Community and Leadership Development
The Community and Leadership Development (CLD) major is intended for students interested in bridging community-based education efforts with leadership development in agricultural contexts, including non-profit, government, commodities, and corporate roles. The CLD major provides students with the theoretical and conceptual knowledge to understand how communities thrive, along with the practical tools to engage in leadership at the personal, relational, and organizational levels. The CLD core curriculum includes coursework that represents the pillars of the Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education Department (ALCE): leadership studies, community education, and life sciences communication. Beyond formal curricula, students will have experiential learning opportunities such as internships, field studies, and undergraduate research. Overall, the CLD major provides students with a firm academic foundation for a variety of professional interests, including graduate and professional school. Potential career paths for students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences with a major in Community Leadership and Development include:
Industry or corporate settings:
- Agribusiness Professional
- Financial Analyst
- Trade or commodity associations
- Food retailers and wholesalers
- Consulting firms
Policy development and advocacy:
- Policy Developer
- Agriculture Lobbyist
- Agriculture Lawyer
- Department of Agriculture
- International Agricultural Specialist
Extension roles:
- Leadership Consultant
- Community Specialist
- Researcher
- Cooperative Extension System
- Communications-related work
- Marketing Manager
- Campaign Manager
- Director of External Affairs & Communications
- University development or alumni relations
Administrative roles:
- · Human Resources
- · Supervisor
- · Farm Manager
- · Director of Operations
- · Production Manager
- · Administrative Manager