The Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) degree is a research-oriented program of study. The academic plan developed by the candidate builds on the previous undergraduate and graduate courses completed by the candidate. The academic plan is designed to foster independent and creative thinking about agricultural education by the candidate. Emphasis is placed on selecting courses and educational experiences that enhance the breadth and depth of the candidate’s knowledge related to their major and minor fields study.

Candidates pursuing a Ph.D. degree must select a research problem, design a study, carry out the study, and document this study in the form of a dissertation. The selection of a dissertation topic is made by the candidate with the assistance of the major professor and academic plan committee. The topic selected should reflect original thinking by the candidate and be concerned with some aspect of agricultural education that is within the research focus of the department.

Students will become well-versed in the following learning areas while in their tenure as a graduate student in the Agricultural Education program focus at Iowa State University:

• Delivery Systems: Select, organize, and implement appropriate delivery systems to fit a variety of teaching and learning situations.
• Learning Systems: Model and utilize appropriate learning principles and theories in agriculturally related learning situations.
• Evaluation: Select, organize, and implement appropriate formative and summative evaluation strategies for accountability and program improvement.
• Philosophy and Knowledge Base of Agricultural Education: Develop a foundation for one’s personal philosophy of agricultural education by synthesizing and evaluating appropriate philosophical models.
• Needs Assessment Analysis: Develop and evaluate appropriate strategies for analyzing and assessing educational needs, situations, and processes.
• Planning and Development: Organize educational programs utilizing appropriate planning and development models.
• International Agricultural Education and Technology Transfer: Organize and evaluate international agricultural education programs based upon the principles of technology transfer.
• Research Design and Analysis: Design, conduct, report, and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research utilizing appropriate design and analysis models.
• Administration, Supervision and Leadership Development: Organize, conduct, and evaluate activities that further the mission of Agricultural Education, provide growth opportunities for its practitioners, and foster development of a vision for the profession.
• Policy and Trends in Agricultural Education: Monitor the development of trends and administration of policies in and outside the discipline of Agricultural Education and explain their impact or potential impact on the discipline.

Academic Plan Requirements

Other requirements:

• 36 credits must be earned at Iowa State University
• Completion of a career-focused experience plan in the areas of teaching, extension, and research
• Completion of written and oral preliminary examinations (conducted by candidate’s academic plan committee)
• Completion of final oral examination and defense of dissertation (conducted by candidate’s academic plan committee)
• PhD students are required to meet with all graduate faculty prior to establishing their academic plan committee
• PhD students in Agricultural Education are required to spend a minimum of two academic terms on the Ames campus in residence.

For a specialization in Agricultural Extension Education, click here

Ph.D. Admission Procedures

Application Deadlines

March 15 - Deadline for persons desiring admission in the following summer or fall semester.

October 15 - Deadline for persons desiring admission for the following spring semester.

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