Careers - Agricultural and Environmental Communication and Education

At Illinois, students majoring in Agricultural and Environmental Communications and Education choose one of three concentrations:

• Communications with a specialization in advertising, broadcasting, or news/editorial journalism
• Agricultural Education
• Agricultural Leadership Education

Career Possibilities with the Communications Concentration

Advertising Manager

Advertising managers oversee advertising and promotion staffs, which usually are small, except in the largest firms. In a small firm, managers may serve as liaisons between the firm and the advertising agency to which many advertising or promotional functions are contracted out. In larger firms, advertising managers oversee in-house account, creative, and media services departments. The account executive manages the account services department, assesses the need for advertising and, in advertising agencies, maintains the accounts of clients. The creative services department develops the subject matter and presentation of advertising. The creative director oversees the copy chief, art director, and associated staff. The media director oversees planning groups that select the communication media—for example, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, or outdoor signs—to disseminate the advertising.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Communications Coordinator

Communications Coordinators create, publish and manage all print, broadcast and web communiqués for both internal and external audiences. They may also develop an organization’s media plan. Specific functions include writing press releases, working with media contacts to pitch stories, identifying speaking opportunities for executives, write speeches, and monitoring media coverage. Some may be responsible for budgeting, creation, management and execution of all advertising, direct mail, marketing and public relations programs as well as trade show events and co-branding initiatives

Copy Editor

Copy Editors work under the direction of an editor. They review copy for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. They suggest revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs, to improve clarity or accuracy. They also carry out research for writers and verify facts, dates, and statistics. In addition, they may arrange page layouts of articles, photographs, and advertising; compose headlines; and prepare copy for printing.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Editor

Editors review, rewrite, and edit the work of writers. They also may do original writing. An editor’s responsibilities vary with the employer and type and level of editorial position held. Editorial duties may include planning the content of books, technical journals, trade magazines, and other general-interest publications. Editors also review story ideas proposed by staff and freelance writers then decide what material will appeal to readers. They review and edit drafts of books and articles, offer comments to improve the work, and suggest possible titles. In addition, they may oversee the production of publications. In the book-publishing industry, an editor’s primary responsibility is to review proposals for books and decide whether to buy the publication rights from the author.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists handle organizational functions such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations; political campaigns; interest-group representation; conflict mediation; and employee and investor relations. They do more than “tell the organization’s story.” They must understand the attitudes and concerns of community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with them and with representatives from print and broadcast journalism.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Reporter

General-assignment reporters write about newsworthy occurrences—such as accidents, political rallies, visits of celebrities, or business closings—as assigned. Large newspapers and radio and television stations assign reporters to gather news about specific topics, such as crime or education. Some reporters specialize in fields such as health, politics, foreign affairs, sports, theater, consumer affairs, social events, science, business, or religion. Investigative reporters cover stories that may take many days or weeks of information gathering. Some publications use teams of reporters instead of assigning each reporter one specific topic, allowing reporters to cover a greater variety of stories. News teams may include reporters, editors, graphic artists, and photographers working together to complete a story. Reporters on small publications cover all aspects of the news. They take photographs, write headlines, lay out pages, edit wire-service stories, and write editorials. Some also solicit advertisements, sell subscriptions, and perform general office work.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Science/Technical Writer

Science/Technical Writers present information and instructions in clear, understandable language for non-technical readers. They research, write, design, edit, and prepare publications in wide-ranging fields. The publications may be technical reports, instruction manuals, newsletters, articles, papers, proposals, brochures, and booklets. These writers explain and illustrate complex procedures in simple terms people can understand. They may be responsible for supplying illustrations such as schematics, pictures, charts, tables, or graphs to go with the write-up. They may create these illustrations themselves, or they may work with photographers, technical illustrators, drafters, and publishers. Technical writers employed by one company or organization may prepare pamphlets or booklets on job procedures, worker benefits, and company rules.
Source: National FFA

Career Possibilities with the Agricultural Education Concentration

Agricultural Instructor/FFA Advisor

Agricultural Instructors/FFA Advisors teach practical, applicable concepts to the future generation of producers and businesspeople. They develop programs, curriculum and activities related to agriculture primarily for youth and young adults enrolled in high school agricultural classes. Some middle school programs also exist. They must be knowledgeable about agribusiness and agricultural production practices as well as understand how to teach. Often Agriculture Instructors also serve as the advisor of an FFA chapter. FFA chapters offer students unlimited leadership and personal growth opportunities. Students learn speaking, leadership and interpersonal skills through a variety of workshops and contests. Teamwork, cooperation and parliamentary procedure skills are also developed through the FFA. Service is also stressed and each member is encouraged to serve the community through volunteer work.

Career Possibilities with the Agricultural Leadership Education Concentration

Sales Manager

Sales managers direct the firm’s sales program. They assign sales territories, set goals, and establish training programs for the sales representatives. Sales managers advise the sales representatives on ways to improve their sales performance. In large, multi-product firms, they oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs. Sales managers maintain contact with dealers and distributors. They analyze sales statistics gathered by their staffs to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and to monitor customers’ preferences. Such information is vital in the development of products and the maximization of profits.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Training Manager

Training and development managers and specialists conduct and supervise training and development programs for employees. Increasingly, management recognizes that training offers a way of developing skills, enhancing productivity and quality of work, and building worker loyalty to the firm, and most importantly, increasing individual and organizational performance to achieve business results. Training is widely accepted as an employee benefit and a method of improving employee morale, and enhancing employee skills has become a business imperative. Increasingly, managers and leaders realize that the key to business growth and success is through developing the skills and knowledge of its workforce.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Learn more about majoring in Agricultural and Environmental Communications and Education at the University of Illinois

• The Department of Human and Community Development is to the AECE major
• Courses in AECE
• Degree requirements for students majoring in AECE - Communications
• Degree requirements for students majoring in AECE - Agricultural Education
• Degree requirements for students majoring in AECE - Agricultural Leadership Education