AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

 

 

PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT

MASTER OF ARTS

2008-2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

University of Delaware

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agricultural Education Program

 

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM

PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT

2008-2009

 

 

Part I. Program History

 

A.  There are hundreds of teaching positions within agricultural education that goes unfilled by qualified and certified instructors every year.  Due to the teacher shortage it has become common practice for some school districts to hire an individual with the appropriate technical background but often lacking in the desired pedagogical training.  In addition, the starting salary for a teacher with an undergraduate degree is significantly lower than for a teacher with an advanced degree.  The lower salary often makes it harder to attract qualified candidates into the undergraduate program.

 

      This Masters Degree is targeted toward attracting highly qualified candidates that have completed an appropriate undergraduate degree but need the pedagogical training for certification.  Some students in their senior year or upon graduation discover that the career of their choice has not materialized and are seeking alternative ways to put their skills to productive use for society.  There may also be alumni seeking a career change for which this degree would be attractive.  For other students their undergraduate academic career was so structured that it did not permit the consideration of a double major in an educational field.  This degree will allow these individuals to return to the University, complete a Masters Degree, get the training necessary for certification, gain a year worth of teaching experience, and be able to enter the teaching profession at a higher salary level.  This is a viable way for the teaching profession to attract highly qualified candidates into the field, and provides another avenue for addressing the teacher shortage.

 

B.     This degree will expand the training opportunities for pre-service vocational teachers in the areas of Agricultural and Natural Resources Education.  Students were first admitted to the program in 2001.

 

C.     The Agricultural Education Program offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree that qualifies the individual for initial teacher certification in the areas of agricultural and natural resources education.  Recent undergraduate students or career changers in the areas of agriculture and natural resources or in various technology fields are likely candidates for this degree program.

 

The pragmatic, hands-on program provides pedagogical skills and uses an investigative, scientific, design-and-construct, and problem solving approach to teaching.  The curriculum is designed to allow students to teach in both the classroom and laboratory setting.

 

Part II. Admission                 

 

In addition to the general graduate admission requirements of the University, all applicants are requested to meet the following:

 

A.     Admission to graduate programs at the University of Delaware is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities.  Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.

B.     Have satisfactorily completed an approved undergraduate program of study and not be a certified and/or employed as a teacher.  For students lacking appropriate preparatory course work, additional courses applicable to certain areas of study may be required prior to admission.

C.     On a 4.0 system, applicants must have a general undergraduate academic index of 2.5 and a minimum 2.75 index in their major field of study.

D.    Have a combined score of at least 1050 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE.

E.     Students for whom English is not their first language must attain a minimum score of 600 on the TOEFL examination.

F.      Three letters of recommendation from individuals able to assess the applicant’s academic potential.

 

Part III. Academic    

 

            Master of Arts (MA) Program Requirements

             

Students are required to complete 33 credit hours for the completion of the MA degree in Agricultural Education including 9 credits of student teaching experience.  To be awarded a degree, students must achieve a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all graduate course work taken and a minimum grade of B in AGED 600 (Internship in Teaching).

 

A.      Required Courses:

            AGED 680     Career & Technical Ed Materials and Approaches I                   3

            AGED 681     Career & Technical Ed Materials and Approaches II                  3         

            AGED 600       Internship in Teaching (Student Teaching Experience)    9         

AGED 648       Student Teaching Seminar                                            3         

EDUC 613       Adolescent Development & Educational Psychology     3           

EDUC 614       Teaching Exceptional Adolescents                                            3         

EDUC 619       Diversity in Secondary Education                                              3

EDUC 622       The Role of Literacy in Content Areas                           3

EDUC 658       Discipline and Classroom Management                         3

 

 

B.     Recommended Electives:

AGED 630       Working with Advisory Councils                                               3                      AGED 625            Agricultural Leadership: Tools and Techniques              3

 

C.  Recommended Sequence of Courses:

 

Fall Semester

AGED 680                               3

EDUC 613                               3

EDUC 622 or 658                   3

 

Winter Session

EDUC 619                               3

EDUC 658 or 622                   3

 

Spring Semester

AGED 681                               3

EDUC 614                               3

 

Summer Sessions

Chance for an Elective

 

Fall Semester

AGED 600                               9

AGED 648                               3

 

This is only a recommended sequence. EDUC classes, for the most part, can be shifted around as needed.   AGED 680 is offered only in the fall and AGED 681 is offered only in the spring.

 

EDUC 613 & 619 requires an 18 hour field observation in a classroom.

AGED 680 & 681 requires a 12 hour field observation in a classroom.

PRAXIS I is required before taking the AGED 680/681 sequence and AGED 600.

PRAXIS II in Agriculture is required immediately before or during student teaching.

 

C.     Course Descriptions

 

1.      EDUC 613 – Adolescent Development & Educational Psychology

Examines (a) social, emotional, moral, and cognitive development of adolescent learners, (b) psychological processes underlying learning, motivation, and classroom behaviors, and (c) teacher-student and group processes.  Also looks at the implications of these psychological processes for (a) instruction, (b) motivational strategies, (c) classroom management, and (d) assessment, with an emphasis on creating a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

RESTRICTIONS:  Open only to secondary education majors.  18-hour field placement required.  Students must keep a 4-5 hour block of time free between 7 am – 2 pm twice a week.                   

 

2.      EDUC 614 – Teaching Exceptional Adolescents

Examines characteristics of exceptional adolescents and the historical, legal and philosophical bases for special education.  Focuses on teaching students with special needs within general education settings using research-based instructional strategies, classroom management, and related services.

RESTRICTIONS:  Open to secondary education majors/certification candidates only.

 

3.      EDUC 619 - Diversity in the Secondary Education

Examines aspects of diversity (e.g., ethnicity, gender, class, language) in secondary schools and classrooms.  Reviews the foundations of multicultural education and considers implications for curriculum, instruction, and classroom management.

RESTRICTIONS:  Field placement of 18 hours is required.  Open to secondary education majors/certification candidates only.

 

4.      EDUC 622 – The Role of Literacy in Content Areas

Explores the contributions of literacy research for content learning (e.g., math, science, social studies).  Underscores the benefits of linking reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing acquisition of domain knowledge and suggests various frameworks for supporting this linkage.

PREREQ:  EDUC608

COREQ:  EDUC320

 

5.      EDUC 658 – Discipline and Classroom Management

A review of discipline procedures, sources of assistance, legal implications, parental roles, management techniques and strategies for developing school discipline policies.

 

6.      AGED 600 – Internship in Teaching

Fourteen week teaching internship experience in 7th-12th grade schools under the guidance and supervision of a cooperating teacher in the classroom and a University of Delaware supervisor.

PREREQ:  Must show evidence of passing Praxis I.

 

7.      AGED 625 – Agricultural Leadership:  Tools and Techniques

Topics include leadership theories, team work, facilitation, internet research, problem solving and facilitating team activities focused on the agricultural industries and professions.

 

8.      AGED 630 – Working with Advisory Councils

Organize, manage, and follow-up advisory council meetings.  Skill development includes working with small groups, strategic planning, conflict management, and communication.

 

9.      AGED 648 – Student Teaching Seminar

Provides support to graduates during their student teaching experience.  Covers various aspects of professional development, portfolio development and classroom management.

PREREQ:  Completion of at least 21 graduate credits toward master’s degree and evidence of passing Praxis II content area as specified by the State of Delaware.

COREQ:  AGED 600

 

10.  AGED 680 – Career & Technical Education Materials & Approaches I

Teaching methods, treatment of aims, materials, unit organization, evaluation and teaching techniques.  Participation in career and technical student organization activities required.

PREREQ:  Students must show evidence of passing Praxis I.

      RESTRICTIONS:  School practicum of 12 hours required.            

 

11.  AGED 681–Career & Technical Education Materials & Approaches II 

Methods of teaching and organization in supervised career and     technical programs; applied technical skills and adult education and community activities.  Participation in student career and technical activities required.

 

PART IV.  Financial Aid

 

Students have the opportunity to apply for any financial aid consideration.  Assistantships may be available.

 

PART V.  Department Operations

 

A.     Up-to-date addresses and contact numbers will maintained by the Program secretary.  Other general department operations will be maintained by the department secretary.

B.     Students will be encouraged to join and participate in the Collegiate FFA chapter as well as other student organizations in which they have an interest.

C.     All travel to events and professional meetings will be encouraged and made available through the Program.