What a Degree in Agricultural Leadership Really Means: Exploring Student Conceptualizations

Abstract

While the leadership component has been proven to be beneficial to agricultural education departments and they attract a wide variety of students, the notion that leadership is taught within a department of agricultural education still seems to be puzzling to some people. The purpose of this study was to explore how students pursuing a degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development at Texas A&M University have constructed knowledge about their degree. Students (n = 85) enrolled in a one-hour introductory course for Agricultural Leadership and Development majors reflected on their understanding of their degree program which resulted in three themes: what it is, what they will get out of it, and how they will use it. Students reported their degree in leadership would offer them many benefits including tools to be successful both professionally and personally, and prepare them for a variety of careers both within and outside the agricultural industry. Knowing students’ perceptions of their leadership degree is a step in the right direction to making sure we are creating the image we want to have of our degree programs and are correctly conveying the importance of soft skills in the 21st century workplace.