About
Founded in agriculture, rooted in life.
Complex challenges demand real-world solutions. With an eye toward sustainability and a vision for the future, we shape the next generation of leaders who will make critical decisions about our food and technology in pursuit of a better world.
Agriculture is vital to Arizona's success, now and in the future. In the Department of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation, we train tomorrow's leaders in the science, technology, pedagogy and communication skills they'll need to help producers thrive in a changing climate and inspire the next generation of agricultural educators. Our undergraduate, graduate and research programs engage with industry professionals, policymakers, educators and community members to craft relevant, effective educational resources and opportunities throughout the state and beyond.
Our undergraduate programs combine expert instruction in areas like agricultural and environmental sciences, technology, policy and advocacy, and vocational teaching with hands-on experiential learning opportunities where students develop the practical skills they'll need in their careers. Graduate students get advanced training to help them address global challenges in food systems, sustainability and education.
Our research and Cooperative Extension activities focus on community engagement and education with emerging topics in agricultural education. From the implementation of alternative energy sources, to food entrepreneurship, to workforce development and vocational training, our work impacts educators and communities in Arizona and across the globe.
Our history
Agricultural education has been an important part of the University of Arizona for more than a century. With the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917, we began to offer teacher training in the fields of agriculture, trades and industry, first through the College of Education and then through the College of Agriculture (now, the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences). Over the next three decades, what began as two professional courses soon grew into a fully developed undergraduate major, soon followed by graduate-level programs.
The twentieth century was one of expansion and innovation for our department. Agricultural education was seen as vital to Arizona's war effort during both world wars. As demand for agricultural products surged, so did demand for qualified educators to offer up-to-date technical expertise and vocational training. By the late 1960s, we had gained national recognition - and popularity among students - for our progressive method of providing coordinated instruction built around a series of professional competencies deemed essential for beginning vocational agriculture teachers. During that time, we also began providing instruction, assistance and clinical observation to new vocational teachers as part of the New Teacher Program. In the 1980s, we added an undergraduate major in agricultural mechanics to in response to an increasingly mechanized agricultural industry.
Now into our second century, we continue our tradition of sound pedagogical training that adapts and responds to changing conditions - in the classroom and in the climate. We take pride in working with industry, policy, academic and community partners to train the agricultural educators who will inspire future generations.