Course Descriptions
Agricultural Journalism
(AGJR)
(faculty, see Department of Agricultural Education)
105. Introduction to Agricultural Communication. (2-0). Credit 2.
Introduction to mass communication, its history, role in society, and especially its unique role in agriculture; importance of mass communication and the communication methods used in modern society; foundation for an understanding of agricultural news and information; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 105 and JOUR 102.
203. Agricultural Media Writing I. (2-2). Credit 3.
News gathering, writing, editing and ethics for current and emerging mediums used in agricultural communication; includes news identification, basic news writing methods, introduction to public relations, broadcast and Internet writing; interviewing skills, proper use of direct quotes and other news style; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 203 and JOUR 203. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in AGJR 105; passing score in the GSP test.
285. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.
Directed study of selected issue in field of agricultural communications with emphasis on collection, synthesis and interpretation of information. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
289. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4.
Special topics in an identified area of agricultural development. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
303. Agricultural Media Writing II. (2-2). Credit 3.
Interpretative agricultural news gathering and writing for all media types; basic media law and ethics, interviewing skills with assigned practice writing about agriculture, and science and technology, including meeting and event coverage both on and off campus; print, broadcast, Interactive and other media; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 303 and JOUR 303. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in AGJR 203; passing score in the GSP test; junior or senior classification.
304. Editing for Agricultural Audiences. (2-2). Credit 3.
Principles and practices of editing for agricultural and technical audiences including improving and tightening copy; writing headlines, titles, and subheads; photo editing and captions, graphics and layout; print, broadcast, Interactive and other media; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 304 and JOUR 304. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in AGJR 203; passing score in the GSP test; junior or senior classification.
305. Theory and Practice of Agricultural Publishing. (3-0). Credit 3.
Audience identification, publication content, management and design; analyze existing agricultural publications, identify audiences, advertising base and content; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 305 and JOUR 321. Prerequisites: AGJR 105; junior or senior classification.
306. Theory and Practice of Agricultural Public Relations. (3-0). Credit 3.
Public relations between agricultural producers and their suppliers as a critical part of agricultural communication; public relations objectives, strategies, tactics, evaluation and execution theory and practice examined; credit cannot be given for both AGJR 306 and JOUR 324. Prerequisites: AGJR 105; junior or senior classification.
307. Electronic Media Production in Agricultural Communications. (2-2). Credit 3.
Study of the principles, concepts, and practices of agricultural industry uses of electronic media production (radio, television and computer) for advertising, informational videos, computer-mediated instruction and distance education. Prerequisites: Computer usage course and AGJR 105; junior or senior classification.
380. Workshop in Agricultural Communications and Journalism. Credit 1 to 4.
The study, understanding and solution of human-agricultural problems based on theory learned in the classroom, library, laboratory and fieldwork completed by individuals and teams. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
404. Communicating Agricultural Information to the Public. (2-2). Credit 3.
Use of agricultural education principles and techniques to communicate scientific information related to agriculture, agribusiness, natural resources and life sciences to the general public; communication processes include audience identification, writing, editing and production of agricultural science-based manuscripts for popular and refereed publications. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
405. Agricultural Publications Production. (2-3). Credit 3.
Study and practice of the principles and concepts of designing, writing, editing, producing and distributing the AgriLeader magazine and Web site; includes practical applications of writing feature articles, magazine and Web site design, advertising sales, layout and graphics. Prerequisites: AGJR 305 and approval of instructor; junior or senior classification.
406. Agricultural Public Relations Methods. (2-2). Credit 3.
Agricultural public relations campaign analysis; public relations case studies and methods including writing public relations plans for agricultural entities, producing public relations components and evaluating public relations objectives, strategies and tactics. Prerequisites: AGJR 306; junior or senior classification.
407. Web Authoring in Agricultural Communication. (2-2). Credit 3.
Study and practice of basic Web site design theories, principles and writing for the Web; use of Web authoring software (not a programming class) to create online publications tailored for agricultural audiences; emphasizes informative content and functional design. Prerequisites: AGJR 307; junior or senior classification.
481. Senior Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Seminar for students within 2 semesters or graduation; overview of agricultural communications, communication methods and careers in the profession; includes an introduction to professionals in agricultural communications and interview strategies. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of department head.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.
Directed individual study of selected problems in agricultural communications, communication methods and the communication profession with emphasis on collection, analysis and presentation of information. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of department head.
489. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4.
Special topics in an identified area of agricultural journalism. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
494. Internship. Credit 1 to 6.
Supervised internship and independent study related to the student’s professional interest. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of department head.