Agricultural and Natural Resources Communication Undergraduate Major (BA, HBA, BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Agricultural and Natural Resources Communication is the art and science of translating complex agricultural and natural resources topics into compelling messages for diverse audiences. Students in this major learn to craft stories, create media, and develop strategies that connect farmers, scientists, policymakers, and the public—helping communities understand and engage with the issues that shape our food systems, environment, and natural resources.
This program is designed for students who are curious, creative, and passionate about both agriculture/natural resources and communication. Whether you love writing, social media, or creating media, ANRC provides the tools to turn your ideas into impactful messages. Students gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects, collaborating with industry partners, and exploring the intersection of agriculture and natural resources sciences, society, and storytelling.
Graduates of ANRC are prepared for dynamic communication careers across the agriculture and natural resources sectors. Opportunities include roles in ag/nr media outlets, public relations, marketing, social media management, policy advocacy, journalism, Extension, and community outreach, to name a few. Students can also use this major to become a communication consultant and help market their agricultural products or to help prepare them for graduate school. This major equips students to inform, inspire, and influence the conversations that shape the future of agriculture and natural resources.
Major Code: A076
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Interpret complex agricultural and natural resources concepts to craft and deliver messages tailored to various audiences and communication channels.
- Apply strategic communication awareness of emerging issues in agriculture and natural resources, and apply strategic communication to real-world issues.
- Evaluate accessible, ethical, inclusive, and culturally competent communication content creation and modality use for agriculture and natural resources.
- Analyze and modify communication objectives using appropriate ANRC theories, frameworks, and insights from practice to analyze and modify communication for ag/nr objectives.
- Develop employability skills that exhibit professionalism and collaboration for Agricultural and Natural Resources Contexts.
- Create a portfolio and other communication products that demonstrate technical mastery and integrate industry and essential skills gained in the Agricultural & Natural Resources Communication major.
Students must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses required for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| AG 111 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE | 3 |
| AG 311 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE | 3 |
| or FW 350 | +*ENDANGERED SPECIES & SOCIETY | |
| AG 421 | ^WRITING IN AGRICULTURE | 3-4 |
| or WR 462 | ^ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING | |
| AGCM 210 | EXPLORING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN OREGON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 250 | +ADVANCEMENT & CONSUMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL & NATURAL RESOURCES MEDIA | 3 |
| AGCM 300 | DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 351 | COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES | 3 |
| AGCM 364 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| AGCM 390 | +COMMUNICATING WICKED PROBLEMS: LAND SCARCITY, POLICY, & ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 392 | AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION WRITING | 3 |
| AGCM 444 | COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 4 |
| AGCM 445 | SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 455 | *RISK AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS IN AG SCI & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 465 | AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION CAPSTONE | 2 |
| AGCM 466 | PACKING IT ALL IN: MAGAZINE DESIGN FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATIONS | 4 |
| LEAD 242 | +PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | 2-3 |
| or RNG 307 | +LAND STEWARDSHIP CAREER SKILLS & BUILDING | |
| or SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| Perspectives in Agriculture and Natural Resources | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| +*INDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONS | ||
| +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE | ||
| *WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE | ||
| *INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN PLANTS AND HUMANITY | ||
| +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | ||
| +*TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS | ||
| +*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT | ||
| +*SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | ||
| Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Foundational Content | ||
| Select 30 credits from the following, with a minimum of three courses in each category: | 30 | |
| Agricultural Sciences | ||
| AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD MARKETING | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, POLICY, AND ECONOMICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO EXTENSION AND ENGAGEMENT | ||
| FARM IMPLEMENTS | ||
| AG SAFETY AND HEALTH | ||
| MOBILE AND DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR VISUAL STORYTELLING IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL SCIENCES | ||
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ON PASTURE | ||
| +*BOTANY: A HUMAN CONCERN | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO PLANT BIOLOGY | ||
| *HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| CROP PRODUCTION IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST AGROECOSYSTEMS | ||
| +*CHALLENGES IN WORLD FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY | ||
| ORGANIC CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRECISION AGRICULTURE | ||
| ORGANIC SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT | ||
| SEED PRODUCTION | ||
| +*PESTS, PLAGUES AND POLITICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO WINES, BEERS, AND SPIRITS | ||
| *FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN WESTERN CULTURE | ||
| ORGANIC FARMING AND GARDENING | ||
| +*PESTS, PLAGUES AND POLITICS | ||
| +*POLLINATORS IN PERIL | ||
| SOIL SCIENCE and +*SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | ||
| Natural Resources | ||
| DOMESTIC ANIMAL SYSTEMS I | ||
| DOMESTIC ANIMAL SYSTEMS II | ||
| +*FOREST BIOLOGY | ||
| *ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | ||
| SYSTEMATICS OF BIRDS | ||
| +*FOOD FROM THE SEA | ||
| +*WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD | ||
| +*ENDANGERED SPECIES & SOCIETY | ||
| ECOSYSTEM SERVICES | ||
| +*THE HUMAN PLANET | ||
| +IT'S A DISASTER: NATURAL HAZARDS AND RISK REDUCTION | ||
| +MAPS, MEDIA & COMMUNICATION | ||
| +*TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY | ||
| +*GEOGRAPHIES OF RISK, VULNERABILITY, AND RESILIENCE | ||
| EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE SCIENCE | ||
| +MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE | ||
| NATURAL RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS | ||
| +NATURAL RESOURCE DECISION MAKING | ||
| +OUTSIDE: SHARING YOUR OUTDOOR ORIGIN STORY | ||
| NATURE, ECO, AND ADVENTURE TOURISM | ||
| COMMUNITIES, NATURAL AREAS, AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| ORIENTATION TO SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| Social Science: Food, Culture, and Society Electives 1 | ||
| Select 8-11 credits from the following: | 8-11 | |
| MEDIA STORYTELLING | ||
| +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | ||
| +INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO RHETORICAL THEORY | ||
| COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| +COMMUNICATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITIES | ||
| ONLINE MARKETING AND REPUTATION MANAGEMENT | ||
| *OCEANS, COASTS, AND PEOPLE | ||
| SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| +INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA AND EVERYDAY LIFE | ||
| *POPULAR CULTURE | ||
| SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| *WRITING FOR MEDIA | ||
| *PODCAST STORYTELLING | ||
| *PUBLISHING AND EDITING | ||
| *WRITING FOR THE WEB | ||
| +*WRITING IN BUSINESS | ||
| +*ADVANCED WRITING & ARGUMENTATION | ||
| *UNDERSTANDING GRAMMAR | ||
| +*SCIENCE WRITING | ||
| +WRITING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES | ||
| FOOD WRITING | ||
| ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | ||
| Data & Research Literacy 1 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| +INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE | ||
| +ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | ||
| Experiential Learning 1 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 1-3 | |
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| CLIENT CONSULTING FOR AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, BA/BS Requirements, and Electives | 73-81 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
AGCM 390 cannot count for the Core Education Seeking Solutions category
- 2
The combined credits of Food, Culture, and Society Electives, Data & Research Literacy and Experiential Learning must equal a minimum of 15 credits. A minimum of one course must be selected in each section
Major Code: A076
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| AG 111 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE | 3 |
| AGCM 210 | EXPLORING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN OREGON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AGCM 250 | +ADVANCEMENT & CONSUMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL & NATURAL RESOURCES MEDIA | 3 |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 4 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGCM 351 | COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES | 3 |
| AGCM 364 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| AGCM 392 | AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION WRITING | 3 |
| COMM 414 | COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS or +INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE or +ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I or INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 3-4 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AGCM 300 | DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| LEAD 242 | +PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT or +LAND STEWARDSHIP CAREER SKILLS & BUILDING or +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2-3 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AG 421 or WR 462 | ^WRITING IN AGRICULTURE or ^ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| AGCM 444 | COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 4 |
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGCM 390 | +COMMUNICATING WICKED PROBLEMS: LAND SCARCITY, POLICY, & ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| Experiential Learning | 1-3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AG 311 or FW 350 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE or +*ENDANGERED SPECIES & SOCIETY | 3 |
| AGCM 466 | PACKING IT ALL IN: MAGAZINE DESIGN FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATIONS | 4 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGCM 445 | SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 455 | *RISK AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS IN AG SCI & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 465 | AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION CAPSTONE | 2 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| AG 111 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE | 3 |
| AGCM 210 | EXPLORING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN OREGON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AGCM 250 | +ADVANCEMENT & CONSUMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL & NATURAL RESOURCES MEDIA | 3 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGCM 351 | COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES | 3 |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AGCM 300 | DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 445 | SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| ASNR Foundational Course Content | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Course Content | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGCM 455 | *RISK AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS IN AG SCI & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGCM 364 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| Food, Culture & Society Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analytics | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| LEAD 242 | +PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT or +LAND STEWARDSHIP CAREER SKILLS & BUILDING or +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2-3 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGCM 390 | +COMMUNICATING WICKED PROBLEMS: LAND SCARCITY, POLICY, & ADVOCACY IN AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| AGCM 444 | COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES | 4 |
| ST 243Z | +ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I or +INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE or INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS or COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS | 3-4 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AG 311 or FW 350 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE or +*ENDANGERED SPECIES & SOCIETY | 3 |
| AGCM 392 | AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION WRITING | 3 |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| AG 421 or WR 462 | ^WRITING IN AGRICULTURE or ^ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| AGCM 466 | PACKING IT ALL IN: MAGAZINE DESIGN FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATIONS | 4 |
| Perspectives in ANR Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGCM 465 | AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMUNICATION CAPSTONE | 2 |
| Experiential Learning | 1-3 | |
| ASNR Foundational Content Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course