Wayne Centers
Director of Student Relations
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
dsr@uky.eduThe Bachelor of Science in Community and Leadership Development is an interdisciplinary program that prepares you to explore community development through a broad spectrum of social sciences.
With a degree in Community and Leadership Development, you will be able to strengthen the abilities of individuals, organizations, and communities to act upon their shared visions, goals and challenges. You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to develop and/or lead communities and organizations, non-profit, business and industry, and advocacy groups.
Our curriculum integrates communications, sociology, journalism, and community development theories and apply them to real-world situations involving local communities and agricultural organizations. With a focus on skills such as written and oral communication, strategic problem solving and critical thinking you will work towards understanding group, organizational, and community dynamics and ethical decision making.
You will be able to customize your degree by chosing one of our four concentration areas:
Our department also offers a Master’s Degree emphasizing the above areas, utilizing a unique theory-to-practice perspective. Learn more.
To learn more about this program, campus life, and chat with an advisor, schedule a campus visit. Virtual visits may be necessary in some cases.
Thanks to agreements through the Academic Common Market, students from the following states can enroll in the Community and Leadership Development program at in-state tuition rates:
source: myUK: GPS
Please login to http://myUK.uky.edu to access your major map and personalized degree audit via the myUK Graduation Planning System (myUK GPS).
In addition to automatic and competitive scholarships from the University of Kentucky, our students are also eligible for a variety of awards from the college. With one of the largest college-based scholarship programs, we awarded nearly $1 million to our students during the 2022-23 academic year. These awards are based on a variety of criteria such as hometown, major, career goals, high school extracurriculars, and more.
For CAFE first-semester freshmen, the scholarship application is now open and will close January 16, 2024.
For CAFE transfer students and current students, the scholarship application opens in January and will close on March 1.
Live where you learn:
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Living Learning Program (CAFE LLP) is open to all first-semester freshmen at the University of Kentucky.
Through field trips, professional development workshops and service programs, students in our LLP apply their knowledge and passion to global issues at the intersection of food, economics and environment. All students in this program will also enroll in connected courses, share study groups and have an assigned peer mentor - all to help with the transition to college life.
Click here for more information on the CAFE LLP.
Should you choose, you can gain international experience while earning credit towards your degree. We offer a variety of study, research, intern, and service abroad programs for all budgets and comfort levels. Some students have even earned grants and scholarships to fully fund their international experiences.
These programs are designed to broaden your mind and introduce you to unfamiliar ways of thinking and living. Ultimately, these experiences will make you a more competitive applicant in the global workforce.
Each year, many of our graduates attend professional schools in areas such as veterinary medicine, law, pharmacy, dentistry, and more. If you are interested in pursuing a similar path, we offer pre-professional advising services.
Our pre-professional advisors will assist you with:
Students can join organizations and clubs to learn outside the classroom, gain valuable work experience and develop their leadership skills. Many of our students may be interested in:
Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky
assist local communities alongside faculty and staff with passions for improvement
Global Brigades
work towards improving quality of life in under resourced regions while respecting culture
AgriBusiness Club
discover agribusiness, while advocating with industry professionals for the understanding of business in agriculture
Habitat for Humanity University of Kentucky Chapter
work to eliminate poverty housing locally in Lexington, KY while creating a fun, welcoming environment
Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$130,480
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
105,700
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
6,000
new jobs (average)
Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$77,030
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
178,400
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
16,200
new jobs (average)
Wayne Centers
Director of Student Relations
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
dsr@uky.eduMartin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
N6 Agricultural Science Center
859-257-3469
