In an ongoing effort to help ensure student success and expand courses to encompass the diverse field of agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Agriculture now offers a specialized track in agricultural communications.
Agricultural communications combines core agriculture and communications proficiencies to help prepare students to become effective communicators for the agriculture industry. In addition to core agricultural courses, such as animal science, soil science and farm management, students develop skills in writing, photojournalism, public relations and media content development that relate to modern agricultural industries.
“People are becoming more and more aware of agriculture and our diverse practices,” said Dr. Joey Bray, chair of SFA’s Department of Agriculture. “While that’s good, we also have to contend with misconceptions and a lack of agriculture-related information made available to the public.”
Bray said this degree track provides students with the skills needed to promote the field and properly convey science-based information to the public.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects a 9% growth rate in jobs in the fields of agriculture and food sciences during the next decade — a promising outlook for students interested in the discipline.
Bray said agricultural communications open a number of career pathways, including employment in agricultural extension, governmental agencies, private industry, marketing, consulting and public relations.
To learn more about SFA’s agriculture program, visit ag.sfasu.edu.
Story by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. Contact information: (936) 468-1185 or fullersa@sfasu.edu.
