Purdue University’s graduate studies program in Agricultural and Extension Education in the Youth Development and Agricultural Education Department prepares individuals for professional careers as educators in both school and non-school settings. The goals of our program are to teach students how to develop and implement programs that prepare individuals for the agricultural industry and to keep the general public literate of the importance of agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources in our daily living.
Master's Degree
Ph.D. Degree
Foundation Courses
The Agricultural and Extension Graduate Program services individuals who place themselves in one of the following three basic graduate student groups representing Agricultural and Extension Education:
1. Students seeking post graduate degrees in Extension Education
2. Practicing teachers working towards a post graduate degree
3. Graduate students seeking teacher licensure in Agricultural Education
The Agricultural and Extension Graduate Program is grounded in the following six competency areas:
- Synthesize Knowledge: One of the goals of our Agricultural and Extension Education faculty is to graduate students who understand how to effectively synthesize knowledge. In other words, our graduate students learn how to take information from several different sources on a specific topic and decipher the important information and make key connections so that they may present the material in a logical sequence and understandable format. Activities that our students perform that help accomplish this goal are completing literature reviews of articles in peer reviewed journals, identifying a research interest, completing a proposal for further research, and actually conducting research as a part of many of the classes offered in Agricultural and Extension Education.
- Create Knowledge: Another goal is for our students to create knowledge through the preparation of a thesis study, application of Agricultural and Extension Education research methods, and the execution of the research project. For examples of research completed by our students click on the research tab. Only students choosing to follow a masters thesis track or in our doctoral program will prepare and execute a full thesis research study.
- Communicate Knowledge: This goal is attained through students doing presentations for an industry or educational seminar. Additionally, students completing a research thesis will need to conduct an oral defense of their findings.
- Think Critically and Reflectively: The students achieve this objective through preparation of critical and reflective papers throughout their course of study. In addition this person will develop or refine a professional philosophy statement.
- Engage in Professional Development: Engaging in professional development will occur as the student maintains membership in professional organizations, prepares a professional portfolio, and participates in workshops throughout their college career.
- Participate Actively in Profession: To reach this goal, the student will be given the opportunity to actively participate in a professional association or possibly publish a manuscript in a scholarly journal.
The student chooses a faculty committee who will utilize the choices listed in these 6 competency areas to monitor the student’s progress through the program.
Technology is threaded throughout the student’s graduate program area through access to coursework, professional development activities, and prescribed opportunities as directed by the student’s graduate program committee. Diversity in education is threaded throughout the student’s graduate program through opportunities in course work, research, professional development, and by direction of the student’s graduate program committee.
Each student’s faculty committee will monitor the progress of each graduate student and the graduate advisor for each student will review the student’s progress during every semester. Systematic and ongoing evaluation and monitoring will occur throughout the graduate student’s program.
