Pathways

A Pathway is a method of searching for a career that fits a student's interests and lifestyle and then allows the student to build academic courses around it. The Pathway recommends individual high school courses – both academic and career-related – to concentrate on which are specifically geared toward the student's chosen career. All of this planning starts as early as middle/junior high school and continues as the student advances through high school.

Educator's Guide to Pathways - PDF
Pathways Ag Career Chart and Key - PDF
Pathways List - PDF

Agricultural Education – 6 Pathways

      Agricultural Systems Technology - PDF
      Horticulture Science - PDF
      Natural Resource Science - PDF
      Production/Processing Animal Science - PDF
      Production/Processing Plant & Soil Science - PDF
      Production/Processing Science - PDF

Our Mission:
Agricultural Education prepares students for employment and/or continuing education opportunities in agriculture through technical instruction in the classroom, experiential education through the laboratory and Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP), and leadership and personal development through the Organization for Agricultural Students – FFA.

General Tips:

• The Utah agricultural education pathways are based on national skills standards and the national cluster pathways for agricultural education.
• Specific course offerings vary by school. Many courses offer concurrent enrollment opportunities for students and may provide a seamless transition for students into college horticulture, agricultural mechanics, and agricultural science programs.
• By taking Agricultural Education courses, students learn to value and understand the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems in advancing personal and global well being.

Tips for Teachers and Counselors:

• To complete a pathway, students must complete a total of 3.00 credits. Students must complete the required foundation courses (2.00 credits) and then choose 1.00 credit from the introductory or elective courses to be a completer. Students seeking a career in agriculture should develop high-level skills in math and science.
• Agriculture is the nation’s largest employer, generating approximately 20% of our nation’s employment. However 10% of today’s professional jobs in agriculture go unfilled because of a lack of qualified graduates. As the demand increases for agricultural products, so does the demand for qualified individuals.
• By taking Agricultural Education courses, students gain an important foundation of knowledge and skills necessary for continuing education in agriculture, which can lead to a career in food and nutrition science, or as a golf course superintendent, forester, veterinarian, agricultural engineer, water quality manager, wildlife and fisheries manager, or farm/ranch manager.
• Through the SEOP process students may take advantage of courses in Agricultural Education that will count as science credit toward graduation.

Leadership Opportunities:

• Students are provided with opportunities for leadership development, personal growth, and career success through three instructional components: classroom/laboratory instruction (contextual learning), supervised agricultural experience program (Work-Based Learning), and student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization).
• The Career & Technical Student Organization for these pathways is the National FFA Organization. FFA, 500,000 members strong, makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

Transition to Post-Secondary and/or Career:

• In a Supervised Agriculture Experience, students apply to real-life situations the concepts that they learn in the classroom and laboratory.
• A variety of related Work-Based Learning (WBL) experiences are available in each pathway. WBL experiences allow students to see, firsthand, how classroom instruction connects to the world of work and future career opportunities.

Our vision is to see that all students have an appreciation for agriculture and the environment and that Agricultural Education students develop essential career preparation skills through technical and experiential education, as well as personal leadership opportunities.

Updated December 8, 2011