Department website: https://alec.tamu.edu/

Department Head: Dr. Stacy K. Vincent, PhD

Associate Head for Graduate Programs: Dr. Gary Wingenbach, PhD

The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC) offers several graduate degree options: Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Development (available through distance education), Master of Applied Youth Development (offered on campus or through distance education) and three campus-based programs, Master of Science (Thesis option), Master of Science (Non-Thesis option), and Doctor of Philosophy. All degree programs are in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications. 

Graduates of these programs work in diverse professional settings, including agricultural communications and journalism, organizational and community leadership, extension education, instructional design, international agricultural development, teacher education and youth development. Faculty maintain strong connections with practitioners, enabling them to teach and guide research with an informed understanding of real-world challenges. They also provide leadership in national and international professional organizations. Students benefit from the faculty’s broad research interests, professional experience and diverse perspectives.

Master's Programs

Four master’s degree options prepare individuals for careers such as public relations manager, communications coordinator, agricultural science teacher, sales representative, extension agent, leadership consultant, instructional designer, international development specialist and youth specialist. Because these fields span the social and behavioral sciences, each degree plan is tailored to fit an individual's career goals. 

For more information about the degree programs, visit the specific degree program page.

• Master of Agriculture
• Master of Applied Youth Development
• Master of Science (Thesis option)
• Master of Science (Non-Thesis option)

Doctoral Program

The Department offers one doctoral degree program: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications.  

The PhD is a campus-based, research-focused degree designed to prepare individuals for careers as university faculty, as well as roles in natural resource management, extension education, international development and public or corporate leadership in agriculture and the life sciences. The program provides candidates with comprehensive knowledge in their field of study and rigorous training research methods.

For more information about this degree program, visit the program page.

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

For additional information about the graduate faculty and programs available in the department, contact the program coordinator or visit the ALEC website.

Certificates

The Department offers four certificate programs designed to help individuals gain specialized knowledge and skills. All certificates are open to students within the department as well as students from other departments across campus. The Agriculture eLearning Development and the Leadership Theory certificates are approved for distance-education delivery, though some courses may also be available on campus. The Extension and International Agriculture certificates require synchronous, campus-based courses, although certain courses may also be completed through distance education. All departmental certificates may be earned as part of a degree program or by enrolling in a certificate-only (non-degree) status.

For more information about each certificate program, click the certificate program tab above or these links:   

• Certificate in Agriculture eLearning Development
• Certificate in Extension Education
• Certificate in International Agriculture
• Certificate in Leadership Education, Theory, and Practice

Cost to Complete a Certificate

All certificates offered by the department may be completed in an academic degree program or in certificate-only status (non-degree) as academic credit (active enrollment at Texas A&M University).

If an individual is not currently enrolled at Texas A&M University, they can complete the certificate courses and have the certificate appear on an official university transcript by applying to Texas A&M University as a non-degree, certificate-only student. If accepted, students will complete the courses for academic credit. These courses may be applied towards a degree program in the department. Completing the certificate under this status requires paying Texas A&M University tuition and fees for the academic credit earned. Review tuition and fee charges on the Student Business Services website. Tuition and fees charges may be subject to change. 

Expenses related to required textbooks or software for courses are not included in the tuition & fees paid to Texas A&M University to register for the courses needed to complete the certificate.  

For more information about completing an official certificate program, visit the ALEC Certificate website. 

• Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Development
• Master of Applied Youth Development
• Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

• Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

• Agriculture eLearning Development Certificate
• Extension Education Certificate
• International Agriculture Certificate
• Leadership Education, Theory, and Practice Certificate

Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication