Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education

Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, Chairperson

Objectives

The Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural Education. It also offers programs leading to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Systems with a concentration in Agribusiness and Food Industry Management. Students who pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education may concentrate in Secondary Education or Agricultural Professional Service. In addition, students may take prescribed courses in Rural Sociology and Sociology.

The objectives of the Agricultural Education programs are to train students to understand and apply the educational concepts in order to identify, analyze, and resolve management problems of the farm, agribusiness firms, rural communities, and government agencies, as well as preparing students for further study in Agricultural Education.

The Agricultural Education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (SDPI) for the preparation of teachers in agriculture in the public school system. Agricultural Education majors in both the Secondary Education and Agricultural Professional Service study tracks are expected to complete a second major concentration in an agricultural academic discipline to include 18 semester credit hours. The major options available include agricultural science, animal science, agribusiness and marketing, agricultural communications, natural and environmental science, plant and soil science, and rural sociology.

The Agricultural and Environmental Systems (Agribusiness and Food Industry Management) programs provide a course of study that develops the requisite interpersonal and communication skills, knowledge base, critical thinking skills, and applied business skills that are required to have a successful career in an ever-changing economic, technological, political, and social environment. The programs teach the application of business concepts to the agricultural industry. The core is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basic functions of business and the application of theory and practice to the agribusiness industry. The directed and free electives enable students to generally emphasize some aspect of marketing or management with courses in both agriculture and business.

Degrees Offered

Agricultural Education (Secondary Education) - Bachelor of Science
Agricultural Education (Professional Service) - Bachelor of Science
Agricultural and Environmental Systems (Agribusiness and Food Industry Management) - Bachelor of Science

Interdisciplinary certificate programs are offered to students enrolled in Bachelor of Science programs at the University. Areas of specialization include Entrepreneurship (18 credit hours), Biotechnology (18 credit hours) and Waste Management (18 to 20 credits hours), Commodity Merchandising (15 credit hours) and Agricultural and Natural Resources Information Science (18 credit hours).

General Program Requirements

The admission of students to the undergraduate degree program is based upon the general admission requirements of the University.

Departmental Requirements

Undergraduate majors in Agricultural Education must complete 120 semester hours of University courses. Students must earn an average grade of “C” in all Agricultural Education courses in order to meet the major field requirements. Agricultural education majors must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.8 to be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program within the College of Education, in addition to other admission requirements.

Educator Preparation Program

The goals and objectives of the Educator Preparation Program in agricultural education, as mandated by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), address the development of competencies in the areas of animal science, soil science, plant science, agricultural and natural resources, horticulture, agricultural economics, agricultural mechanics, and agricultural communication. The goals of the program are twofold and are listed below:

Develop an understanding of and appreciation for teaching agricultural education; and
Develop competencies needed by individuals to teach agriculture in North Carolina public secondary schools.

The fourteen objectives of the agricultural education teacher preparation program are listed below:

Promote the agricultural education program in secondary schools; meet the needs and interests of students and to satisfy employment demands;
Plan an effective public relations program;
Plan for effective and comprehensive instruction;
Manage classrooms and laboratories effectively;
Assist students in making career decisions;
Evaluate career and technical agricultural programs and student progress;
Advise and manage the National FFA Organization (CTSO) as an integral part of instruction;
Extend learning experiences for students beyond the classroom through Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs;
Plan and conduct a program of career exploration and guidance and provide hands-on learning experiences in technical agriculture including animal science, soil science, plant science, agricultural and natural resources, agribusiness and agricultural mechanics;
Plan and conduct a program to develop knowledge and skills needed for job entry into agricultural production occupations and/or to pursue further training in the subject area;
Plan and conduct a program to develop knowledge and skills needed for job entry into agricultural mechanics occupations and/or pursue further training in the subject area;
Plan and conduct a program to develop knowledge and skills needed for job entry into agricultural and natural resources occupations and/or pursue further training in the subject area;
Plan and conduct a program to develop knowledge and skills needed for job entry into forestry occupations and/or pursue further training in the subject area;
Plan and conduct a program to develop knowledge and skills needed for job entry into agricultural products and processing occupations and/or pursue further training in the subject area.

Career Opportunities

Students who successfully complete programs in Agricultural Education are prepared for careers in teaching, supervision in schools and colleges, agricultural extension, agricultural-related business firms and industries, trade and professional associations, government and private research firms, government services (legislative, administration, or professional), as well as for further study for advanced degrees.
Internationally and locally, there are a plethora of jobs in the Agribusiness and Food Industry Management profession. Many of our students have obtained jobs that combine their love of the industry with good incomes. The business side of this degree provides the students with multiple avenues that ensures a successful career.

Directory of Faculty

Antoine J. Alston; Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Studies
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Godfrey C. Ejimakor; Professor
B.S., North Carolina State University; M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Texas Tech

Paula Faulkner; Professor
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University, Ph.D., Penn State University

Kenrett Y. Jefferson-Moore; Professor and Chairperson
B.S., Southern University, M.S., Alabama A&M University; Ph.D., Auburn University

Chyi Lyi (Kathleen) Liang; Kellogg Distinguished Professor
B.S., National Taiwan University; M.S., Ph.D., Purdue University

John Ng’ombe; Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S., University of Zambia; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University

Obed Quaicoe; Teaching Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Ghana; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina A&T State University

Chantel Simpson; Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Terrence Thomas; Research Professor
B.S., University of West Indies; M.S., University of Wisconsin; Ph.D., Louisiana State University

Chastity Warren English; Professor
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Osei-Agyeman Yeboah; Research Professor
B.S., University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., University of Nebraska