N.C. A&T

Agricultural Education

School/College: School of Agriculture & Environmental Science
Degree(s) Offered: Master of Science
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Antoine J. Alston Email: alstona@ncat.edu Phone: 336-334 -7711
Department Chair: Dr. Anthony Yeboah Email: yeboaha@ncat.edu Phone: 336-334-7943

The Master of Science in Agricultural Education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems. Agricultural Education at North Carolina A&T is offered completely online and on campus. The program is comprised primarily of two major study tracks: Professional Licensure and Agricultural Professional Service. The Professional Licensure track prepares individuals to teach Agricultural Education in the secondary and middle school grades of the public school system. Additionally, students are prepared for other careers in agribusiness, government, and international agriculture. Students enrolled in the Agricultural Professional Service track are prepared for careers in agribusiness, government, and international agriculture. This track is especially designed for individuals interested in careers that involve the need for advanced knowledge in agriculture and related subject areas within government, agribusiness, and other professional settings. Students interested in international study can participate in the Master's International Peace Corps. option. Students in both study tracks are also prepared for doctoral degree programs and other professional schools.

Additional Admission Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to provide GRE scores; however, these scores are not required for admission or graduation.
Basic preparation in an agricultural related discipline or other broadly related areas.
The Professional Licensure track is designed for individuals who are currently teaching secondary agricultural education, holders of the “A” License for secondary agricultural education in the State of North Carolina, are provisionally licensed for agricultural education, or are seeking licensure through the graduate program.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the graduate program in Agricultural Education:

Students will critically analyze issues impacting the food, agricultural, and environmental science.
Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate knowledge and issues impacting the food, agricultural, and environmental science disciplines.
Students will develop and implement effective program planning and evaluation plans for their agricultural education programs to facilitate improvement of agricultural education programs.
Demonstrate a deeper appreciation and knowledge of the agricultural education discipline.
Students will be able to implement and use a variety of instructional methodologies and technologies.
Students will be prepared to teach a diverse population about subject matter related to food, agricultural, and environmental sciences.

Degree Requirements

Both the Agricultural Education (Professional Licensure) and Agricultural Education (Professional Service) tracks require the completion of 37 credit hours. Both tracks have a thesis and non-thesis option. The program is very flexible, allowing a student to design a plan of study to meet their personal and career goals. All courses in the program are currently offered totally online. Upon entering the program, all students must form a graduate committee that is charged with guiding the student’s academic program. Additionally, students must complete a final comprehensive exam before graduation.

Core Courses (12 Credit Hours)

AGED 704 Foundation and Philosophy of Agricultural Education– 3 hours

AGED 710 Program Design, Management, and Evaluation– 3 hours

AGED 711 Advance Teaching and Assessment Methods– 3 hours

AGED 752 Special Populations in Agricultural Education– 3 hours

Research and Advanced Competency Core ( 4 Credit Hours)

AGED-700 Advanced Competencies and Portfolio Development– 1 hour

AGED 703 Scientific Methods in Research– 3 hours

Thesis/Program Plan Project Core (6 Credit Hours Thesis/4 Credit Hours Non-Thesis)

AGRI 799 Thesis - 6 hours

AGED 797 Agricultural Education Program Management Plan Project– 4 hours

Electives (15 hours if thesis track/17 hours if non-thesis track)

Students can select electives from a variety of areas which include courses in agricultural education, agricultural science, curriculum and instruction, and a variety of other areas.

Requirements specific to specializations/program options/tracks:

Project Option: 33 Coursework Hours 4 Project Hours 0 No Option

Thesis Option: 31 Coursework Hours 6 Project Hours 0 No Option

Comprehensive Exam, if appropriate: Required

Licensure requirements, if appropriate: Required

Assistantships

Faculty in the Agricultural Education program annually pursue and obtain research funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Education, and other public and private organizations. A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Financial assistance is based upon merit and availability of funds.

Internships

Upon entering the graduate program in Agricultural Education students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of internships with numerous governmental agencies, private organizations, agribusinesses, in addition to studying abroad. The program offers a special Peace Corps International option for students seeking long term study abroad experiences.

Clinical Field Experiences

Students within the program who do not hold a clear “A” level teaching license will be required to complete a clinical educational practicum in a secondary education setting. Upon completion this can lead to recommendation for advanced licensure in Agricultural Education to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Advising

All students are assigned an advisor upon entering the program, who will guide them in the selection of their respective graduate committee and graduate plan of study.

Licensure

Students enrolled in the Professional Licensure Concentration are immersed in a curriculum based upon advanced competencies as mandated by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students enrolled in the Professional Licensure concentration have the option to pursue a thesis or non-thesis track. Upon completion of this concentration students are eligible for the “M” License in secondary agricultural education for the State of North Carolina.

Committees

All students upon entering the graduate program in agricultural education must form a graduate committee consisting of three graduate faculty members. At least one faculty member must be from the agricultural education program. The purpose of the graduate committee is to guide the student throughout their graduate studies at NC A&T State University.

Research Opportunities/Experiences

Students enrolled in the Agricultural Education program have the opportunity to conduct research covering a wide array of subject matter with researchers across the School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, in addition to other academic units at the university.

Program Certification/Accreditation

The Agricultural Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to offer advanced licensure training in Agricultural Education.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the program find employment in secondary education, agribusiness industry, federal and state government, cooperative extension, higher education, rural and international development, and nonprofits. Some prominent employers include the United States Department of Agriculture, John Deere, Kraft, Cargill, and the North Carolina Public School System. Many of our graduates go on to pursue doctoral work at prestigious research universities such as Iowa State, The Ohio State, Purdue, Penn State, and Virginia Tech.

Directory of Graduate Faculty

Kofi Adu-Nyako, Adjunct Associate Professor, B.S., University of Science and Technology; M.S., Cornell University; Ph.D., University of Florida
Antoine J. Alston, Professor, B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University
Godfrey C. Ejimakor, Professor, B.S., North Carolina State University; M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Texas Tech
Paula E. Faulkner, Assistant Professor, B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University
Benjamin Gray, Associate Professor, B.S., M.S. North Carolina A&T State University, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Kenrett Y. Jefferson-Moore, Associate Professor B.S. Southern University, M.S. Alabama A&M University, Ph.D. Auburn University
Daniel M. Lyons, Cooperative Extension Faculty, Administration, B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ed.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Donald R. McDowell, Professor, B.S., Southern University A&M; M.S., Ph.D., University of Illinois
John O’Sullivan, Cooperative Extension Faculty, B.A., Stanford University; M.S., Auburn University; Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles
Richard D. Robbins, Professor , B.S., North Carolina A&T State University; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Terrence Thomas, Associate Professor, B.S., University of West Indies; M.S., University of Wisconsin; Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Chastity Warren English, Assistant Professor, B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Anthony K. Yeboah, Professor and Chairperson, B.S., University of Science and Technology; M.S., Ph.D., Iowa State University
Osei-Agyeman Yeboah, Associate Professor, B.S. University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, M.S. North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D. University of Nebraska

Academic
Athletic
Arts

The College of Engineering ranks No. 1 for the number of degrees awarded to African Americans
U.S. News and World Report ranks the COE in the top third of the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
N.C. A&T is the home of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC)
SAES brought in more than $20 million in research grant funding
The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (SAES) is the largest among the nation’s HBCUs
F.D. Bluford Library is one of the region's premier research libraries
The Master of Science in Information (MSIT) Online Program is ranked No. 7 by U.S. News & World Report

A&T had ninety-eight student athletes earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher for the 2011-2012 academic year
Freshmen Janay Ferrell placed seventh at the Robert Shumke HBCU Classic
Track and Field sprinter Jarrell Elliott qualified for the Olympic trials
Aggie baseball player Xavier Macklin was drafted in the 12th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft
Aggies will host the 2013 Junior National Olympics
N.C. A&T long jumper Shakia Forbes became the first Aggie female to earn All-American honors in a field event
North Carolina A&T has had 16 players drafted to the major leagues

The College of Arts and Sciences awards one-third of the university’s degrees each year
University Choir has performed for President Obama at the White House
The Music Program has been fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1991
A&T Jazz Ensemble to release its first professional CD - Jazz Preeminence
Theatre program to perform at the regionally acclaimed "Center Stage Theatre" in Baltimore, Maryland
A&T Lyceum Series brings provocative, culturally diverse programming to the campus and community
Travis W. Alexander has been named National Conductor for the 105 Voices Of History National Concert Choir