Factors Contributing to Students' Selection of Agricultural Education as a Major in a 4-Year University

This study examined the factors that statistically predict students' degree selection of agricultural education as a major concentration based on a population of first year agriculture students (n = 616) at a private four-year college. The study was a correlational design, which employed cross-sectional archival survey methodology. Research questions were designed to measure the extent to which six learning factors predict students' degree selection of agricultural education as a major concentration: 1) coming from a different a high school setting (rural vs. urban), 2) belonging to the National FFA Organization (FFA), 3) holding an FFA officer position while in high school, 4) having or not having a farm background, 5) parental occupation, and 6) expressed interest in teaching agricultural education. Results revealed coming from urban school settings, holding an officer position, parental occupation related to agriculture, and having an expressed interest in teaching agricultural education served as significant predictors. Further research may need to investigate how student experiences such as teaching reactions contribute to their selection of agricultural education as a major concentration.