Agricultural Communications and Journalism at Texas A&M (AGCJ)
AGCJ has been a major at Texas A&M University since 1918. Students in AGCJ take core courses including writing, editing, and basic design. Skills courses include publications production, public relations, photography, radio and Internet communications. Graduates are prepared to work in news/magazine, broadcast, public relations, advertising, or multimedia. Some will work in digital cable and satellite communications.
Modern Equipment
Professional courses provide students with experience using the equipment found in newsrooms, television and radio stations and the corporate world. This equipment includes:
- Computer labs: graphics, news writing, and multimedia.
- Publication production
- Television studio including digital, non-linear editing.
- Digital photography and digital video.
- Audio laboratory.
- Broadcast production
Practical Experience
AGCJ students produce the AgriLeader and the AgriLeader Ezine, agricultural magazines for all students, staff and former students of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. AGCJ students participate in paid internships at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo, livestock shows at San Antonio and Fort Worth, and in Washington, DC and Austin.
AGCJ students participate in valuable industry-specific high-impact experiences. Visit with your advisors to learn more about the AGCJ 380: Digital Storytelling course.
National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
Texas A&M University is a member of National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, a national student organization offering leadership to college students in agricultural communications. The goal of ACT is to foster career development skills and networking opportunities for agricultural communicators. For information regarding the Texas A&M Chapter, please visit our site at ACT.
Internships
AGCJ majors are encouraged to complete at least one professional internship before graduation.
Agricultural Communication and Journalism Graduates
AGCJ graduates include editors and writers for publications including the Quarter Horse Journal and the Farm Journal. Two Agricultural Communications and Journalism graduates have been elected to the Former Journalism Student Association Hall of Fame: Tom Hargrove ’66 and Leroy Shafer ’67, former chief operating officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Jobs for graduates are available with livestock breed associations, commodity groups, publications, radio networks, television networks – both in agriculture and in general interest media outlets. Graduates also work in public relations, advertising, marketing and sales.
Professional Journalism Organizations
Association for Communication Excellence
American Agricultural Editors’ Association
National Association of Science Writers
International Federation of Agricultural Journalists
Investigative Reporters and Editors
National Association of Farm Broadcasters
Society of Environmental Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
Broadcast Education Association
Public Relations Society of America
Student Journalism Organizations at Texas A&M
Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT)
The Battalion – Student Newspaper
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
