B.S. Agricultural Leadership and Development
Students in this major will learn about the fundamentals of leadership and human development and develop their own leadership capabilities and communication skills to lead and work with people involved in a variety of professional sectors, including law, community development, policy, business, consulting, sales, public relations, agriculture and Extension. Upon graduation, our agricultural leadership and development students skillfully apply their new knowledge, skills, and abilities in a wide range of public and private employment settings to offer their colleagues and clients hope in a time of uncertainty.
Our leadership faculty have authored textbooks used by many of our colleagues in higher education and conduct innovative research that inform decision-makers who make policy.
Admissions
There is nothing more challenging than leading work teams, serving as middle-management or leading executive teams in an ambiguous environment. Our agricultural leadership and development faculty prepare students using a design thinking model of change by teaching leadership theory as an anchor for future decision-making, and to make ethical and righteous decisions.
This multidisciplinary degree covers topics that span from personal leadership to leadership theory, change management, multiculturalism, volunteerism, organizational culture, public leadership, Extension education and adult learning. The curriculum in agricultural leadership and development is multidisciplinary, designed to develop students for leadership positions in local, state, regional, and national organizations and agencies in the agriculture industry and beyond
Agricultural Leadership and Development Program Details
- Degree: B.S. in Agricultural Leadership and Development
- Credit Hours: 120 total credit hours
- View program requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog
- View course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog
Career Options
The breadth of this degree gives our graduates a competitive edge when seeking careers as a agricultural lobbyist, communications specialist, community service agent, county extension agent, nonprofit manager, lawyer, leadership consultant, public relations specialist, public service professional, real estate agent, or sales executive. Recent companies that have hired our graduates include: Bain & Company, Houston Community College, 44 Farms, Sysco, United States Health Advisors, H-E-B, Honda, KAGS, and United Ag and Turf. You can also explore other careers in this major through the Texas A&M Career Center.
| Job Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Leadership and Development Consultant | A leadership development consultant provides advice and direction to an organization or company to develop better leaders among the workers or members. | $60,000 |
| Human Resources Manager | HR managers maintain and develop effective internal procedures, handle employee-related issues, support recruiting and retention efforts, and keep performance at peak levels. Most importantly, these interpersonal experts are naturally good at identifying problems, finding solutions, and nurturing job satisfaction. | $55,000 |
| Lobbyist | A lobbyist works to influence legislation on the federal, state, or local level on behalf of clients. Nonprofit organizations, labor unions, trade associations, corporations, and other groups and individuals use lobbyists to voice concerns and opinions to government representatives. | $100,000 |
| Lawyer | Deal with legal cases surrounding the agriculture and natural resources. Additionally, they obtain licenses and permits that agricultural entities may need in order to operate, such as setting up corporations and partnerships. | $90,000 |
| Nonprofit Manager | Handles everything from structuring board meetings to creating a strategic plan for fundraising and securing adequate media exposure. Management is responsible for all aspects of an organization as well as ensuring that activities are being properly funded. | $57,000 |
| Sales Executive | Promote products and services to clients and negotiate contracts with the aim of maximizing profits. Salaries are often enhanced by a good benefits package, including commission-based earnings, bonuses, lunch allowances and sometimes health insurance and a company car. | $78,000 |
Agricultural Leadership and Development Program News
Dr. Joe D. Townsend ’67 ALEC Leadership Fellows
The Leadership Fellows Program was created to bridge the educational gap between learning and implementation. This program provides networking, training and professional development opportunities for undergraduate students looking to find ways to apply leadership theory and find careers where they can excel as leaders.
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