MS in Agricultural Leadership, Communication and Education
Degree Requirements
The program consists of a minimum of 30 credits of graduate coursework beyond the bachelor's degree.
| Core course required for all students (regardless of option): | 12 | |
| Evaluation | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8430 | Evaluation of Educational Programs | 3 |
| Education or Communication specialization | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8330 | Advanced Methods of Teaching | 1-99 |
| or AG_ED_LD 8087 | Seminar in Agricultural Education and Leadership | |
| Leadership | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8250 | Leadership Theory and Application | 3 |
| Philosophy and History | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8410 | Philosophical Foundations of Agricultural Education and Leadership | 3 |
| or AG_ED_LD 8210 | History and Leadership of the Land Grant University | |
| Research | 6 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8510 | Research Methods and Design | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 8540 | Methods of Qualitative Research | 3 |
| OR | ||
| ESC_PS 7170 | Introduction to Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Additional course requirements for Creative Component Option | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8080 | Creative Component in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 3 |
| Additional course requirements for Thesis Option | 3 | |
| AG_ED_LD 8090 | Thesis Research in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 3 |
| Specialization and/or Electives (example, not limited to) ** | 9 | |
| AG_ED_LD 7340 | Designing and Delivering Educational/Leadership Programs | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 7350 | Inservice Course in Agricultural Education and Leadership *** | 1-8 |
| AG_ED_LD 8351 | Induction Year Teaching I | 1-2 |
| AG_ED_LD 8352 | Induction Year Teaching II | 1-2 |
| AG_ED_LD 8087 | Seminar in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 1-99 |
| AG_ED_LD 8340 | Student and Teacher Development in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 8350 | College Teaching of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| Additional course requirements for Creative Component with Teacher Certification option | ||
| Consult with faculty on layering Teacher Certification requirements with the Creative Component option. | ||
| AG_ED_LD 7340 | Designing and Delivering Educational/Leadership Programs | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 7350 | Inservice Course in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 1-99 |
| AG_ED_LD 8351 | Induction Year Teaching I | 1-2 |
| AG_ED_LD 8352 | Induction Year Teaching II | 1-2 |
| AG_ED_LD 8087 | Seminar in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 1-99 |
| AG_ED_LD 8340 | Student and Teacher Development in Agricultural Education and Leadership | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 8350 | College Teaching of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 8430 | Evaluation of Educational Programs | 3 |
- *
Or equivalent, in consultation with your advisor/committee
- **
Additional courses selected by the student and approved by her/his graduate committee may be selected to meet the goals of the student.
- ***
Limited to 8 credits maximum
Sample Plan of Study
Because students in the M.S. program are from a wide variety of circumstances, and pursue the M.S. at all different paces, a sample plan of study is not easily produced. Students are encouraged to work out their plan of study with their advisor.
Thesis/Non-Thesis Requirements
The program offers students three options:
1. Creative Component Option
This option is oriented toward improving a practitioner's professional proficiency in teaching, curriculum development, program planning and evaluations. The program of study should include courses and learning experiences that will develop the student's knowledge and skills in the processes of learning and teaching. The Creative Component option requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit (to include a minimum of 27 hours of formal graduate courses, plus a maximum of 3 hours of 8080 Creative Component) with a minimum of 15 credit hours at the 8000 level and a minimum of 15 credit hours taken in Agricultural Education and Leadership. Candidates must also complete an approved creative component project.
2. Creative Component with Teacher Certification Option
This option is designed for individuals who have earned a B.S. degree in an agricultural discipline and desire the initial teacher certification to teach agriculture at the secondary level. Included in the course work for this option are some of the classes needed for certification to teach secondary high school agriculture in Missouri.
3. Thesis Option
This option is research-oriented, focusing on designing and conducting research in the social sciences. The program of study should include courses and learning experiences that will maximize a student's progress in developing skills that will enable the student to continue his/her education in a research-oriented area. The Thesis option requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit (to include a minimum of 24 hours of formal graduate courses, plus a maximum of six hours of 8090 Research) with a minimum of 15 credit hours at the 8000 level and a minimum of 15 credit hours taken in Agricultural Education and Leadership. Candidates must also complete an approved thesis based on original research.
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MS in Agricultural Education program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program's graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied before official admission to the University of Missouri.