AGRICULTURAL & RURAL POLICY STUDIES
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Agriculture is more than just farming; it is about food, energy, and conservation. Rural is more than just small towns; it is the linkages between cities, urban consumers, and the global economy. Our major prepares students to guide policy decisions impacting agriculture, the environment, and the well-being or rural communities. In short, our major is the people and policy side of agriculture. Students will learn about the social and policy dimensions of agriculture and about strategies to promote rural resiliency and community vitality. The major will train students to engage with diverse audiences to discuss controversial issues, to promote public-private partnerships, and to lead and manage policy programs. Our goal is to give students the tools to help rural people and places thrive in the 21st century.
Our curriculum is flexible to meet the interests and needs of each student. A specialization area outside the major is required. Internships, experiential learning, and study abroad are important parts of the major. Graduates work as policy and legislative advisors, agriculture and farmer relations specialists, government affairs specialists, public information and communications officers, extension educators, community and economic developers, and in agriculture.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will develop the necessary skills to become effective leaders in agriculture-related companies, non-profit associations and organization, and state and local government agencies working on agriculture and rural issues. Specific learning outcomes include:
- Making connections between agriculture, the environment, and rural communities.
- Making linkages between local, national, and global agricultural systems.
- Investigating how social, economic, and cultural systems affect decisions.
- Analyzing information and recommending solutions to guide decisions.
- Evaluating program and policy outcomes.
- Communicating information and ideas to others to guide decisions.
- Leading and managing policy programs.
- Promoting civic engagement among diverse groups.
CURRICULUM IN AGRICULTURAL & RURAL POLICY STUDIES
Administered by the Department of Sociology
Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.
The major in Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies requires a minimum of 120 credits and a 2.00 minimum GPA. Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply, which may include up to 16 technical credits. Up to 9 P-NP credits of free electives can be applied toward the degree.
University Requirements:
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 3020 | Business Communication | 3 |
| or ENGL 3090 | Proposal and Report Writing |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| 10-16 |
CALS Requirements:
Major Requirements -- Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies Core
| SOC 1100 | Orientation to Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies | 1 |
| SOC 2300 | Rural Society in Transition | 3 |
| SOC 2620 | Data Discovery, Analytics, and Visualization in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 2640 | Facilitation of Public Issues in Agriculture | 3 |
| SOC 3250 | Agriculture in Transition | 3 |
| SOC 3480 | Global Poverty, Resources and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| SOC 3500 | Human Diversity in Agriculture and the Food System | 3 |
| SOC 3820 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 4150 | Agrifood Policy and Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 4330 | Strategies for Rural Resiliency and Vitality | 3 |
| SOC 4440 | Sociology of Food and Agricultural Systems | 3 |
| AGEDS 3150 | Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture | 3 |
| or POLS 4750 | Management in the Public Sector |
| Total Credits | 34 |
Major Requirements -- Social Science Foundation
Major Requirements -- Agricultural Science Foundation
Major Requirements -- Minor or Multiple Major
Electives
GRADUATE STUDY
The department offers work for the degrees Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with majors in sociology and rural sociology and minor work for students majoring in other departments. For M.S. and Ph.D. departmental requirements, see Program of Graduate Study for Degrees in Sociology and Rural Sociology, available from the department office. The department offers concentrations in a number of areas, e.g., community studies and development; sociology of families, inequality, food systems, agriculture and environment; methodology; social change and development; criminology; the economy, organizations and work; and social psychology. The Department of Sociology does not offer a nonthesis master’s program.
Graduates have a broad understanding of sociology, address complex societal problems, and communicate effectively with scientific colleagues and the general public in both formal and informal settings. They understand sociological theory, conduct research, and are prepared to educate college students and contribute to public policy. Although the department stipulates no language requirement for either the degree Master of Science or the degree Doctor of Philosophy, specifying competence in one or more languages may be desirable in some instances.
The department also participates in the interdepartmental program in interdepartmental majors in sustainable agriculture, transportation and water resources, and interdepartmental minors in gerontology (see Index).
