Program Overview

Agricultural Communications and Leadership, BS

The Agricultural Communications and Leadership program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively communicate and lead in this field.

Course List

The program requires the completion of the following courses:

• Communication Courses:
  • COMM 200: Small Group Communication (3 credits)
  • COMM 210: Introduction to Public Relations (3 credits)
  • COMM 230: Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication (3 credits)
  • ENG 331: Business Communications (3 credits)
  • ENG 360: Scientific & Technical Writing (3 credits)
• Marketing, Management and Leadership Courses:
  • MGMT 300: Management Principles (3 credits)
  • MKTG 301: Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
  • MKTG 411: Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) (3 credits)
  • MGMT 460: Leadership and Team Management (3 credits)
• Agricultural Business, Economics and Education Courses:
  • AGED 201: Communication & Leadership Skills for Agricultural Educators (3 credits)
  • AGED 351: Prof. Development in Agricultural Education: Internship & Job Shadowing (1-3 credits)
  • AGRO 115: Professional Development in Agriculture: Orientation & Career Planning (1 credit)
  • AGRO 132: Principles & Practices of Crop Production (4 credits)
  • AGRO 390: Introduction to Precision Agriculture (3 credits)
  • AGRO 450: Issues in Sustainable Agriculture (2 credits)
  • ANSC 101: Introduction to Animal Science (3 credits)
  • ECON 201: Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
  • ECON 300: Introduction to Cooperatives (3 credits)
  • AGBU 400: International Agricultural Development

Total Credits

The total credits required for the program are 50-52.

Academic Programs & Degrees

Southwest Minnesota State University offers a wide range of academic programs and degrees, including:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Art and Design
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Communication Studies
• Computer Science
• Culinology
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Environmental Science
• Exercise Science
• Finance
• Global Studies
• Hispanic Studies
• History
• Honors Program
• Hospitality
• Humanities
• Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Justice Administration
• Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Management
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• MBA
• Music
• Nursing
• Philosophy
• Physical Education
• Physics
• Political Science
• Pre-Professional Programs
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Special Education
• Theatre Arts
• Women's Studies

Policies and Procedures

The university has a range of policies and procedures in place, including:

• Academic Policies
• Administrative Policies
• Financial Policies
• Personnel Policies
• Student Policies

Academic Policies

• Academic Honesty
• Academic Standing
• Admission
• Attendance
• Course Syllabus
• Degree Requirements
• Drop/Add
• Final Exams
• Grade Appeals
• Graduation
• Registration
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Transfer Credit

Administrative Policies

• Budget
• Facilities
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Public Safety
• Student Affairs

Financial Policies

• Financial Aid
• Tuition and Fees
• Payment Plans
• Refunds

Personnel Policies

• Employee Benefits
• Employee Conduct
• Employee Grievances
• Hiring
• Promotion
• Termination

Student Policies

• Code of Conduct
• Disability Services
• Housing
• Student Activities
• Student Government
• Student Organizations

Student Handbook

The student handbook provides information on:

• Academic Information
• Organizations and Activities
• Personal Safety and Security
• Policies and Procedures
• Services for Students
• Student Records
• Student Rights and Responsibilities

Academic Information

• Absences
• Academic Advisement
• Academic Alternatives
• Academic Honesty
• Academic Programs
• Advisement Disclaimer
• Auditing Courses
• Catalog
• Change of Major/Advisor
• Classification
• Commencement Exercise
• Confidentiality
• Course Load
• Course Numbering
• Course Placement
• Course Repeat
• Course Syllabus
• DARS - Degree Audit Reporting System
• Dean's List
• Declaring a Major
• Drop/Add
• Effect of Criminal Convictions on Selected Majors
• Exit Procedure
• Final Exams
• Financial Aid Information
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Grade Reports
• Grades
• Graduation Requirements
• Graduation with Honors
• Instructor Replacement
• Liberal Education Program (LEP)
• Readmission to the University
• Registration
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Scholarships
• Summer Sessions
• Transcripts
• Transfer Credit
• Tuition and Fee Payment
• Tutoring
• University Withdrawal

Organizations and Activities

• Account Policies for Student Organizations
• Campus Clubs and Organizations
• Campus Traditions
• Club and Organizations Rights and Responsibilities
• Establishment of Clubs and Organizations
• Special Needs for University Activities
• Student Fees
• Student Government
• University Governance

Personal Safety and Security

• Clery Act Reporting
• Missing Student Procedure
• Public Safety Services
• SMSU Sexual Assault Information
• Weapons On Campus

Policies and Procedures

• Alcohol and Drug Use/Abuse
• Demonstration and Protests Procedure
• Discrimination/Harassment Policy and Procedure
• Drug-Free Schools Act
• Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Fundraising and Solicitation Policy
• Library Fine Policy
• Minnesota College Immunization Law
• Political Events Policy
• Posting Guidelines
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
• Sexual Violence Policy
• Skates, Skateboards and Bicycle Use
• SMSU Policy on AIDS
• Strike Disclaimer
• Student Right-To-Know
• Tobacco Free Environment

Services for Students

• Accessibility Services
• Administrative Offices
• Affirmative Action Officer
• Alumni Association
• Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator
• Athletes Academic Resources
• Barnes & Noble Campus Store
• Business Services/Cashiers Office
• Campus Religious Center
• Career Services
• Center for International Education
• Child Care Center
• Clubs and Organizations
• Deeann Griebel Student Success Center
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Financial Aid
• GIS Center
• Health Insurance
• Health Services
• Information Technology Services
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Library
• Math Learning Center
• Mental Health Counseling Center
• Museum, Planetarium, Greenhouse and Wildlife Area
• Mustang Card
• Mustang Market/Nutrition Network
• Non-Traditional Student Organization
• Orientation
• Post Office/Package Delivery
• Preferred Name Procedure
• Registration and Records Office
• Residence Life
• Scheduling and Event Services Office
• SMSU Alert
• SMSU Dining Services
• SMSU Foundation
• Southwest Minnesota History Center
• Student Activities
• Student Center
• Student Development Offices
• Supplemental Instruction
• Testing Services
• The Office of Communications and Marketing
• University Parking Facilities
• University Transcripts and Degree Checks
• Veterans Resource Center
• Writing Center

Student Records

• Student Consumer Information
• Student Record Procedures
• Student Records Policy G-009

Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Academic Appeals Committee
• Appeal Hearing Rights
• Appeal Hearings
• Campus Student Associations
• Judicial Hearing Recording Procedure
• Judicial Sanctions
• Overview of Due Process Rights
• Procedures to Implement a Judicial Referral
• Prohibited Code of Conduct
• Rights of Victims
• SMSU Code of Conduct - Preamble
• Statewide Student Association
• Student Grievance/Complaints
• Student Involvement in Decision Making
• Student Judicial Affairs
• Student Responsibilities
• Student Rights and Responsibilities - Policy
• Summary Suspension