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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 of Agriculture degree program in agricultural education 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, and 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
Summary of Procedures for the Master of Agriculture Degree
Creative Component
Teacher Certification in Agriculture Education
Graduate College Rules and Regulations
Department Employment Opportunities for Graduate Students
Student Organizations
Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership 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. Admission to the Master of Agriculture degree program requires the following:
1. A bachelor's degree in an appropriate field such as agricultural education or an agriculturally related area from an accredited university;
2. An acceptable grade point average in undergraduate studies (a minimum GPA of 2.80 or 3.0 in the last 30 hours);
3. Recommendations from three people knowledgeable of the applicant's professional qualifications;
4. A statement of purpose for pursuing the master's degree.
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 5102 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.
Summary of Procedures for the Master of Agriculture Degree
1. Consult with temporary advisor regarding enrollment in first semester of classes.
2. 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.
3. Submit plan of study to Graduate College prior to completing the 17th credit hour of enrollment.
4. Work with graduate committee to select the creative component and enroll in the course which will serve as the basis of the creative component: two hours of AGED 5102.
5. Schedule oral examination and presentation of creative component with the graduate committee. Examination should be scheduled within two weeks of the final draft deadline for theses designated by the Graduate College or as directed by the committee.
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
1. Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) is a general education test covering reading, writing, and mathematics.
2. 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
3. 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. No course on the plan of study may be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation.
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. 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.
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.
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.
University 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 University 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 219 Cordell North, (405) 744-1676. Applications are available from University of Research Compliance and its web page at http://compliance. vpr.okstate.edu.
Graduation
Students must file a graduate college graduation clearance form and diploma application at the beginning of the semester in which they are expecting to graduate, if they want their names to appear in the commencement program. 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, along with graduation clearance form.
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.
Applications for Assistantships
Applications for departmental assistantships are available from the office assistant in 455 Agricultural Hall. 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, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and the Leadership League. 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 hosting various social and educational events throughout the year.
Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership Graduate Faculty
Robert Terry Jr., Department Head and Roger Howell Professor, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
Research Interests: Teaching and learning in agriculture and natural resources. Including agricultural literacy, teacher development, content design and delivery.
Dwayne Cartmell, Ph.D., University of Missouri.
Research Interests: Media evaluation, urban/rural interface, and gatekeeping strategies.
Charles B. Cox, Ed.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: Youth development, volunteer management, and agricultural literacy.
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: Distance education, learning with technology, the impact of eXtension.org on stakeholders, evaluation, and qualitative methods.
James P. Key, Ed.D., North Carolina State University.
Research Interests: Water quality, evaluation, and distance education.
Traci Naile, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: disaster management and communications, branding agriculture, and new media.
Jon W. Ramsey, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: Teacher induction, professional development of agricultural educators.
Shane Robinson, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia.
Research Interests: Preparation of beginning agriculture teachers, recruitment and retention of secondary agricultural education teachers, assessment of the employability skills and job satisfaction of college-wide graduates in agricultural sciences.
Jeff Sallee, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.
Research Interests: Youth leadership and life-skill development, youth-adult partnerships, STEM literacy.
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
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