Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Education
Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Education
Oklahoma State University's graduate program in agricultural education is designed to prepare students for entry into or advancement in formal and non-formal teaching careers. This program also provides development of professional leadership skills for other careers in agribusiness, government service, extension, or adult education. This graduate program is among the most respected in the nation, with internationally recognized faculty and state-of-the-art laboratories.
The master's degree program in agricultural education, with its multiple options, provides a flexible program, which can be tailored to meet each student's unique situation. In addition to the wide variety of professional courses in agricultural education, offerings are also available from all academic departments in the Division, including agricultural economics, biosystems and agricultural engineering, plant and soil science, animal science, biochemistry, entomology and plant pathology. Specialization areas such as educational administration, supervision, counseling, community education, occupational education, adult education, and career education are also available through cooperation with the College of Education.
Master of Agriculture Admission Criteria
Master of Science Degree Options
Summary of Procedures for the Master of Agriculture Degree
Guidelines for Preparing the Master of Agriculture Portfolio
Teacher Certification in Agriculture Education
Graduate College Rules and Regulations
Department Employment Opportunities for Graduate Students
Student Organizations
Agricultural Education and Communications Graduate Faculty
Graduate Student Handbook
Teacher Certification Checklist
Helpful Graduate Student Web Sites
Master of Agriculture Admission Criteria
Admission requirements for the Master of Agriculture degree in Agriculture with an option in Agricultural Education are similar to those for the Master of Science degree programs. However, no standardized test scores are required. Deadlines for guaranteed review of applications are November 15 for spring admission, April 15 for summer admission and July 1 for fall admission. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed review. Admission to the Master of Agriculture degree program requires the following:
- A bachelor's degree in an appropriate field such as agricultural education or an agriculturally related area from an accredited university;
- An acceptable grade point average in undergraduate studies (a minimum GPA of 2.80 or 3.0 in the last 30 hours);
- Recommendations from three people knowledgeable of the applicant's professional qualifications;
- A statement of purpose for pursuing the master's degree.
Master of Agriculture Creative Component
The Master of Agriculture degree in Agriculture with an option in Agricultural Education is designed to further develop the knowledge and skills of students preparing for advancement in teaching, extension, administration, and many other professional careers. Most students in this program do not wish to conduct an original research study or continue beyond a master's degree.
A total of 32 approved semester credit hours of coursework is required, including a two-credit-hour creative component. The creative component will normally be completed as a special project in AGED 5100 This project may be a written report of a literature review, action research project, curriculum development project, or a similar project approved by the graduate committee. The student's committee will determine details of the creative component and assist in developing a portfolio.
Summary of Procedures for the Master of Agriculture Degree
- Consult with temporary advisor regarding enrollment in first semester of classes.
- Select graduate committee of three graduate faculty (consisting of at least two members of the Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership graduate faculty, one of which will serve as committee chair) and develop plan of study.
- Submit plan of study to Graduate College prior to completing the 17th credit hour of enrollment.
- Work with graduate committee to select the creative component and develop the portfolio to be completed and enroll in the course hich will serve as the basis of the creative component or two hours of special problems.
- Schedule oral examination and presentation of portfolio with the graduate committee. Examination should be scheduled within two weeks of the final draft deadline for theses designated by the Graduate College (See page 19.) or as directed by the committee.
Guidelines for Preparing the Master of Agriculture Portfolio
Portfolio Focus and Organization
Each portfolio focuses on core courses, area of specialization and the creative component or internship experience. The materials included in each portfolio must be organized in three sections: personal information, narrative, and documentation. The cover page should include the title "Master of Agriculture: Agricultural Education," student's name, committee chair's name, and date submitted.
- Personal information: In this section, include a one-to-two page resume and plan of study.
- Narrative: For each of four areas (core courses, specialization, and creative component or internship, and overall summary), provide a separate narrative based on personal reflection that indicates what has been learned or achieved in this area during the master's degree experience, how this learning or achievement has contributed to growth as an education professional, and what steps will be taken in the future to build upon what has been learned or achieved. The length of all four narratives should not exceed a maximum of 15 double-spaced pages. Narratives must conform to the style of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition).
- Documentation: Provide evidence of learning or achievement in the master's program. The purpose of this documentation is to support and supplement the narratives. Therefore, in the selection of documentation, give consideration to how each item lends support to each written narratives. Keep in mind that "less is more"-that is, the quality is much more important than quantity. The complete set of documentation materials should not exceed 50 pages unless approved in advance by the committee chair.
Examples of documentation that may be used in support of the written narrative include the creative component or internship evaluation, volunteer work, presentations, printed materials or videotapes developed, course assignments, a review of literature, field-tested ideas, conferences attended, web pages developed, needs assessments completed, offices held in organizations, published journal articles, presentations at conferences, or meetings conducted.
Submission and Evaluation
- At least one month before the deadline for graduation, submit a copy of the portfolio to the chair of your advisory committee. The chair of your advisory committee assumes responsibility for the conduct of the portfolio evaluation.
- With the approval of your committee chair, submit copies of the portfolio to the other members of your committee.
- The advisory committee evaluates the portfolio using the portfolio evaluation form that follows.
- In addition to reviewing the portfolio, the committee may choose to meet with the student and discuss the portfolio's content.
- In the event that the committee determines that a student has not prepared a satisfactory portfolio, the committee chair may request resubmission of some parts or all of the portfolio.
Note-Information for graduate internships and appropriate forms may be found in Graduate Internship Handbook, which is available from the Graduate Coordinator or the office assistant in room 455 Ag Hall.
Teacher Certification in Agriculture Education
The master's degree programs in Agricultural Education offer students the opportunity to acquire a teaching certificate in agricultural education. This option is designed to meet the needs of those individuals with a B.S. degree in some field of agriculture who desire to teach it at the secondary level and earn a master's degree. The program includes courses and educational experiences that enhance the candidate's skills and knowledge in the processes of teaching and learning. The program is viewed as a practitioner's program, oriented strongly toward improving the candidate's professional proficiency.
Each student's record will be reviewed to determine if they meet standards for general education requirements for teacher education and for agriculture content requirements. Students may be required to take undergraduate courses to correct deficiencies. Specific requirements for certification are summarized below.
Foreign Language Competency
This competency may be met in one of two ways: 1. The student has completed two years of a high school foreign language with grades of A or B. 2. The student completes a five-credit-hour college foreign language course.
Grade-Point Average
The student's cumulative GPA (undergraduate and graduate) must be 2.50 or above.
Standardized Tests
- Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) is a general education test covering reading, writing, and mathematics.
- Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) is the subject matter test for the certification area, in this case, Agriculture. The test covers agricultural business, plant and soil science, animal science, agricultural mechanics, and leadership. Students may take additional examinations to certify in other teaching fields.
- Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (OPTE) is a test of a candidate's knowledge of teaching and learning. Because the certification is for grades 6-12, middle school and secondary school students are addressed in this examination.
Agricultural Coursework
Introductory coursework is required in the following agricultural areas: animal science, agricultural economics, horticulture, mechanized agriculture, plant science, soil science, natural resources, leadership, international dimensions, food science, and agricultural communications.
Graduate Credit
Eighteen credit hours of the required coursework in professional education may be taken for graduate credit: AGED 3203 (Planning the Community Program in Agricultural Education); AGED 4103 (Methods of Teaching Agriculture); EPSY 5103 (Human Development); SPED 5633 (Exceptional Child); and AGED 5900 (Graduate Internship - 6 hours student teaching).
Graduate College Rules and Regulations
All graduate students are expected to read and to comply with the written regulations as printed in the general University Catalog. All matriculating students are eligible for one free catalog upon their initial enrollment in the Graduate College.
Enrollment Requirements
Graduate students must complete a minimum of six hours during each 12-month period to be continuously enrolled. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment requires reapplication and readmission to the program. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least two hours during any semester in which they are utilizing university resources including the semester in which they graduate. Graduate assistants must meet minimum enrollment requirements as follows: 0.50 or greater FTE-6 hours in fall or spring; 3 hours in summer; less than 0.50 FTE-9 hours in fall or spring; 3 hours in summer. All students (including those enrolling in research hours only) must be enrolled by the deadlines listed in the Schedule of Classes.
Time Limits
All requirements must be completed within the following periods calculated from initial enrollment in the program: master's candidates-7 years; doctoral candidates-9 years. No course on the plan of study may be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation. Students must follow deadlines for submission of theses/dissertations and for completing final exams as listed in the catalog.
Grade Point Requirements
Students whose cumulative graduate GPA falls below 3.0 are subject to being placed on Strict Academic Probation (SAP). Students on SAP may be suspended if they receive any grade below a B. To graduate, a student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all course work (excluding research and creative component hours) and also a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in research (or creative component) hours. These GPAs are calculated independently. No course in which the assigned grade is lower than a C can be placed on a plan of study.
Transfer Hours
Master's students may transfer a maximum of 9 hours from another university or from special student status at OSU. Doctoral students must take at least 30 hours at OSU.
Plan of Study
The plan of study for a Master's candidate must be filed prior to the completion of the 17th graduate credit hour of enrollment. Doctoral candidates should file the plan of study prior to the completion of the 28th graduate credit hour of enrollment.
All students must indicate on their plans of study whether or not their research will involve human subjects. If human subjects are to be used, approval must be received from the Institutional Review Board prior to the beginning of the research.
Office of Research Compliance
Federal regulations and Oklahoma State University policy require review and approval of all research studies that involve human subjects before investigators can begin their research. The Office of Research Compliance conducts this review to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in biomedical and behavioral research. In compliance with the aforementioned policy, each graduate student doing research involving human subjects is required to submit an application for Review of Human Subjects Research to the Office of Research Compliance at 415 Whitehurst Hall, (405) 744-5700. Applications are available from the Office of Research Compliance (formerly IRB) and its web page at http://compliance. vpr.okstate.edu.
Graduation
Students must file a diploma application at the beginning of the semester in which they are expecting to graduate. If they fail to graduate during that semester, a new diploma application must be filed. Students who need to submit a revised plan of study should turn it in at the beginning of the semester of anticipated graduation. Published deadlines for theses and dissertations are strictly enforced. A student must submit four final copies of a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate College.
Department Employment Opportunities for Graduate Students
Graduate assistantships have been established at Oklahoma State University to encourage scholarship and the promotion of research. After admission by the Graduate College, a student who is making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree may be appointed to an assistantship. A limited number of research and teaching assistantships are available in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership each year. Assistantships are usually one-quarter (.25 FTE) or one-half time (.50 FTE). According to University guidelines, all graduate assistants work 10 hours per week for a quarter-time appointment and 20 hours per week for a half-time appointment.
Graduate Research Assistantships
A graduate research assistant (RA) conducts research under the supervision of a faculty member in the department to develop not only technical and manipulative skills but also to foster originality, imagination, judgment, and patience-the traits of an independent scholar. Specific research responsibilities for an RA are determined by the supervising faculty member.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Graduate teaching assistants share the faculty's responsibility for undergraduate teaching. Graduate teaching assistants are assigned to a specific course and faculty member in the department.
Applications for Assistantships
Applications for departmental assistantships are available from the office assistant in 455 Agricultural Hall or online. Additionally, assistantship opportunities in other departments and offices are generally posted on the graduate student bulletin board in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership.
Student Organizations
Graduate students at OSU can participate in a number of student organizations. There are many undergraduate organizations in which graduate students can become involved. Those affiliated with the Department include Collegiate Farm Bureau, Collegiate FFA, ATA, Collegiate 4-H, and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture, and Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary educational society, also meet monthly at OSU.
The Oklahoma State University Graduate Student Association is composed of representatives from every graduate degree-granting department. It operates independently of the undergraduate Student Government Association and is the voice of graduate students on all issues. Its goal is to improve all aspects of graduate education. Most work is completed through a committee structure and non-representatives are encouraged to become involved. The Association sponsors travel to professional meetings, professional development seminars, and external speakers for graduate students.
The Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership also has its own Graduate Student Association. The group holds monthly business meetings, discussing upcoming events and OSU Graduate Student Association updates, as well as various social and educational events throughout the year.
Agricultural Education and Communications Graduate Faculty
Charles B. Cox, Interim Dept. Head, Ed.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: Youth development, volunteer management, and agricultural literacy.
Cindy Blackwell, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
David Dwayne Cartmell, II, Ph.D., University of Missouri.
Research Interests: Media evaluation, urban/rural interface, and gatekeeping strategies.
M. Craig Edwards, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
Research Interests: Time and teacher behaviors in student learning, preparation and induction of beginning agriculture teachers, the student teacher-cooperating teacher relationship, in-service education for mid- and late-career agriculture teachers, agricultural education in post-communist countries.
Kathleen D. Kelsey, Ph.D., Cornell University.
Research Interests: Stakeholder involvement in land-grant universities, and research and evaluation methods, especially qualitative methods.
James P. Key, Ed.D., North Carolina State University.
Research Interests: Water quality, evaluation, and distance education.
Shelly R. Sitton, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: Agricultural communications, content analysis and curriculum evaluation.
Penny L. Weeks , Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
Research Interests: Leadership education and studies.
William G. Weeks, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
Research Interests: Leadership, teaching and learning.
Helpful Graduate Student Web Sites
OSU Graduate College
GRE Web site
Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Stillwater Visitors and Convention Bureau
