BS Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

The BS Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a 4-year program designed for students who want to build careers in agricultural communications, agricultural education, or organizational and community leadership. Students develop a strong foundation in leadership, education, communication, and agricultural systems, with the flexibility to choose one of three concentrations that aligns with their career goals.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of the field through ALEC 110 – Introduction to Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications and ALEC 123 – ALEC Orientation to Illinois, developing an understanding of leadership, communication and educational theory. They also complete general education and communication requirements while beginning coursework within their chosen concentration.

Second Year: Students move into more applied agricultural communication and concentration-specific study, including AGCM 220 – Communicating Agriculture, which develops skills in writing, interviewing and communicating complex agricultural information to different audiences. Depending on the concentration, students also begin more specialised subjects such as sustainable food systems, crop sciences, communication technology, educational psychology or other technical agricultural areas.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes increasingly specialised and develops students' ability to address contemporary agricultural and social challenges. Core study includes LEAD 340 – Leadership Ethics & Society: Addressing Contemporary Challenges, while concentration coursework can include AGCM 315 – Social Media Management in Agricultural Communications, AGCM 310 – Investigating Agricultural Communications, AGED 220 – Program Development in Agricultural & Leadership Education, or AGED 250 – Observation and Program Analysis.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their professional preparation through ALEC 451 – Professional Development in ALEC and advanced concentration coursework. Depending on their chosen pathway, this can include ALEC 393 – Internship in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, AGCM 420 – Public Information Campaigns, AGED 421 – Teaching Strategies in AGED, or AGED 450 – Program Delivery and Evaluation, allowing students to connect their academic knowledge with professional practice.

Focus areas:

Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, Organizational & Community Leadership, leadership development, agricultural communication, education, community engagement, professional development, food and agricultural systems, and communication strategy.

Learning outcomes:

Students learn to critically evaluate contemporary issues, assess challenges and opportunities, communicate effectively, develop solutions, apply leadership and communication theories, integrate knowledge across disciplines, work within global contexts, and lead or educate with an awareness of inclusion and ethical practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The degree is structured around three career-focused concentrations: Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, and Organizational & Community Leadership. The Agricultural Education pathway is specifically designed for students seeking careers teaching agricultural science, agribusiness, agricultural mechanics and horticulture in Illinois high schools, while the other pathways prepare students for professional, supervisory, training, sales, outreach and communications roles.

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides this program through its College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), with the curriculum combining agriculture with leadership, education and communications. Its structured professional development, internship opportunities and concentration-based preparation give students a direct way to develop career-ready expertise in the agricultural sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is designed around practical leadership, education, and communication skills that students can apply to food, agriculture, environmental, community, and organizational settings. Students can gain hands-on experience through internships, undergraduate research, study abroad, student teaching, workshops, and applied communication projects, allowing them to connect classroom learning with professional situations.

The program offers three concentrations—Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, and Organizational & Community Leadership—so experiential opportunities can be tailored to the student's career direction. Key opportunities include:

Agricultural Communications projects: Students develop practical skills in writing, interviewing, researching, communicating complex agricultural information, and evaluating information sources through courses such as AGCM 220 – Communicating Agriculture.
Agricultural Education experience: Students pursuing Agricultural Education complete more than 100 hours of instruction and a 12-week student-teaching experience, including hands-on work leading classes and workshops.
Industry/community internship: The Organizational & Community Leadership concentration includes a 10-week internship within an agricultural industry or community organization, where students gain real-world experience.
ALEC internship: ALEC 393 – Internship in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications allows students to apply classroom principles and theories to meaningful workplace experiences.
Communications internship: ALEC 293 – Communications Internship provides supervised experience directly related to agricultural leadership, education, or communications.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led undergraduate research, while ALEC 294 – Research Internship provides supervised, on-campus research experience with faculty.
Independent research and projects: ALEC 295 – Independent Study or Research allows students to undertake individual research, special problems, thesis, development, or design work under faculty supervision.
Study abroad: ALEC offers at least two faculty-led study-abroad programs each year, giving students real-world international experience connected to their academic interests.
Leadership and communication practice: Courses such as ALEC 115 – Let’s Talk about Food, Agriculture, and the Environment require students to deliver five speeches and analyse speeches and other mediated messages, providing repeated practice in public communication.
Student organisations: Students can develop leadership and professional networks through ALEC-related organisations including Illini Emerging Leaders, Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and Illinois Ag Ed Club/Alpha Tau Alpha.
Professional development: ALEC 451 – Professional Development in ALEC serves as a professional capstone where senior students synthesise their learning and develop practical tools for professional success.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign prepares graduates for professional careers across agricultural communications, education, leadership, training, sales, outreach and community development. Students can choose from Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, or Organizational & Community Leadership, allowing them to align their degree with their preferred career direction.

Typical career opportunities include:

Agricultural Communications Specialist
Agricultural Educator/Teacher
Community or Extension Program Coordinator
Agricultural Sales or Training Specialist

Career progression is supported through:

Employment outcomes: For 2024–2025, 87% of ALEC B.S. graduates were placed, 85% were employed, and the reported average salary was $56,378. A further 15% pursued an advanced degree or certification.
Career-ready preparation: The College of ACES highlights job-ready leadership, teaching and communications experience, giving students practical skills that can transfer directly into professional agricultural roles.
Employer connections: Previous ALEC graduates have progressed into roles with organisations such as ADM, Caterpillar, Farm Bureau, Illinois Farm Bureau, CGB Enterprises, Beck's Hybrids and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, demonstrating the breadth of industries that recruit graduates with these skills.
Professional development: ALEC 451 – Professional Development in ALEC is part of the degree, helping students prepare for professional careers, while ALEC 393 – Internship in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications provides direct workplace experience.
Leadership and outreach opportunities: The Organizational & Community Leadership concentration specifically prepares students for supervisory, training, sales and outreach positions in agricultural, extension, community and governmental organisations.
Strong graduate outcomes: The program's recent results show that the majority of graduates enter employment or continue into further study, giving students multiple pathways after completing the bachelor's degree.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced degrees or professional certifications, with 15% of the 2024–2025 ALEC graduates reported as pursuing an advanced degree or certification. The program therefore provides a foundation for further study in areas such as agricultural education, communications, leadership, agricultural sciences, community development or related graduate disciplines.