Agricultural Leadership Education & Communications (ALEC)
Prerequisites: Freshmen with declared major in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication
This class will be offered the first 8-weeks of the fall semester.
Description: Gain a basic overview of career opportunities available in agricultural and environmental sciences communications (AESC) and learn the fundamentals of the discipline and program.
Prerequisites: Credit toward the degree may be earned in only one of: ALEC 102, ENGR 100, or ENGR 100H
Description: Introduction to the principles and practices of positive interpersonal relationships for leadership development. Self-awareness, awareness of others, effective interpersonal communication, and the building of trust relationships as a basis for understanding and developing leadership. An experiential approach, field projects and a supervised service project.
This course is the first course in the Project Lead the Way pre-engineering program and requires no prerequisite. This is a secondary course training option for pre service teachers in Skilled and Technical Sciences. It is a STEM skill requirement for the 2+2 articulation agreement with various community colleges across the state of Nebraska. By allowing pre-service teachers to complete this course, students can reverse transfer the credit back to the community colleges to enforce rigorous training needs in the STEM field for future STS teachers coming out of the ALEC department.
Description: Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands - on projects. They work both individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3d modeling software, and use an engineering notebook to document their work.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 115
Description: Forming, molding, separating, and fabricating of industrial materials.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 303
Prerequisites: ALEC 105, Introduction To Engineering Design is a prerequisite
This course is the second foundational course taught in the Project Lead the Way pre-engineering curriculum. Students that complete this course will be certified to teach both foundational courses in any secondary PLTW pre-engineering program across the country. This certification gives UNL STS students in the ALEC department a rigorous STEM skill set. Once the course is completed the credit will be reverse transferred back to the community college to fulfill the STEM skill requirement of the 2+2 articulation agreements established with UNL and the ALEC department.
Description: Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.
Description: Explore the career opportunities available in agricultural leadership, education and communication focusing on agribusiness, industry training positions, secondary agriscience instruction, extension education, agricultural and environmental sciences communication, and international agricultural education. Course has guest speakers and field trips.
Prerequisites: Agricultural leadership, education and communication major
Requires 30 additional hours of field experience time, in an SBAE program, outside of regularly scheduled class hours.
Description: Covers the history, philosophy, goals, and objectives of Career and Technical Education, more specifically, School-Based Agricultural Education. Introduction to lesson plan development, writing objectives/essential questions, and peer teaching to provide knowledge e and skills to be used in a 40-hour early field experience. The early field experience provides a platform for critical reflection to explore teaching as a potential career.
Requires 30 additional hours of field experience time, in a Skills USA Affiliated STS Education program, outside of regularly scheduled class hours.
Description: Covers the history, philosophy, goals, and objectives of Career and Technical Education, more specifically, Skilled and Technical Sciences Education. Introduction to lesson plan development, writing objectives/essential questions, and peer teaching to provide knowledge and skills to be used in a 30-hour early field experience. The early field experience provides a platform for critical reflection to explore teaching as a potential career.
This course is a prerequisite for: EDPS 457
Description: Introduction to all areas of agricultural and environmental sciences (AES) communications and core competencies related to communication, including how to share AES stories through multimedia projects. Introduction to various AES issues using different communication styles while exploring how these may differ based on audience and media utilized.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Chancellor's Leadership Class program
Description: Leadership development. Understanding of self, develop leadership knowledge, and how to make a difference n the community.
Prerequisites: Pepsi Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership and Service recipient
Requires 2 to 3 hours per week of outside of class time in community service.
Description: Civic and social responsibility through service-learning programming. Introduction to civic life, civic agent, and life-long service.
Prerequisites: Good standing in the University Honors Program or by invitation.
Description: Topic varies.
Description: Introduction to electricity and/or electronics and their applications to industry. AC and DC circuit design, construction, and analysis.
Will be offered both in face-to-face and online formats during fall and spring semesters and will be offered only online during the summer 8-week session.
Description: Foundational knowledge of leadership theory and its relationship to the practice of leadership. Resolve complex leadership challenges by evaluating the intersection between leader, follower, and context. Critically assess real-world situations and make decisions about what theoretically-based leadership skills and behaviors are most likely to be effective.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 422
Description: Automotive technology and the equipment related to automotive repairs. The design, theory, and operations of automotive systems through laboratory activities.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 303
Description: Basic knowledge and skill in both oxygen-acetylene welding and cutting, and electrical arc welding.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 303
Description: Cover a broad range of topic areas in the field of teaching and learning. Learn how educational psychology impacts learning and how it is used to design learning opportunities. Focus on developing community centered educational programming with learning science in mind. Design and deliver effective education programming within their community and beyond.
Description: Concepts and techniques of strategic communication, with a special focus on issues involving food, agricultural production, environmental sustainability, and natural resources. Skills and theory essential for relating to public audiences and other stakeholders.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and/or ALEC 135.
Provides a portion of the work-based learning credit (006.34D3) for the Agricultural Education Field Endorsement. Includes 20 hours of required early field experience.
Description: Examines the theory of experiential education to middle school and secondary agricultural education programs, especially leadership and career education. Develop Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) as a Work-Based Learning strategy, advising FFA as a CTSO, and alumni activities appropriate to the community, school, and student needs. Introduction to various technologies to support effective program leadership.
Provides the work-based learning credit (006.34D3) for the Industrial Technology Education Field Endorsement and STS Supplemental endorsements. Includes 20 hours of required early field experience.
Description: Applies the theory of experiential education to middle school and secondary Skilled and Technical Sciences education programs, especially leadership and career education. Provides exposure to supervised Work-Based Learning experiences and advising SkillsUSA as a CTSO, appropriate to the community, school, and student needs. Introduction to various technologies to support effective program leadership.
Prerequisites: ALEC 104
Description: Classifications, properties, and uses of common construction materials and building practices. Construction of a residential dwelling from plot plan through trim and finish work.
Prerequisites: ALEC 204
Description: CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programming for tool making to include milling, computer aided manufacturing and/or drafting and/or design and electrical discharge machines.
Prerequisites: Major in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication or Minor in Science Communication
Description: Use a variety of digital media tools to communicate agricultural and environmental sciences to diverse audiences. Hands-on approach to utilize digital media and develop communication pieces to add to portfolios.
Prerequisites: Open to sophomores or above.
Description: Principle and process of effective leadership in complex organizations of society and commerce. Dynamic interactions of personal characteristics, technical skills, interpersonal influence, commitment, goals and power.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 495A
Description: Presentation strategies used in agribusiness, education, government and public service. Attention to audience needs, organization, methodology, and technology when presenting about agricultural and environmental sciences.
Prerequisites: Major in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication (AESC) or minor in Science Communication, JOUR 200A with a C or higher, and ALEC 207 with a C or higher.
Description: Advanced development and refinement of strategic writing skills and storytelling, including Associated Press writing style, audience analysis, interviewing skills, writing mechanics, and nuances of both verbal and nonverbal communication and professional collaboration.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 480
Prerequisites: 6 hrs Agricultural Systems Technology
Student demonstrations and presentations required. Partially meets at Southeast Community College in Lincoln to ensure adequate experience with the equipment used in CTE programs. Includes 5 hours of required early field experience.
Description: Covers the planning, conducting, and administration of instructional programs related to experientially-based education in school laboratory settings. Introduction to a variety of laboratory settings, including mechanics, greenhouse, and land labs, among others.
Prerequisites: Junior standing.
Description: Cooperative Extension in a variety of settings and its role in the land-grant mission. Processes for developing and conducting need-driven, research-based, extension programs. Relationships with public and private agencies. Straegies for volunteerism.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior by application.
Description: Field course of supervised observation and participation with various phases of agricultural education and/or agribusiness.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Description: A structured professional and personal leadership developmental experience by providing planning, facilitation, instruction, and evaluation assistance in leadership & communication courses.
Prerequisites: Junior level students and above.
Description: How agriculture, the environment, and science are covered in media by different types of outlets. Use of framing theory as a foundation to understand why messages are crafted in certain ways, how and why news media portray topics and issues using certain metaphors and story lines. Creation of effective media messages related to agriculture, the environment, and science.
This course is a prerequisite for: ASCI 381
Prerequisites: ALEC 260 with a C or higher
Description: Visual communication to deliver science-based agricultural and environmental information for diverse audiences. Develop an understanding of layout design and digital photography concepts, utilize industry standard technology, create "real-world" portfolio pieces related to agriculture and the environment.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 480
Prerequisites: ALEC 260 with a C or higher
Description: Exploration and application of audio and video media storytelling techniques for agricultural communicators as used in promoting, marketing and communicating about agricultural and environmental sciences.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 480
Description: Ethics focusing on agricultural and natural resource issues. Using case studies from the professional workplace and contemporary society, develops intellectual skills necessary to reflect critically on ethical issues and apply appropriate conceptual tools for resolution of issues arising from conflicting ethical and value systems.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Description: Occupational experience or supervised occupational experience in conjunction with directed observation.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Description: Readings; in depth discussions; analysis of current theory, issues, problems, research and practice in leadership, education and/or communication. Topics vary.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor(s). One college level course in photography or equivalent, and knowledge of the basics of shooting still photographs or video using digital cameras. Open only to College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students.
Can be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours by consent of instructor.
Description: Concepts and techniques related to use of remote and automated digital camera technology to capture images in agriculture and natural resources contexts to communicate a narrative/story. Completion of individual project using a variety of technologies including camera traps, time-lapse camera systems, remote triggered cameras, as well as traditional audio and video and conventional photography.
Prerequisites: Permission and advance approval of plan of work.
Description: Individual or group projects in research, literature review, or extension of course work under supervision and evaluation of a departmental faculty member.
Designed for individuals interested in developing and/or improving program planning skills.
Description: Theoretical and applied considerations for identifying content, design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs that vary in length from several hours to several months.
Description: Covers the practice of instructional delivery of secondary Agricultural Education and Skilled and Technical Sciences programs in the public school system. Focused on organizing instructional content, individual lesson planning, methods of formal instructional delivery, student behavior management, instructing students with exceptionalities, and assessment. Includes 25 hours of required early field experience.
Description: Knowledge and theoretical basis for practicing supervisors in a changing workplace where supervisors have increasing responsibilities due to the flattening or organizational structures, solving supervisory challenges in organizing and planning, problem solving and decision making, performance appraisal and leading a diverse workforce.
Prerequisites: Junior Standing
Offered on the World Wide Web (WWW) fall semester of odd-numbered years and in the classroom fall semester of even numbered-years.
Description: Major leaders in conservation and ecology that emphasizes agricultural and cultural issues and relationships with the environment.
Description: Practical applications in developing and evaluating multimedia resources for students. Surveys new applications, creates and develops various instructional materials, and reviews current practice against relevant theory. Use current software packages to develop materials for various audiences.
Description: An applied and collaborative engagement toward program planning, marketing, and managing formal and non-formal education programs for youth and adults. Emphasis on building collaborative relationships through a learning process focused on experiential learning.
Prerequisites: Junior standing.
Description: Leadership theory in an applied context. Leadership analyzed through a variety of genres: autobiography, drama, fiction, tracts and treaties, speeches.
Prerequisites: Junior standing; ALEC 207. College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Junior standing; JOMC 101, JOMC 130-134, ADPR 151, ADPR 221, and ADPR 283
Recommended: ALEC 260
Description: Examines strategic communication practices of issues management, risk assessment, and crisis communications in agriculture and other industries, explores the process necessary to address current and future issues, and outlines effective communication in times of crisis. Focused on issues and crisis in agriculture, environmental science, natural resources, and society.
Create a thoroughly researched campaign plan and presentation that can be added to a professional portfolio.
Description: Apply skills in communications, public relations, and journalism to plan a strategic communications campaign. Examine principles and practice of marketing and communications applied to agricultural, science, or environmental issues.
Description: Designing new instructional programs, expanding the impact of student behavioral objectives, and evaluating the total instructional program.
Prerequisites: ALEC 202 or equivalent and at least junior standing
The course will require travel to project sites, which are within 75 miles of Lincoln. At least 5 project visits are required, and more project visits may be required depending on the project. Generally, students work in pairs, so not all students need to be able to drive, and the instructor will try to create partnerships that facilitate traveling needs. However, if students cannot find transportation to a project site, they will not be able to complete the course.
Description: Foundational knowledge of project planning and facilitation. An experiential opportunity to facilitate a project within a community.
Description: Scope and structure of career and technical education within the educational system. Teacher's role and responsibilities in dealing with legislative mandates in planning, management, and evaluation of a local program.
Prerequisites: Junior standing
Description: Leadership in theories, research, and practices in public organizations and natural resource agencies.
Prerequisites: Permission
Capstone course. Placement arranged by the department. Student teaching placement arranged by the department. Seven to sixteen weeks of off-campus student teaching. Pass/no pass only. 3 credit hours are needed to meet the ACE 10 requirement.
Description: Guided participation in various phases of a public school Agricultural Education or Skilled and Technical Sciences programs.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Open to all majors. Articles may be submitted for publication.
Description: Advanced writing about science for the non-expert and/or for the general public. Issues in science communication through reading the best writers in science and journalism. Research and write short articles and longer profiles about science and scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and elsewhere. Polish writing skills for doing work in science classes.
Prerequisites: At least Junior standing is required for ALEC 455.
Description: Explore foundational knowledge of team and group dynamics theory and its relationship to the practice of leadership in organizations and communities. Development of leadership, followership, and teamwork skills in small groups and teams. Focus on team and group decision making, problem solving, and creativity, peer assessment, and evaluation using real-world situations and contexts. Critically apply team and group dynamic theories and research to leadership in organizations and communities.
Prerequisites: Junior standing
Description: The study of leadership through the lens of diversity and inclusion. Exploration of how your life has shaped your approach and understanding of leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Analyze how leaders create inclusion in the workplace and in communities.
Description: Classic and contemporary motivation theories applied to leadership in organizations and communities.
Prerequisites: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication major and Permission of Instructor. ALEC 307 with a C or higher; ALEC 360 with a C or higher OR ALEC 361 with a C or higher
Requires interviews outside of class time.
Description: Senior capstone for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication. Investigate topics identified by IANR as critical to the state of Nebraska, conduct interviews, write, edit, design and assist in the production of print and multimedia versions of the Strategic Discussions for Nebraska student publication. Emphasis on factual, complete, accurate and clear communication of complex scientific and sociologically important issues in Nebraska agriculture and environmental science. Learning to communicate research and science-based agricultural and environmental concepts to public audiences.
This course is a prerequisite for: ALEC 481
Prerequisites: ALEC 480
Description: Second course in a two-course capstone series for the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication program. Focused on editing, publishing, and promoting the Strategic Discussions for Nebraska student publication.
Description: Organizational influence processes, power, and politics in organizations and communities.
Description: Addresses issues of planning for the student teaching experience, entering the profession of teaching secondary agricultural education or skilled and technical sciences education, planning for professional growth as an educator, and recognizing the professional responsibilities associated with being an educator.
Prerequisites: Junior standing; ALEC 302; Agricultural Education major; and permission.
Must be taken as 'Pass/No Pass' by Agricultural Education majors. Capstone course.
Description: Internship in a selected agribusiness, industry, or agency. Collaboration development of a training program and leadership activities.
Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication major. Instructor Permission. ALEC 207 with a C or higher and ALEC 260 with a C or higher.
Department approval is required. Cannot be taken Pass/No Pass.
Description: Internship experience with an organization selected by student and approved by instructor in an agricultural or environmental sciences organization where the focus of the internship is directly related to communications.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Description: Projects to research, literature review, or extension of course work.
For students majoring in the Leadership Option or minoring in Leadership and Communication or Leadership and Entrepreneurship only
Description: Projects to research, literature review, or extension of coursework related specifically to experiential learning in leadership
Prerequisites: Admission to the University Honors Program and permission, AGRI 299H recommended.
Description: Conduct a scholarly research project and write a University Honors Program or undergraduate thesis.