An integral part of a complete agricultural education system is agricultural literacy. Agricultural literacy is the synthesis, instruction, and communication of basic information about agriculture to the public. Potential occupations may include assisting educators, producers, industry groups, and others to effectively incorporate information about agriculture into subjects being taught or examined in public and private forums. Agricultural literacy is education about agriculture. The agricultural literacy programming and training in this degree area will focus on a wide range of ages (from early childhood to adult), audiences (rural, urban, ethnically diverse, etc.) and a variety of agriculture topics. Coursework includes technical agriculture and natural resources content knowledge, communications, philosophy, and human development. Students are required to complete an internship in agricultural literacy. Students graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education with a concentration in Agricultural Literacy will have to complete additional educational coursework in order to teach in public schools in Colorado.

Potential Occupations

Potential occupations for graduates of this concentration include working for industry, trade, or community organizations that promote and advocate for an agriculturally literate society.

Effective Fall 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
AGED 110Agriculture Production Systems 3
AGED 220Understanding Agricultural Education 1
AREC 192Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ 1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
FSHN 125Food and Nutrition in Health 2
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A4
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
Select one course from the following: 4
Food Animal Science  
Introduction to Equine Science  
Select one course from the following: 4
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)3A 
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A 
Arts and Humanities3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
 Total Credits 31
Sophomore
 
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C3
EDUC 275Schooling in the United States (GT-SS3)3C3
FTEC 110Food-From Farm to Table 3
FW 104Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (GT-SC2)3A3
HDFS 101Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)3C3
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
SPCM 207Public Argumentation 3
Select one course from the following: 4
General Crops  
Introductory Soil Science  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 31
Junior
 
ANEQ 250Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation 3
AREC 328Small Agribusiness Management 3
AREC 478Agricultural Policy 3
HORT 100Horticultural Science3A4
JTC 419Food and Natural Resources Communication 3
Select one course from the following: 2-3
Plants and Civilizations (GT-SS3)1C 
World Interdependence-Population and Food (GT-SS3)1C 
Issues in Agriculture  
Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)1C 
Select one course from the following: 3
Agricultural and Food System Ethics  
Philosophical Issues in the Professions: Animal Science  
Ethics of Sustainability  
Environmental Ethics  
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Department Electives1 6
 Total Credits 30-31
Senior
 
AGED 330Program Design and Evaluation in Ag. Literacy4A3
AGED 430Methods of Agricultural Literacy4B,4C3
AGED 486APracticum: Agricultural Literacy 2
AREC 340/ECON 340Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources 3
AREC 492Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics 1
JTC 350Public Relations 3
Department Electives1 12
Electives2 0-1
 Total Credits 27-28
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

Select 9 upper-division credits (300- to 400-level) from each of two pathways listed below, for a total of 18 credits. Select from the subject codes associated with each pathway, with approval of advisor.

  • Agricultural Biology: AB
  • Animal Systems: ANEQ
  • Plant Systems: BSPM, HORT, LAND, SOCR
  • Agricultural Business: AREC
  • Natural Resources and Environmental Systems: AREC 342, F, FW, NR, RS
  • Food Products and Processing Systems: FSHN, FTEC
  • Human Development: HDFS
2

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits. At least 42 credits must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 192Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ   1
AGED 110Agriculture Production Systems   3
AGED 220Understanding Agricultural Education   1
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)  3A4
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)  1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)  1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)  1B1
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
FSHN 125Food and Nutrition in Health   2
Select one course from the following:   4
Food Animal Science X  
Introduction to Equine Science    
Select one course from the following:   4
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)  3A 
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)  3A 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)  3C3
SPCM 200Public Speaking   3
HDFS 101Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)  3C3
Select one course from the following:   4
General Crops    
Introductory Soil Science    
Historical Perspectives  3D3
AGED 110, AGED 220, and CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 must be completed by the end of Semester 3.X   
 Total Credits   16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
EDUC 275Schooling in the United States (GT-SS3)  3C3
FTEC 110Food-From Farm to Table   3
FW 104Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (GT-SC2)  3A3
SPCM 207Public Argumentation   3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 328Small Agribusiness Management   3
AREC 478Agricultural Policy   3
Select one course from the following:   2-3
Plants and Civilizations (GT-SS3)  1C 
World Interdependence-Population and Food (GT-SS3)  1C 
Issues in Agriculture    
Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)  1C 
Select one course from the following:   3
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Department Elective (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)   3
 Total Credits   14-15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ANEQ 250Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation   3
HORT 100Horticultural Science  3A4
JTC 419Food and Natural Resources Communication   3
Select one course from the following:   3
Agricultural and Food System Ethics    
Philosophical Issues in the Professions: Animal Science    
Ethics of Sustainability    
Environmental Ethics    
Departmental Elective (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)   3
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AGED 330Program Design and Evaluation in Ag. LiteracyX 4A3
JTC 350Public Relations   3
Department Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)   6
Electives   0-1
 Total Credits   12-13
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AGED 430Methods of Agricultural LiteracyX 4B,4C3
AGED 486APracticum: Agricultural LiteracyX  2
AREC 340/ECON 340Introduction-Economics of Natural ResourcesX  3
AREC 492Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource EconomicsX  1
Upper-Division Department Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)X  6
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   120