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M.S. in Agricultural Education Program URL: http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/AgEduc/agedhome/grad_online.html Campus: Urbana-Champaign Number of Required Campus Visits: 0
Program Type: Master's Degree Award Conferred: M.S. Total Number of Credit Hours: 32 Grad. Unit(s) Description:
The extramural Agricultural Education Master of Science program is planned as a professional degree for students who have completed the requirements of a four-year curriculum in agricultural education or allied fields of study. Areas of concentration include program planning, curriculum development, teaching methodologies, instructional technologies and youth development. Students in the program complete course work in both education and agriculture for professional development to become high school or community college instructors of agriculture programs, extension agents or other related work areas. Only students in the on-campus degree option for agricultural education concentration may pursue state certification for teaching high school agriculture. The Council on Teacher Education serves as the governing body for certification at the University of Illinois, and specific course work can be planned for students to meet requirements for both certification and the Master of Science degree for on-campus students only.
The extramural Master's degree program in Agricultural Education enables students to take a series of Web-based and site based courses, which meet the same requirements as the traditional on-campus degree program. The program has a history of providing courses for anyone interested in learning how to conduct research related to teaching and learning, and how to provide effective instructional programs related to agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences. Students may enroll in individual courses for personal or professional enrichment (non-degree seeking student), or can apply for admission to the master's degree program in agricultural education.
To complete the degree, 32 hours of approved graduate level courses must be fulfilled. A thesis is optional; a non-thesis option is available requiring the submission of a research/professional paper. The AgEd master's program must be completed within five years after admission to the graduate college. Courses required in agriculture for the degree program may be selected from any department in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), other than in Agricultural Education, including courses from other off-campus programming in ACES. Applications for graduate students are accepted once a year, and the deadline is January 15th of each school year. Application materials and information may be obtained through the Graduate College at the following URL: http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/general/application.html Admission Requirement(s): Frequently Asked Questions about the Masters of Science Degree in Agricultural Education:
What are the basic program requirements?
The basic program requirements to complete a Master’s of Science in Agricultural Education include a minimum of 8 graduate units of study, which equates to a minimum of 32 semester hours of graduate level of courses.
Who is the program designed for?
The M.S. degree program in Agricultural Education is designed for anyone interested in learning how to conduct research related to teaching and learning, and how to provide effective instructional programs related to agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences.
What do I need to apply for the Masters degree in Ag. Ed.?
We require a completed application, a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00, a completed Bachelor’s degree, three favorable letters of reference, a letter of interest from you, and for those applying for the on-campus degree program current GRE scores.
When can I apply?
We accept applications once a year. The deadline for completed applications is January 15th of each year. You can get the application materials from our Department’s office or you can complete an on-line application from our Graduate College’s webpage.
What are the program options?
You can enroll as either an on-campus student or as an Extramural student. Both programs have the same degree requirements. You may select either a thesis or non-thesis option. Students selecting the non-thesis option are expected to complete a research-based project rather than a Masters thesis. Students on-campus have a wider variety of courses to select from, however there are a limited number of applicants accepted each year for the on-campus program. Usually we have from 4 – 6 openings available on-campus as research and/or teaching assistantships.
How long does it take to complete the Master’s degree?
It usually takes a minimum of 4 semesters for an on-campus student to complete the degree and the thesis. Off-campus students usually take two or three years to complete the degree requirements.
How much does it cost?
On-campus students, through their assistantships, have a portion of their tuition waived, they need to pay some university fees. However, all on-campus students are provided with an assistantship with a minimum of a 25% appointment and work at least 10 hours a week during the semester for which they are paid. Extramural students pay by the class. The cost of off-campus classes varies by the Department and the type of class.
How soon will I know if I am accepted in the program?
We make our decisions by the end of March each year and notify you as soon as we can. We expect you to return your letter of acceptance by the end of Spring semester.
When would I start classes?
Generally we start new students Fall semester. If you would like to start in the summer, you need to let us know in your letter of application. Generally, we do not offer assistantships during the summer. However, we allow off-campus students to start during the summer sessions. We generally do not accept applicants for starting their studies during the Spring semester.
Can I pay my own tuition for the on-campus Masters program?
Yes, but you need to indicate in your letter of application that you intend to pay your own tuition. We will expect you to then complete your program of study without an assistantship.
Can I enroll in and take classes in this program if I do not reside in Illinois?
Yes, you can enroll in our Masters program through Academic Outreach. The admissions requirements are the same. You can also enroll in our individual classes. The courses cost the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students.
Program Cost(s):
Please Contact Professor Joe Harper. Program Contact(s):
Heather Miller
Program Director
N121 Turner Hall
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 265-6568
E-mail: hmiller1@illinois.edu
URL: http://www.continuinged.uiuc.edu
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