The agricultural education major prepares students to teach at the secondary, post-secondary and adult levels in agricultural education programs. North Dakota State University is designated by the State Board of Career and Technical Education as the recognized institution for preparing teachers of agricultural education.
Agricultural education students begin their preparatory work in the pre-agricultural education program offered through the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. After completing their introductory education course (usually during the sophomore year), students may apply to the School of Education to pursue agricultural education.
See below for basic program information and sample curriculum. For more information, visit the department website: Agricultural Education
The agricultural education major is designed to combine general studies, preparation for effective teaching, and a broad background in the various disciplines in agriculture. Those preparing to become teachers of agriculture are expected to possess a broad general education necessary for them to function as citizens and educators in our dynamic society. Courses in natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, English, communication and speech will help provide general education and the skills needed for more advanced courses in agriculture and other areas. Courses in agricultural economics, agricultural systems management, animal and range science, plant sciences, horticulture and soil science provide the necessary background in agriculture. Electives also are available in entomology, veterinary science, plant pathology and cereal science. Skills in organizing, planning, communicating and teaching are developed by taking courses in psychology, sociology, education and a series of other courses in various aspects of agricultural education.
Professional Education Courses
Students may enroll in the 300-level professional education courses before being formally admitted to the School of Education (SOE). Prior to enrolling in the 400-level courses, students must complete the application for admission to the SOE; attain a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average overall in their course work, education courses, and teaching specialty courses; and pass the Core Academic Skills for Educators exam(s). Requirements for admission to the SOE are available at www.ndsu.edu/ted.
Student teaching is a highlight of the teaching program. Students will have an opportunity to apply skills acquired in college courses and to learn with the direction and assistance of a successful teacher of agricultural education.
An appropriate background of work experience in agriculture is essential for those planning to teach agriculture. Students lacking this experience will need to seek such experience through internships, employment and other means. Cooperative Education experiences are available. A background in high school agriculture and FFA is also helpful, although not required.
Students are assigned to the faculty member in agricultural education who will work closely in program planning and in other ways to advise and assist them. Students are encouraged to seek their advisors' help whenever needed.
Upon completing this program, students are eligible for certification to teach agricultural education in most states. The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
For several years, there have been favorable employment opportunities for those prepared to teach agricultural education. Starting salary depends on employer, location and contract length. Most agricultural education teachers in North Dakota are on extended contracts and receive stipends for serving as an FFA advisor. Typical starting salaries have been in the $35,000 to $40,000 range. Other graduates seek employment in Cooperative Extension, farming, agricultural finance, agribusiness, and government agencies in agriculture, or continue their studies at the graduate level.
Collegiate FFA Chapter
The primary purpose of the Collegiate FFA Chapter is to prepare graduates in agricultural education to serve as advisors of secondary FFA chapters. Students majoring in agricultural education are encouraged to participate actively in the activities of the NDSU Collegiate FFA Chapter.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students seeking financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships or One Stop. To inquire about scholarship opportunities, contact the Office of Admission. The College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; the College of Human Development and Education, and the North Dakota FFA Foundation offer scholarships ranging from $500-$1,000.
Agricultural Education Plan of Study
Please note this is a sample plan of study; actual student schedules will vary depending on start year, individual goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize their own plan of study.
|AGRI 189 Skills for Academic Success||1||ANSC 223 Intro to Animal Nutrition||2|
|ANSC 114 Intro to Animal Sciences||3||ASM 125 Fabrication & Construction Technology||3|
|ENGL 110 College Composition I||4||CHEM 117 or 121 Chemical Concepts/Appl or Gen Chemistry I||3|
|HNES 100 or 111 Concepts of Fitness/Wellness or Wellness||2||CHEM 117L or 121L Chem Concepts/Appl Lab or Gen Chem I Lab||1|
|MATH 104 Finite Mathematics||3||ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics||3|
|PLSC 110 World Food Crops||3||ENGL 120 College Composition II||3|
|AGEC 242 Introduction to Agricultural Management||3||ANSC Elective||3|
|BIOL 150 General Biology I||3||BIOL 315 Genetics||3|
|BIOL 150L General Biology I Laboratory||1||BIOL 315L Genetics Laboratory||1|
|ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics||3||EDUC 322 Educational Psychology||3|
|EDUC 321 Introduction to Teaching||3||COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking||3|
|H&CE 232 Philosophy and Policy||3||Gen Ed Humanities & Fine Arts||3|
|Complete Core Academic Skills Exam||PLSC Elective||3|
|Apply to the School of Education|
|AGEC Elective||3||ASM 264 Natural Resource Management Systems||3|
|ASM 115 Fundamentals of Agricultural Systems Management||3||EDUC 489 Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds||3|
|EDUC 451 Instructional Planning, Methods and Assessment||3||ENGL 358 Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences||3|
|H&CE 444 Planning the Community Program in Agricultural Education||3||H&CE 480 Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Teaching Methods in Agricultural Education||3|
|Gen Ed Humanities & Fine Arts||3||IME 335 Welding Technology||3|
|PLSC 210 Horticulture Science||3||SOIL 210 Introduction to Soil Science||3|
|PLSC 211 Horticulture Science Lab||1|
|AGEC 342 Farm and Agribusiness Management II||3||H&CE 483 Student Teaching Seminar||1|
|AGRI Elective||3||H&CE 487 Student Teaching||9|
|ANSC Elective||3||H&CE 488 Applied Student Teaching||3|
|EDUC 486 Classroom Management for Diverse Learners||3|
|H&CE 481 Methods of Teaching Agriculture||3|
|Apply for Student Teaching|
|Complete PLT (grades 7-12)Exam|
|Complete Subject Area Assessment Exam|
|Total Credits: 131|
View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall is located in the center of campus on Centennial Boulevard and
is connected to the east end of the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Family Life Center
Teacher Education Program
North Dakota State University
Dept #2625, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
DEPT PHONE: (701) 231-7439
DEPT WEBSITE: www.ndsu.edu/ted
Office of Admission