portfolio development: The program specifically encourages students to build a portfolio from their projects and practical experiences, giving them evidence of their communication and media skills when entering the agricultural workforce.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Agriculture: Agriculture Communications at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) prepares students to combine agricultural knowledge with professional communication, media, marketing and public relations skills. Graduates can move into careers that connect agricultural organisations with consumers, businesses, legislators and other stakeholders, while the degree also provides a foundation for graduate study.

Typical career opportunities include:

Agricultural Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Agricultural Communications Specialist
Public Relations Coordinator
Agricultural Reporter / Writer
Graphic Designer or Media Producer
Agricultural Sales Representative

Career progression is supported through:

Career Services: SEMO’s Career Services office helps students with the transition from university to employment, including career preparation and connecting their education and experience with professional opportunities.
Internship experience: AG465 – Agriculture Internship allows students to gain direct professional experience, while AG469 – Undergraduate Research provides an alternative route for developing research experience.
Professional preparation: AG355 – Agriculture Seminar & Career Preparation is specifically included in the curriculum to help students prepare for professional careers.
Industry-relevant skills: Students develop capabilities in agribusiness social media, graphic design, typography, web design, identity design, digital media production, social media content creation, media news and media visual production, giving graduates a broad communications skill set for agricultural employers.
Career outcomes and salary information: SEMO highlights related occupations with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, including a $149,270 median annual salary for advertising, promotions and marketing managers, $86,480 for market research analysts, and $73,130 for fundraisers. These are occupation-level figures rather than salaries specifically guaranteed for SEMO graduates.
Employer connection: SEMO's official graduate story highlights a recent Agriculture Communications graduate who converted an internship with Wehmeyer Seed Company into a full-time Marketing and Communications Coordinator position, after gaining experience in agricultural events, social media, public relations and marketing materials.
Further industry opportunities: The university identifies career pathways across advertising, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, legislative affairs, marketing, sales, agricultural advocacy, community development, extension education and professional/trade associations.
Long-term academic value: SEMO states that the Agriculture Communications option can provide the basis for graduate work leading to a master's or doctoral degree, allowing students to progress into advanced study after completing the bachelor's degree.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into a master's or doctoral degree, particularly in agriculture, agricultural communications, agribusiness, marketing, media, communications or related fields. The university specifically confirms that this bachelor's option can serve as a foundation for master's or doctoral study.