MS - Thesis
This program is viewed as having a dual role. Candidates work towards improving their professional proficiency and status while developing knowledge and skill related to research. A course in research methods and statistics must be included in the academic plan. Candidates must pass a final oral examination conducted by the candidate’s academic plan committee. The oral examination focuses on courses taken, professional experiences, and defense of the thesis.
Students will become well-versed in the following learning areas as a graduate student in Agricultural Education 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
| Program Requirements | Required Course or Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Research | AGEDS 5100 | 3 |
| Instructional Methods | AGEDS 5200 | 3 |
| Program Planning/Evaluation | AGEDS 5240 | 3 |
| Learning Theory | AGEDS 5330 | 3 |
| Foundations of Agricultural Education | AGEDS 5500 | 3 |
| Statistics | Various | 3 |
| Research Components of a Thesis/Dissertation (pdf) | AGEDS 6990 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Required Credits | 30 |
Note: 22 credits must be earned at Iowa State University.
Other courses available through the Department
- AGEDS 5110 Professional Agricultural Presentation Practices. Online and resident. 3 cr.
- AGEDS 5610 Technology Transfer and the Role of Agricultural and Extension Education. Online and resident. 3 cr.
- AGEDS 5680 Qualitative Interviews and Focus Groups. On-line only. 3 cr.
- AGEDS 6150 Seminars various topics. 1 cr.
- AGEDS 6250 Leadership, Administration, Supervision and Management of Agricultural Education Programs. Resident only. 3 cr.
The master's academic plan committee in Agricultural Education consists of at least three members of the graduate faculty. It must include two members, including the major professor, from the major or program.
M.S. Admission Procedures
Application Deadlines
Master's applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year for either a Spring, Summer or Fall semester start.