Agricultural Communication
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Agricultural communicators are marketing and communications professionals who develop and share stories with a focus on various aspects of the agricultural industry including agriculture, animals, food and the environment.
San Luis Obispo, California
You will study animal and plant sciences, media relations, journalism technique, agriculture production, and communication and presentation styles, as well as learn how to navigate issues impacting agriculture.
Opportunities are available for work in your field of interest, with laboratories available for course work and research projects in:
- Agriculture Mechanics
- Bee Keeping
- Beef Science
- Dairy Science
- Education Methods
- Food Processing
- Food Safety
- Graphic Communication
- Holistic Management
- Plant Science
- Soil Science
About the Program
Cal Poly is home to California’s only agricultural communications major, a program that combines the study of communications, public relations, marketing and journalism with the study of agriculture and environmental sciences.
Through hands-on experiences in labs, internships and projects, you will learn how to develop and present compelling stories about the agricultural industry as well as the best ways to share them with the public. As a result, you will become a communicator with the knowledge and abilities to advocate for the agricultural industry in California and throughout the world.
Learn by Doing
Our program emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning in both communications and agriculture. While you will have opportunities to develop marketing materials and create stories for various industries in agriculture, you will also work in a greenhouse or a field studying crop and animal sciences. Through a partnership with the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication, you will produce a professional magazine focusing on local, state and national agricultural issues. These experiences allow you to draw on real-world examples and experiences when you graduate.
Create a Magazine
Write, edit, design and photograph for the student-produced Ag Circle magazine.
Our Graduates
Agricultural communication graduates find careers in marketing, advertising, public relations, digital marketing, media production, sales, management and more.
Employers include The Wonderful Company, Driscoll’s, FleishmanHillard, World Wide Sires, Global Cold Chain Alliance, John Deere, Dole Food Company, Church Brothers Farms and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Our graduates have also gone on to earn advanced degrees in communications, journalism, and leadership development.