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2023 Agricultural Public Services Degree Guide

Can't decide between a career in communications or farming? Don't worry, you don't have to. A major in Agricultural Public Services allows you to follow your passion for news, broadcast, teaching, or communications while still being involved in agriculture. As part of a major in Agriculture Public Services you will take classes in advertising, news writing, broadcast, photojournalism, and editing while also learning about agriculture through classes such as animal and plant science, agribusiness, agriculture economics, and biochemistry.

Maybe you don't want to go into news or broadcast? Along with the option to specialize in Agricultural Communication or Journalism, this major also offers the option to specialize Agricultural and Extension Education Services.

Agricultural Public Services Degrees On The Rise

#250 Most Popular Major
845 Degrees Awarded
2.6% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, agricultural public services was the 250th most popular major nationwide with 845 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.6% increase in agricultural public services degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 823.

This year's Best Agricultural Public Services Schools ranking compares 27 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural public services programs later in this article.

2023 Best Colleges for Agricultural Public Services
2023 Overall Best Agricultural Public Services Colleges >

Best Agricultural Public Services Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Agricultural Public Services
Bachelor's Degrees in Agricultural Public Services
Master's Degrees in Agricultural Public Services
Doctorate Degrees in Agricultural Public Services

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Agricultural Public Services

People drawn to this career often have a passion for both communications and farming. Professionals who choose to go into journalism are required to communicate daily with the general public about varying agricultural topics. It is necessary to have the skills to effectively explain and report scientific information so the average person can understand it. This major also suits someone who has strong interpersonal skills. You will be communicating daily with clients, media, farmers, or the general public, so you must be comfortable speaking and working closely with others. Strong writing skills are also a must.

Depending on the type of job you go into, the average workday can vary. News can happen at any time, so depending on your role in the organization, you may not work the typical 40-hour week. Other public services jobs are closer to the typical workweek, but can frequently have long days.

Internships are the best way to prepare for a career in Agricultural Public Services. This gives students the opportunity to gain experience in reporting news or providing consulting and educational services. Journalism and communications recruiters prefer job prospects to have previous experience within the field before being hired.

Prior Education for an Agricultural Public Services Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most agricultural public services degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional agricultural public services certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Types of Agricultural Public Services Degrees

There are various different levels of agricultural public services degrees. Agricultural Public Services programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest agricultural public services degree you can get. Depending on the agricultural public services degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to agricultural public services, with approximately 52.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for agricultural public services workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree 51.2%
Master’s Degree 18.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 7.7%
High School Diploma 7.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate 6.9%

About 74.7% of workers in careers related to agricultural public services obtain at least bachelor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in agricultural public services careers have.

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This of course varies depending on which agricultural public services career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Agricultural Public Services Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
$36.1k Average Starting Salary
5% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

As an Agricultural Public Services graduate, you have the ability to work for both farming media outlets and non-specialized outlets. Depending on the type of media classes you take, you may find a career in broadcast, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. Some Agricultural Public Services majors decide to work in an advertising or public relations office or provide referral, consulting, and educational services to others within agribusiness.

Growth Projected for Agricultural Public Services Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your agricultural public services degree? Agricultural Public Services careers are expected to grow 4.5% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural public services.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Graphic Designers 277,400 4.2%
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians 94,000 12.8%
Reporters and Correspondents 40,200 -10.1%
Farm and Home Management Advisors 11,200 7.7%

How Much Money Do People With a Agricultural Public Services Degree Make?

Agricultural Public Services graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $36,132 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $22,464 to as high as $51,533. As you might expect, salaries for agricultural public services graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Agricultural Public Services Majors

Salaries for agricultural public services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers agricultural public services grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Reporters and Correspondents $55,530
Graphic Designers $54,680
Farm and Home Management Advisors $52,700
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians $48,940

Getting Your Agricultural Public Services Degree

With over 78 different agricultural public services degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased agricultural public services school rankings to help you with this.

Agricultural Public Services is one of 16 different types of Agriculture & Agriculture Operations programs to choose from.

Agricultural Public Services Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Agricultural Communication/Journalism 462
Agricultural & Extension Education Services 322
Agricultural Public Services, Other 61

View All Agricultural Public Services Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians 8,646
Animal Science 8,294
Agricultural Economics & Business 8,098
General Agriculture 3,370
Horticulture 3,234

View All Agricultural Public Services Related Majors >

References

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