About the Department
Welcome to the college’s home for applied social sciences.
We are a small, welcoming community of scholars and friends united by our passion for preparing the next generation of teachers and improving our ability to reach out to communities. The scholarship in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education is related to people, society, and economic systems grounded in theory and methods from the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Faculty and students develop and employ rigorous approaches to discover fundamental and applied principles that advance science in their core disciplines. The department strives to improve the health, prosperity, and welfare of people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond. Our core disciplines for teaching and research are:
- Agricultural and Food Systems — focuses on the interconnections between producers, distributors, regulators, and consumers in a variety of issues related to food choices, markets, pollution, and health
- Community Development and Engagement — focuses on community resilience through civic engagement, leadership, and entrepreneurship to support sustainable communities and regional economies
- Environment and Natural Resources — addresses the human impact on fundamental natural assets, such as land, water, and air, and tackling the challenges that growing populations create for economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental sustainability
- Population Processes in Global Perspective —enhancing scholarship on migration and immigration, health, and material well-being of individuals and households across the world
The department offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, with three thematic areas to guide our scholarship. These three themes utilize the respective strengths of each of the three core disciplines while providing an overall collaborative framework for research, scholarship, teaching, and outreach.
The Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology programs and the departmental main office are located in Armsby Building. The faculty of the Agricultural Extension Education program is in Ferguson Building. Come meet our faculty, staff, and students and discover for yourself why we are happy to call the department our home.
Latest News
August 29, 2024
Quick guide aimed at educating public about Pennsylvania election process
With election day quickly approaching, Cristy Schmidt, Penn State Extension applied research educator, recently collaborated with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania to develop a series of educational and messaging materials as part of her work as the association’s Extension fellow.
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August 28, 2024
Nine new faculty join Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is welcoming nine new co-funded faculty members to Penn State. By helping to support co-funded faculty members, SSRI also supports interdisciplinary research within the social and behavioral sciences.
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August 26, 2024
College of Ag Sciences faculty, students lauded at annual national conference
Several faculty members and graduate students associated with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently received awards at the 70th annual North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference in Wooster, Ohio.
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August 22, 2024
Program awarded $750,000 to train future educators in global food security
A project aimed at helping prepare undergraduate students to serve as future agricultural educators has received $750,000 in renewed funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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Upcoming Events
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Ag Sciences Involvement Fair
September 4, 2024
Berkey Creamery Lawn 119 Rodney A. Erickson, Food Science Building, University Park, PA 16802
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Animals Interest Area Visit for Prospective Students
September 6, 2024
University Park, PA
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Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability Interest Area Visit for Prospective Students
September 13, 2024
University Park, PA
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Plants and Green Industry Interest Area Visit for Prospective Students
September 16, 2024
University Park, PA
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education
- Office 814-865-5461
- Fax 814-865-3746