SUNY Cobleskill Introduces Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Communication

COBLESKILL — SUNY Cobleskill is introducing Agriculture Communication, a Bachelor of Science program to be offered to students for the first time in Fall 2023. Unifying core curriculum elements of the College’s Agriculture Business and Communications in Technology programs, Agriculture Communication is the first and only bachelor's program of its kind in the Northeast U.S.

The four-year program, combining technical skills in graphic design and digital media production with foundational and advanced courses in communication and agriculture, will prepare students to succeed in a wide variety of agricultural and food-related media and marketing positions through hands-on, multidisciplinary coursework with expert faculty.

The Agriculture Communication curriculum will encompass digital media, web design, interpersonal and intercultural communication, journalism, food systems, marketing, promotion and sales, agricultural policy, law, ethics, and leadership. Through these disciplines, students will acquire a working knowledge of agribusiness principles and an understanding of the American agricultural system and the roles these play in the global food economy. 

“This new program is truly transdisciplinary in that it pulls together so many of our varied disciplines at SUNY Cobleskill into one cohesive whole,” said Erik Hage, Interim Dean for Academic Affairs and Teaching Faculty and Professor of Communication and Journalism.

“It takes existing strengths in our agriculture, agribusiness, business, communication, and graphic design curricula and fuses them into a forward-thinking degree that comprehensively prepares students for a wide variety of careers. There are so many diversely talented faculty and such a variety of programs at the College. Agriculture Communication taps into the full scope of the Cobleskill experience and unites us under the ‘One Coby’ banner.”

The degree track also allows students to select upper-level courses for those who wish to focus on one specific expertise within the program. Career pathways for graduates include agricultural education or business, marketing and public relations, journalism, digital media production, and government affairs. 

For further reading on the program and information on how to apply, visit cobleskill.edu.