The Master of Science in Agricultural Education seeks to meet the needs of today’s agricultural educators. Courses include topics such as teacher pedagogy, research, communications, and leadership development. The fully online program offers the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree in agricultural education while being employed full time. Graduate students can access graduate level work from respected faculty members across the nation through California State University, Chico participation in the AG*IDEA Consortium while completing master’s coursework. We look forward to providing an innovative approach to address the challenge of time management and travel presented through a traditional graduate degree program.

This master's degree is offered entirely online and partners with the AG*IDEA consortium. Courses are offered from participating universities and instructors across the United States. However, students are enrolled as California State University, Chico students and receive grades and the degree from Chico State.

Graduate Advising Requirement

Students are encouraged to seek advising information from the graduate coordinator prior to enrolling in courses each semester.

Requirements for the MS in Agricultural Education

Completion of all requirements as established by the departmental graduate advisory committee or graduate coordinator in agricultural education, and Graduate Studies, to include:

1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 400/500/600-level courses as follows:
   1. At least 12 units must be completed in AGED 600, AGED 601, AGED 602, and AGED 610.
   2. At least 18 of the units required for the degree in 600-level courses.
   3. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education.
   4. Not more than three units of AGED 697; not more than six units of AGED 699T or AGED 699P.
   5. Approval by the graduate coordinator in agricultural education and the Graduate Council on behalf of the faculty of the University.
2. Completion and final approval of a thesis or project as specified by the student's graduate advisory committee.

Course List

Course	Title	Units
AGED 600	Research Methodology in Agricultural Education	3
AGED 601	Program Planning in Agricultural Education	3
AGED 602	Instructional Methods in Agricultural Education	3
AGED 610	Assessment in Agricultural Education	3
Select 12-15 units from the following:		12-15
AGED 603	Agricultural Leadership, Supervision, and Administration
AGED 604	Program Evaluation in Agricultural Education
AGED 605	Adult Learners in Agricultural Education
AGED 607	Agricultural Education Foundations, History, and Philosophy
AGED 608	Teaching Diverse Learners in Agricultural Education
AGED 697	Independent Study
Select six units from the following:		6
AGED 699P	Master's Project in Agricultural Education
AGED 699T	Master's Thesis in Agricultural Education
Total Units		30-33

Culminating Activity

1. Thesis Plan: Upon agreement by the student's graduate advisory committee, an acceptable thesis composed of original research shall be submitted as the culminating activity.
   1. Thesis proposal: A formal thesis proposal must be submitted and approved by the graduate advisory committee before students may begin research. The proposal must meet the criteria established by the graduate committee, including format, documentation, and quality of writing. The thesis proposal includes the following: literature review; problem and purpose or hypothesis of the research; research design; and research methodology.
   2. Registration in AGED 699T.
   3. Approval of thesis: Members of the graduate advisory committee shall approve the thesis.
   4. Oral defense: Members of the graduate advisory committee shall conduct an oral defense of the thesis. The oral defense is generally limited to content within the scope of the thesis.
2. Comprehensive Project Plan: A creative component shall be completed upon the approval of the graduate advisory committee. The creative, comprehensive project will demonstrate applied research to solve a particular need or problem.
   1. Comprehensive Project: A formal plan for the creative component must be submitted and approved by the graduate advisory committee prior to the onset of the project. The formal proposal for the comprehensive project shall include the following: review of literature; identification of problem or definition of a particular need; methodology employed to address the problem or solve a particular need; and a timeline for project completion. The comprehensive project will be reviewed and shall be graded as credit/no credit.
   2. Registration in AGED 699P.
   3. The graduate advisory committee shall review and approve the comprehensive project.

Graduate Grading Requirements

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Comprehensive Examination - 696, Independent Study - 697, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 696, 697, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at Chico State subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses in the approved master's degree program. Failure to maintain a 3.0 average in any category will result in academic notice in the master's program. Failure to remedy the deficiency within one semester with appropriate courses approved by the program coordinator may result in disqualification from the master's program. See Graduate Education Policies for more information.

Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education. Correspondence courses and UC Extension coursework are not acceptable for transfer.

Graduate Time Limit

All requirements for the degree are to be completed within seven years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements.

Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency

All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. 

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status

1. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Admission Requirements.
2. Approval by the department and Graduate Studies.
3. A baccalaureate in agriculture, food, or natural resources from an accredited institution, or an equivalent approved by Graduate Studies. The GRE is not required, but the prospective student must have sufficient background to undertake a graduate program in agricultural education.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status

In addition to any requirements listed above:

1. Formation of a graduate advisory committee.
2. Development of an approved program in consultation with the graduate coordinator in agricultural education.

Advancement to Candidacy

In addition to any requirements listed above, students must have classified graduate standing and must have completed at least nine units of the proposed program at the University.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are clear, measurable statements that describe how students demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline as appropriate to the degree. Graduates of this program are expected to achieve the following PLOs:

1. Apply knowledge of philosophical and historical foundations of agricultural education to develop personal philosophy statements that guide components of agricultural education programs. Identify philosophical influences upon agricultural education. Identify historical foundations of agricultural education. Identify components of successful agricultural education programs. Design personal philosophical statement.
2. Create relevant, challenging, and integrative agricultural curriculum. Recognize and adapt curriculum to meet curricular goals and objectives using a variety of educational theories and models. Identify learning theories and models. Analyze learners to identify curricular needs. Apply agricultural education theory to design appropriate curriculum.
3. Demonstrate effective teaching characteristics while utilizing a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies. Use appropriate practices to teach essential agricultural concepts, problem-solving, skills of inquiry, communication, and collaboration. Identify effective teaching theories and characteristics. Identify instruction needs for formal and non-formal educational environments. Apply characteristics of effective teaching to lesson facilitation.
4. Develop, administer, and analyze formal, informal, and performance assessment techniques to monitor and evaluate student learning and guide modification. Identify assessment components of learning theories. Apply knowledge of effective assessment theories to develop formal, informal, and performance assessments. Analyze assessment data. Utilize assessment data to modify instruction.
5. Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze, and share data related to agriculture as informed consumers and producers of educational research. Describe research methodology. Apply research methodology to design a research study. Demonstrate effective application of research methodology through collecting and analyzing statistical data.
6. Apply knowledge of diverse learners to create optimal learning environments. Identify characteristics of diverse learners. Identify educational needs of diverse learners. Apply knowledge of diverse learners to create optimal learning environments.