Agricultural Literacy Certification
Become a certified agricultural literacy educator through a newly developed self-paced online course.
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Designed for K-12 educators But applicable to everyone -
12 hours to complete No time limit on completion -
Earn a certificate NCAL Certified Agricultural Literacy Educator -
Online and self-paced Complete on your schedule -
$25 to enroll Open enrollment – start anytime!
About
Agriculture touches our daily existence through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the environments we inhabit. Agriculture is so ubiquitous, it’s difficult to have a complete understanding of our modern existence without at least a basic understanding of agriculture.
In the Agricultural Literacy Certification (ALC) course, you will explore the diverse field of agriculture, learn about its pivotal role in society, and get a better understanding of how agriculture can be integrated into your curriculum to enhance your students’ understanding of the world around them.
Topics
You'll get started by taking a pre-test to see what you already know about agriculture and sharing a little about yourself and your experience with agriculture.
Agriculture is a modern industry, complete with integrated business models, cutting-edge technology, and billions of dollars in revenue each year. This first module provides an overview of agriculture, how it relates to your life, and how both agriculture and natural resources are used to meet human needs.
Lessons
- 1.1 What is Agriculture?
- 1.2 Agriculture in Your Life
- 1.3 Natural Resources
- 1.4 Producers and Consumers
Incorporating agriculture into your curriculum provides an opportunity for students to gain insights into the complex processes that shape the food we eat and the products we use daily. This module provides insights into how to integrate agriculture into your curriculum and provides resources for grade appropriate lesson plans and learning outcomes.
Lessons
- 2.1 Why Incorporate Agriculture in the Curriculum
- 2.2 How Agriculture Fits With Educational Content Areas
- 2.3 Assessing Agricultural Literacy
This module explores the historical origins of agriculture and how it has evolved over the centuries into the global agricultural system of today.
Lessons
- 3.1 The Emergence of Agriculture
- 3.2 History of U.S. Agriculture
- 3.3 Agriculture in a Global Economy
Food systems are integrated networks that map the journey food takes to reach our plates. In this module you will learn about various parts of the food systems, approaches to growing food, how food systems connect and vary across the world, and the challenges faced by people with limited access to food systems.
Lessons
- 4.1 Elements of the Food System
- 4.2 Types of Food Systems
- 4.3 Conventional and Organic Food
- 4.4 Global and Local Food
- 4.5 Food Security and Hunger
Food provides the energy and nutrients our bodies need. In this module, you’ll learn about the fundamental components of food our bodies need for a balanced and healthy diet. You’ll also learn how foods are transformed from raw ingredients to items in a grocery store, and the food safety concerns that must be managed throughout the process.
Lessons
- 5.1 Nutritional Guidelines
- 5.2 Food Processing and Preservation
- 5.3 Food Labeling and Marketing
- 5.4 Food Safety
Plants are a major component of the food we eat and products we use (think the fibers in a cotton shirt). This module provides an overview of plants and how they grow, major crops grown in the U.S. and common production practices.
Lessons
- 6.1 The Nature of Plant
- 6.2 Soil Science
- 6.3 Types of Crops
- 6.4 Crop Production Practices
- 6.5 Grain, Oilseed, and Pulse Production
- 6.6 Fruit, Tree Nut, and Vegetable Production
- 6.7 Cotton Production
Animal products are a major part of agriculture. In this module, you’ll learn about types of livestock and production practices.
Lessons
- 7.1 Animal Science
- 7.2 Types of Livestock
- 7.3 Livestock Production Practices
- 7.4 Cattle Production
- 7.5 Poultry Production
- 7.6 Swine Production
- 7.7 Aquaculture
The landscape of American agriculture is undergoing profound transformations driven by population growth, changing consumer demands, and the need for long-term sustainability.
Lessons
- 8.1 Feeding a Growing Population
- 8.2 Consumer Trends
- 8.3 Different Perspectives
Wrap-up the course with a post-test and capstone activity. The capstone involves exploring a lesson of your choice in the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix. Once you’ve completed both the post-test and capstone, you’ll be awarded the Agricultural Literacy Certification.
What You’ll Learn
- Comprehensive Understanding of Agricultural Concepts: Learn about the core components of the agricultural industry, including crop production, livestock management, sustainable farming practices, and agricultural technology.
- Awareness of Agriculture’s Societal Impact: Understand the role of agriculture in society, including its impact on the economy, food security, and the environment.
- Integration of Agricultural Topics into Curriculum: Access resources for agricultural lesson plans and see how agricultural concepts can be integrated with subjects you already teach.
- Emerging Agricultural Trends: Learn about the latest trends in agriculture, such as precision farming, biotechnology, and climate-smart agriculture, ensuring that your knowledge and teaching practices are current.
- Promotion of Agricultural Literacy: Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to discuss agricultural topics confidently, encouraging a greater understanding of food and agriculture in those around you.
- Knowledge of Agricultural Careers: Explore the wide range of career opportunities within agriculture and related fields, including those in agricultural science, technology, and business.
- Understanding of Sustainable Practices: Learn about sustainable agricultural practices and how they can be applied to promote environmental stewardship and long-term agricultural productivity.
- Enhanced Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by exploring different perspectives and approaches to global challenges.
FAQs
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- Teachers:
- K-12 educators who want background knowledge and context for incorporating agriculture into their classes will find this course useful. It’s a great fit for teachers of AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, Agriculture in the Classroom partner programs, or STEM subjects.
- School Administrators:
- Principals, counselors, curriculum coordinators, Career and Technical Education supervisors, school board members, and other school leaders can use this course to better understand agriculture and how it connects to educational opportunities and curriculum development in their schools.
- College Students:
- Pre-service teachers studying K-12 education, especially those focusing on Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education or Family and Consumer Science, will benefit from the context provided in this course. It’s also helpful for students in related fields like biology, zoology, engineering, veterinary medicine, or business who are preparing for industry roles connected to agriculture.
- New Hires in Agricultural Businesses:
- New employees in the agriculture industry, especially those with limited experience in production agriculture, will find this course helpful for building foundational knowledge.
- Advisory Committee Members:
- Partners or volunteers serving on boards for agricultural education, Agriculture in the Classroom, or agricultural foundations will gain valuable context about the U.S. agricultural system in this course.
- Other Professionals:
- This course is also helpful for legislators, Peace Corps volunteers, local government officials, or anyone else who wants to learn the basics of agriculture and its role in society.
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This course is not designed for K-12 students. We hope to launch a high school version of the course in the future, so stay tuned!
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The Agricultural Literacy Certification course consists of 8 modules, each containing lessons that cover a range of agricultural topics. The course includes a mix of text, videos, images, interactive activities, quizzes, and free-response prompts. As you complete each lesson, the next one unlocks, guiding you through the material in sequence. The course begins with a pre-test and concludes with a post-test and capstone project. Overall, it is designed to take around 12 hours to complete.
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Agriculture touches our daily existence through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the environments we inhabit. Agriculture is so ubiquitous, it’s difficult to have a complete understanding of our modern existence without at least a basic understanding of agriculture. A foundational understanding of the complexities of the U.S. agricultural system results in a society that makes informed decisions, supports the preparation of an agricultural workforce, supports rational and practical agricultural policy ultimately leading to a food-secure nation.
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The 12-hour estimate is based on an average of past participants’ completion time. You may finish more quickly, or it might take you longer if you choose to more deeply explore associated links and resources.
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No, there is no time limit for completing the course. While most people finish in about two weeks, you can take as much or as little time as you need. For the best learning experience, we recommend completing the course within a month of starting.
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No, you will not lose access to the course after you complete it. You will remain enrolled and retain access.
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No, you don’t need to be online at specific times. The course is fully asynchronous, meaning you can complete the course at your own pace whenever it’s convenient for you. You can access the content and participate in activities based on your schedule.
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No, you do not need special software or apps to access the course. The course can be completed from any device with internet access.
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No, there are no additional fees beyond the $25 enrollment cost. There are no membership fees or charges for accessing the curriculum or resources. Once you enroll, you’ll have full access to the course materials.
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The National Center for Agricultural Literacy does not provide scholarships at this time. However, your state Agriculture in the Classroom program may sponsor your participation.
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It depends on your state. Upon completion of the course, you will receive an Agricultural Literacy Educator Certificate that provides evidence of completing 12 hours of learning. Depending on your state and school district, you may be able to use that certificate to count towards teacher licensure renewal credits. You can also share the ALC flyer (PDF) if you need to provide a description of the course.
Most states have requirements for licensure renewal published online, but you can also check with your school district and the Agriculture in the Classroom program in your state.
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Your certification does not expire. However, since we update the course routinely to reflect the evolving agriculture industry, we suggest retaking the course every 3 to 5 years to obtain the latest information.
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You can purchase group enrollment for your staff. See more information on group enrollment. To facilitate group discussions, you can use the Agricultural Literacy Certification Discussion Guide (PDF), which is designed in a book club format. Specific questions are denoted for staff or volunteers within agriculture versus teachers.
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You can share the ALC flyer (PDF), which provides an overview of the course, including the objectives, content of each module, and course requirements. This document is ideal for explaining the course for district-wide professional development or for your own professional development hours.
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Yes, throughout the course, there are links to lessons for use in the K-12 classroom. Additionally, some of the questions throughout the course and capstone activity will provoke thought about connections to your teaching. Many of the course videos could also be repurposed for your classroom lessons. Finally, the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix provides hundreds of agriculturally themed, standards-based lessons free for your use.
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Of course! We’d love for you to promote your agricultural knowledge on your resume!
If you have additional questions, please contact us at agliteracy4me@gmail.com.
ALC info session @ NAITC conference
We presented this certification course at the annual National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in June 2024. You can view the slides from our session below.
- Mission Possible: Agricultural Literacy Certification
- Debra Spielmaker, Amy Spielmaker, Rose Judd-Murray
- View Session Slidesopen_in_new