Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) – Agricultural Education.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Southeast Missouri State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) – Agricultural Education at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) prepares students to become agricultural educators while also developing skills applicable to corporate training, management, sales, public relations, government and nonprofit organisations. Students combine professional teacher preparation with agricultural studies such as plant science, animal science, agribusiness, agricultural economics, soils, horticulture, mechanization and natural-resource management, creating a versatile foundation for careers both inside and outside the classroom.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their agricultural foundation through courses such as AG140 – Communicating in Agriculture, AY101 – Animal Science, AO120 – Plant Science and AO125 – Plant Science Lab, while completing general education and mathematics requirements. This year introduces students to agricultural communication, plant systems and animal science alongside their broader university education.

Year 2: The curriculum develops deeper agricultural and educational knowledge through AO260 – Integrated Pest Management, AO215 – Soils, AO401 – Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, AG245 – Agricultural Economics and ED280 – Introduction to Education as a Profession. Students begin connecting agricultural expertise with adolescent development and the foundations of professional teaching.

Year 3: Students move further into agricultural leadership and teaching practice through AG250 – Agribusiness Management, AG302 – Agricultural Education Planning, AG355 – Agricultural Seminar, SE350 – Pedagogy 1: Principles of Effective Teaching and SE355 – Field Experience II. Options such as HO350 – Advanced Greenhouse Management, AG440 – Precision Agriculture and AO480 – Crop Production allow students to strengthen their practical agricultural specialisation.

Year 4: The final year focuses strongly on professional preparation through AG303 – Agricultural Mechanization, AG447 – Marketing Agricultural Products, SE317 – Methods in Agricultural Education, SE380 – Advanced Field Experience and SE385 – Pedagogy 3: Advanced Methods of Middle and Secondary Teaching. Students complete the program with SE465 – Student Teaching, a 12-credit-hour experience designed to bring together their agricultural knowledge and classroom teaching skills.

Focus areas: Agricultural education, agricultural communication, agribusiness, agricultural economics, plant science, animal science, soils, horticulture, agricultural mechanization, precision agriculture, natural-resource management, teaching methodology and student development.

Learning outcomes: Students develop skills in teaching and curriculum development, agricultural science and production, leadership and program management, communication and public speaking, FFA advising and youth development, problem-solving, critical thinking, and community and industry engagement.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BSED Agricultural Education program prepares students for Missouri teacher licensure, with students required to complete the applicable state assessments and student-teaching requirements; SEMO notes that the program meets educational requirements for professional licensure/certification in Missouri.

Reputation (employability): SEMO states that agricultural education graduates are well qualified and in high demand across the agricultural sector, with nearly 50% of agricultural education graduates entering careers outside secondary education within agriculture. Recent graduate destinations listed by SEMO include Portageville, Meadow Heights, Fredericktown, Poplar Bluff and Cuba Public Schools, as well as the National FFA Organization.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) – Agricultural Education at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is strongly practice-oriented, combining agricultural science with teacher preparation and real classroom experience. Students move from agricultural coursework such as Plant Science, Soils, Precision Agriculture and Agricultural Mechanization into progressively advanced teaching experiences, including Field Experience II, Advanced Field Experience and a 12-credit Student Teaching placement.

The program gives students several direct ways to develop professional skills:

Field experience: SE355 – Field Experience II and SE380 – Advanced Field Experience provide structured school-based experience before the final student-teaching stage.
Student teaching: SE465 – Student Teaching carries 12 credit hours, giving students substantial supervised classroom experience as they prepare for agricultural teaching.
Agricultural teaching practice: SE317 – Methods in Agricultural Education develops students' ability to apply teaching methods specifically within agricultural education.
Agricultural projects and practical study: Students can work with plant science, soils, integrated pest management, crop production, animal science, horticulture, agricultural mechanization and precision agriculture, creating a broad practical agricultural foundation.
Agriculture internship: SEMO offers AG465 – Agriculture Internship, a supervised hands-on experience designed to develop professional and networking skills while exposing students to different agricultural career opportunities.
Undergraduate research: AG469 – Undergraduate Research in Agriculture provides research experience in project design, data analysis and communicating findings, allowing students to contribute to agricultural knowledge.
Agricultural facilities: SEMO highlights hands-on learning through its greenhouse and Agriculture Research Center, where students can gain practical experience with plants, animals and agricultural activities.
Agricultural technology: The curriculum includes AG440 – Precision Agriculture, giving students exposure to modern technology-based agricultural practices alongside traditional agricultural subjects.
Professional teaching preparation: The program includes SE385 – Pedagogy 3: Advanced Methods of Middle and Secondary Teaching and SE390 – Instructional Interventions for Middle and Secondary Students with Special Literacy Needs, preparing students to handle different classroom and learning requirements.
Career-connected experience: SEMO identifies recent agricultural education graduate employment with organisations including Portageville, Meadow Heights, Fredericktown and Poplar Bluff Public Schools, as well as the National FFA Organization, showing the connection between the program and professional agricultural education careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) – Agricultural Education at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) prepares students for careers in agricultural education as well as opportunities across the wider agriculture sector. SEMO notes that graduates are qualified for roles in secondary education, corporate training, management, sales, public relations, government and nonprofit organisations, with nearly 50% of agricultural education graduates entering careers outside secondary education within agriculture.

Typical career opportunities include:

Agricultural Education Teacher
Extension Agent
Agricultural Sales Representative
Agricultural Communications Specialist
Government/Regulatory Agent
Curriculum Developer

SEMO supports graduates' transition into employment through:

Career Services: SEMO's Career Services provides career advising, résumé support, employer connections, career events and access to Handshake, where students and alumni can find employment and internship opportunities.
Graduate outcomes: SEMO reports a 98% overall successful outcome rate, meaning graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.
Agricultural education demand: SEMO describes agricultural education graduates as being in high demand, particularly because of the shortage of certified agricultural educators and qualified agricultural professionals.
Teacher preparation: Students complete the professional education component required for the BSED and prepare for Missouri educator licensure through the program's content and pedagogy requirements, including the Missouri Content Exam and Missouri Educator Evaluation System requirements.
Student teaching: SEMO places teacher candidates in real schools where they work with a mentor teacher and university supervisor, allowing them to apply their teaching knowledge in an authentic classroom.
EDhawk Scholars: Eligible student teachers can join EDhawk Scholars, gaining professional development, networking, a guaranteed student-teaching placement and a guaranteed interview when a suitable position is available in a participating district.
Career and salary indicators: SEMO lists a $70,550 median annual salary for Career and Technical Education Teachers and $60,470 mean annual salary for Farm and Home Management Educators, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Alumni network: The College of Education, Health and Human Studies reports 29,000 alumni connections, providing potential opportunities for professional networking, mentorship and career support.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate education and professional development programs, particularly in areas such as secondary education, educational leadership, agricultural education and related agricultural disciplines. SEMO's School of Education specifically offers graduate pathways including MA: Secondary Education, School Counselor, Leadership and Specialist programs, providing options for graduates who want to progress into advanced teaching, counselling or educational leadership roles.