Prospective Students
Undergraduate Study
The department offers two curricula for students desiring to enter careers
in agriculture and related fields. These curricula are agricultural
education and agricultural studies. The agricultural education curriculum
prepares persons for careers as agricultural education instructors
and educational specialists for industry and government agencies. The
agricultural education curriculum has two options, teacher
certification and communications. The agricultural studies curriculum prepares persons
for careers in production agricultural and agricultural industry. Graduates
of both curricula accept positions in agricultural business, industry,
and production agriculture. Transfer students should reveiw the current
course equivalency guides and transfer plans.
Graduates are able to communicate effectively. They have a broad base of agriculture
knowledge. The have the ability to live and work in a global society
and have an understanding of today's technical society. The are skilled
in making decisions and have the ability to plan, organize, present,
and evaluate information.
The department offers a minor in agricultural education which
may be earned by completion of a minimum of 15 credits in agricultural
education and studies courses, with a minimum of two courses at the 400
level.
Graduate Study
The Agricultural Education and Studies Department is known for the quality
and diversity of its program, faculty, and students. Faculty members
represent a diverse set of agricultural education interests and perspectives.
They are involved in a variety of state, national, and international
research and development efforts. Significant scholarly work is being
conducted in a number of areas and the department is widely recognized
for its research programs in teaching-learning processes. Research
focus areas include experiential learning, life-long learning, educational
evaluation, and communication technologies.
Degrees Offered
The Agricultural Education and Studies Department offers Master of Science
and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Agricultural Education. Students
may declare a major in agricultural education or a minor if completing
major work in other departments. Within the agricultural education
major, students may specialize in agricultural extension education.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree has two options, thesis and nonthesis.
For all degree programs, people-oriented studies in agricultural education
are combined with work in selected technical and scientific areas to
prepare individuals for educational and agricultural leadership positions.
Candidates for a graduate degree must have the capability
for original and creative research. Students are expected to engage in
independent and/or group research under the direction of faculty members.
Students should work toward intellectual independence while developing
an integrated grasp of the agriculture education profession. The integration
of materials from courses and research activities is a primary goal of
the M.S. thesis and Ph.D. dissertation.
The department administers the interdepartmental graduate program in professional
agriculture designed for off-campus students pursuing a master of agriculture
degree. The department also cooperates in the international development
studies option of the General Graduate Studies Program.
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Delivery Systems:
Select, organize, and implement appropriate delivery systems to fit
a variety of teaching/learning situations
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Learning Systems:
Model and utilize appropriate learning principles and
theories
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Evaluation: Select,
organize, and implement appropriate formative and summative evaluations
strategies for accountability and
program improvement
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Philosophy/Knowledge
Base: Develop a foundation for one’s personal philosophy of agricultural
education through synthesizing
and
evaluating appropriate
philosophical models
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Needs Assessment/Analysis:
Develop and evaluate appropriate strategies for analyzing and assessing
educational needs,
situation, and processes
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Planning and Development:
Organize educational programs utilizing appropriate planning and
development models
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International Ag.
Education & Technology
Transfer: Organize and evaluate programs based upon
the principles of technology transfer
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Research Design:
Design, conduct, report, and evaluate quantitative and qualitative
research using appropriate
models
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Administration,
Supervision, Leadership: Organize, conduct, and evaluate activities
that further
the mission of agricultural
education, provide
growth opportunities for its practitioners,
and foster development of the mission
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Policy/Trends:
Monitor the development of trends and administration of policies
impacting
upon
the discipline
