2018-19 Academic Catalog

Agricultural and Extension Education

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Department Head and Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Michael Newman
120 Lloyd-Ricks-Watson Building
Box 9745
Mississippi State, MS  39762
Telephone: 662-325-2950
E-mail: mnewman@humansci.msstate.edu

The Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communication program in the School of Human Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees.

  1. Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education with a concentration in Teaching or Leadership
  2. Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Science with a concentration in Agricultural and Extension Education

Admission Criteria - Master of Science Degree

To obtain admission to the master's program, the applicant must meet all the general requirements of the Office of the Graduate School.  Specifically, an applicant must:

  • Meet all MSU Graduate School requirements for admission.
  • Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), with scores competitive with other applicants (recommended).
  • Have an upper-division undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (approximately last 60 undergraduate hours).
  • Provide the names and e-mail addresses of three individuals who can provide a letter of recommendation.  These letters of recommendation will attest to the applicant's academic performance and potential ability to successfully complete gradeuate degree requirements.
  • Write a statement of purpose (500-1,000 words) describing the applicant's purpose for undertaking graduate study, including professional plans and career goals.
  • International non-native speakers of English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores indicative of ability to successfully complete graduate work (see International Admission requirements in this catalog).

A student applying to the Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Extension Education in the teacher certification concentration must have an undergraduate degree in an agriculturally-related field and submit GRE scores.  The student must qualify for admission to teacher education by presenting an ACT score of 21 (SAT equivalent of 860) with no sub-score below 18, or by obtaining at least the following scores:

Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

Subject Score
Reading 156
Writing 162
Mathematics 150

Admission Criteria - Doctor of Philosophy

To obtain admission to the master's program, the applicant must meet all the general requirements of the Office of the Graduate School.  Specifically, an applicant must:

  • Meet all MSU Graduate School requirements for admission.
  • Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), with scores competitive with other applicants.
  • Have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have at least a 3.00 grade point average on previous graduate coursework.  
  • Provide the names and e-mail addresses of three individuals who can provide a letter of recommendation.  These letters of recommendation will attest to the applicant's academic performance and potential ability to successfully complete gradeuate degree requirements.
  • Write a statement of purpose (500-1,000 words) describing the applicant's purpose for undertaking graduate study, including professional plans and career goals.
  • International non-native speakers of English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores indicative of ability to successfully complete graduate work (see International Admission requirements in this catalog).

Provisional Admission

An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis. The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C).  The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study.  Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.  If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program.  Academic departments may set higher standards for students to fulfill provisional requirements; a student admitted with provisional status should contact the graduate coordinator for the program’s specific requirements.  While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.

Academic Performance

Unsatisfactory performance is defined as failure to maintain a B average in graduate courses attempted after admission to the program, a grade of U, D, or F in any course, more than two grades below a B, failure of the preliminary/comprehensive examination, an unsatisfactory evaluation of a thesis or dissertation, failure of the research defense, or any other failure of a required component on one’s program of study.  Any one of these or a combination of these will constitute the basis for the termination of a student’s graduate study in a degree program.

Upon the recommendation of the major professor or the graduate coordinator and the college dean, a student whose academic work is unsatisfactory at any period during a given semester or term will be forced to withdraw from a graduate program.  A student forced to withdraw can appeal to the department faculty.  If upheld by the faculty, then the student can submit a written appeal to the Director of the School of Human Sciences.  If upheld there, the student may appeal to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  See Academic Dismissal Appeal Procedure in this catalog.

Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education with Leadership Concentration - Thesis

Core Courses
AELC 8803Applying Research Methods to Agricultural and Extension Education3
or AELC 8703 Evaluation of Agricultural and Extension Education Programs
Graduate-level electives including a required statistics course9
AELC 8403Directing Learning Experience in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8503Program Planning and Development in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8413Methods of Planned Change in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8801Graduate Professional Seminar in Agricultural and Extension Education1
AELC 8263Public Relations in Agricultural & Extension Education3
or AELC 8203 Advanced Communications in Agricultural and Extension Education
Thesis
AELC 8000Thesis Research/Thesis in Agricultural and Extension Education6
Total Hours31

Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education with Leadership Concentration - Non-Thesis

Core Courses
AELC 8803Applying Research Methods to Agricultural and Extension Education3
or AELC 8703 Evaluation of Agricultural and Extension Education Programs
AELC 8403Directing Learning Experience in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8503Program Planning and Development in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8413Methods of Planned Change in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8801Graduate Professional Seminar in Agricultural and Extension Education1
AELC 8263Public Relations in Agricultural & Extension Education3
or AELC 8203 Advanced Communications in Agricultural and Extension Education
Graduate-level coursework9
AELC 8100Creative Component Project in Agricultural and Extension Education6
Total Hours31

The remaining courses in the leadership concentration may be a combination of approved electives or those courses to comprise a minor.  A faculty member from the minor area should also be a member of the student’s graduate committee.

Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education with Teaching Concentration - Thesis

Core Courses
EDX 8173Special Education in the Regular Classroom3
EPY 6033Application of Learning Theories in Educational and Related Settings3
or AELC 8693 Philosophical Foundations of Agriculture and Extension Education
AELC 8503Program Planning and Development in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8403Directing Learning Experience in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 6113Methods of Teaching Agriscience3
AELC 6403Development of Youth Programs3
AELC 6703Experiential Learning Programs in Agriculture3
AELC 8603Teaching Internship in AEE I3
AELC 8613Teaching Internship in AEE II3
AELC 8801Graduate Professional Seminar in Agricultural and Extension Education1
Thesis
AELC 8000Thesis Research/Thesis in Agricultural and Extension Education6
Total Hours34

A student who chooses to complete a thesis must pass a final thesis defense and submit the thesis to complete degree requirements.

Depending on the courses taken at the undergraduate level, a student in the teaching concentration may be required to take 3-6 additional hours of prerequisite coursework.

Faculty in Agricultural Information Science and Education must approve substitutions for any of the above courses. 

Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education with Teaching Concentration - Non-Thesis

Core Courses
EPY 6033Application of Learning Theories in Educational and Related Settings3
or AELC 8693 Philosophical Foundations of Agriculture and Extension Education
EDX 8173Special Education in the Regular Classroom3
AELC 6113Methods of Teaching Agriscience3
AELC 6403Development of Youth Programs3
AELC 6703Experiential Learning Programs in Agriculture3
AELC 8100Creative Component Project in Agricultural and Extension Education6
AELC 8503Program Planning and Development in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8603Teaching Internship in AEE I3
AELC 8613Teaching Internship in AEE II3
AELC 8801Graduate Professional Seminar in Agricultural and Extension Education1
AELC 8403Directing Learning Experience in Agricultural and Extension Education3
Total Hours34

A student who chooses to complete a Creative Component Project must pass the final defense of the Creative Component and complete an oral comprehensive examination over all coursework completed.

Depending on the courses taken at the undergraduate level, a student in the teaching concentration may be required to take 3-6 additional hours of prerequisite coursework.

Faculty in Agricultural Information Science and Education must approve substitutions for any of the above courses. 

A student must have earned at least a 3.00 GPA on coursework taken on the program to be eligible to enroll in AIS 8603 and AIS 8613  (teaching internship).  An Application for Admission to Student Teaching form must be submitted to the Director of Clinical/Field Based Instruction one semester prior to student teaching.  The student must submit the minimum Praxis II – Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (PLT) score as required by the Mississippi State University College of Education to meet graduation requirements and to the Mississippi Department of Education to obtain licensure.  To be eligible for graduation, students must have a 3.00 GPA after completion of all coursework and internships.

To secure a Mississippi educator’s license, the student must request that ETS send a copy of his or her score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) to Mississippi State University (Code R1480) or to MSU Meridian (Code R3336).  It is imperative that the student retains the originals of test scores in a safe place.

In accordance with statutory provisions, the Mississippi Department of Education, Jackson, Mississippi, has adopted the rules and regulations on issuing and renewing teaching licenses, which are set forth in Guidelines for Mississippi Educator Licensure, July 1999.  The licensure program is applicable to all teacher licenses.  Satisfactory completion of any teaching curriculum offered by the College of Education will enable the graduate to apply for teaching licensure in Mississippi, but this institution can neither waive any licensure requirements nor authorize substitutions for mandatory courses.  Mississippi State University has submitted and received approval for its programs. Consequently, a student who plans to transfer from another university or college to the College of Education should consult with the Director of Clinical/Field-Based instruction or an advisor in the College of Education to ascertain the general education, professional educational, and specialized education courses which must be completed to obtain a teaching license in the field or fields of his or her choice.  Since teacher licenses are issued by the Mississippi Department of Education only, and not by the teacher education institutions, applications for licensure and original test scores must be filed with the Mississippi Department of Education by the applicant.  Information concerning teacher licensure can be obtained from the Office of Clinical/Field-Based Instruction and Outreach.

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration

Agricultural and Extension Education
AELC 8593Historical Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8693Philosophical Foundations of Agriculture and Extension Education3
AELC 8243Administration and Supervision in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8513Volunteer Development in Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8413Methods of Planned Change in Agricultural and Extension Education3
Other AELC credits15-21
Statistics, Research, and Evaluation
AELC 8803Applying Research Methods to Agricultural and Extension Education3
AELC 8703Evaluation of Agricultural and Extension Education Programs3
AELC 9583Analysis and Interpretation of Data in Agricultural and Extension Education Research3
EPY 9213Advanced Analysis in Educational Research3
EPY 8214Advanced Educational and Psychological Statistics4
Minor or Supporting Area
Graduate-level coursework12-18
Electives
Graduate-level coursework0-12
Dissertation
AELC 9000Dissertation Research/Dissertation in Agricultural and Extension Education20
Total Hours78-102

The minimum requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is the completion of 90 semester hours of graduate credit on an approved program of study above the bachelor’s degree.  This 90-hour requirement can be partially met by previous graduate coursework.

Students must pass a written and an oral comprehensive examination in both the major and minor/supporting area. To be eligible for the preliminary/comprehensive examination, a graduate student must have a 3.00 GPA on all graduate courses taken after admission to the degree program. Students must also pass the final dissertation examination.  The student’s graduate committee supervises the dissertation and examinations.

Health Promotion Emphasis

Ph.D. students in Agricultural and Extension Education may select an emphasis in health promotion by taking courses in the Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion Department's Health Promotion curriculum. These courses must be approved by the Health Promotion graduate coordinator.  This program is designed to equip students for careers as public health educators, health promotion specialists, and health scientists. Students in this emphasis may sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam offered by the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing (www.nchec.org) when they have successfully completed at least 25 hours in the Health Promotion area.

AELC 6103 Principles and Practices of Extension Education: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Developing, implementing, and evaluating Extension and non-formal educational programs for youth and adult audiences. Comprehension and application of experiential and transformative learning models and teaching methods

AELC 6113 Methods of Teaching Agriscience: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Objectives, materials, and teaching methods for planning, organizing, and managing agricultural science programs

AELC 6403 Development of Youth Programs: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Needs and interests of youth; developing, managing, and evaluating formal and non-formal youth education programs; volunteer and paraprofessional staff development; securing and developing supportive services

AELC 6503 International Agricultural Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Examination of formal and non-formal agricultural education and related processes that influence global agricultural development including impacts of culture and changing demographics. Analysis of current global agricultural issues, roles of international organizations, and effectiveness of technology transfer

AELC 6703 Experiential Learning Programs in Agriculture: 3 hours.

Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Theory and practice in planning experiential learning projects for youth in agriculture; roles and responsibilities of teachers and extension agents in supervising and evaluating programs

AELC 6710 Study Tour: 1-3 hours.

Experiential learning through travel in the United States or abroad focusing on specialized areas of study in Agricultural Education

AELC 6990 Special Topics in Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communication: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

AELC 7000 Directed Individual Study in Agricultural and Extension Education: 1-6 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

AELC 8000 Thesis Research/Thesis in Agricultural and Extension Education: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

AELC 8100 Creative Component Project in Agricultural and Extension Education: 1-13 hours.

Capstone experience supervised by student's major professor and master’s committee. Individual project involving application of coursework to the student’s career goal. (Hours and credits to be arranged)

AELC 8203 Advanced Communications in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Updating of principles of communicating information in the fields of agriculture/ agribusiness, natural resources, and home economics; review and updating of communications techniques

AELC 8243 Administration and Supervision in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Focus on leadership as a component of good management for educational and human services organizations. Analysis of the decision-making process and discussions about team management, conflict resolution, and situation-based communication skills within the context of a diversity of organizational scenarios

AELC 8263 Public Relations in Agricultural & Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Publics to be dealt with, public relations media; methods and techniques of establishing and maintaining desirable public relations

AELC 8403 Directing Learning Experience in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Planning instructional activities and educational plans for agricultural audiences for formal and non-formal audiences; assessing and evaluating student learning. Note: Not for students with prior credit in AELC/HDFS 4424 or equivalent

AELC 8413 Methods of Planned Change in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. A study of the theories and processes used by change agents to plan, influence and accomplish change in social, educational and corporate environments

AELC 8503 Program Planning and Development in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Principles, theory, and practice in developing local and state programs of vocational, technical, and extension education

AELC 8513 Volunteer Development in Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Principles, theory and practice of volunteer development in extension education, high schools, communities, and/or non-profit organizations

AELC 8593 Historical Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Historical development of the land-grant system; implications, influences, and evaluation of policies impacting the future of agricultural and extension education

AELC 8603 Teaching Internship in AEE I: 3 hours.

(Co-requisite: AELC 8613). Professional full-day public school teaching experience in diverse settings and grade levels for 8 weeks (320 hours) under classroom mentor teachers and university supervisors

AELC 8613 Teaching Internship in AEE II: 3 hours.

(Co-requisite: AELC 8603). Professional full-day public school experience in diverse settings and grade levels for 8 weeks (320 hours) under classroom mentor teachers and university supervisors

AELC 8693 Philosophical Foundations of Agriculture and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Philosophies, foundational theories, and research on teaching and learning process applied to formal and non-formal programs in agricultural and extension education

AELC 8703 Evaluation of Agricultural and Extension Education Programs: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Evaluation principles and procedures used in developing and analyzing vocational, technical, and extension education programs

AELC 8801 Graduate Professional Seminar in Agricultural and Extension Education: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. Introduction to the discipline of agricultural and extension education. Preparing research and program evaluations for publication and dissemination and participating as a professional in the publication process

AELC 8803 Applying Research Methods to Agricultural and Extension Education: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Principles and techniques for planning, conducting, and reporting research; development of effective design of research problems; emphasis on understanding and evaluating scientific reports

AELC 8990 Special Topics in Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communication: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

AELC 9000 Dissertation Research/Dissertation in Agricultural and Extension Education: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

AELC 9583 Analysis and Interpretation of Data in Agricultural and Extension Education Research: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: permission of instructor). Three hours lecture. Principles and techniques for collecting, analyzing, and reporting research in agricultural and extension education. Emphasis on student research project development, student authorship