Agricultural education
Master of education/professional studies
Program
The master of education (M.Ed.)/professional studies program in agricultural education is a graduate-level, practitioner-based program.
Candidates must complete at least 30 semester credits to complete the program. Two types of M.Ed. programs are available:
- Plan I is for licensed teachers of agricultural education.
- Plan II is for individuals focused on the "people" side of business who seek employment in agri-industry training and development; sales and sales management; extension service; or other areas of agriculturally based business.
Candidates for both plans must have at least one year of professional experience before the degree is awarded; an oral examination is also required.
The program is flexible and can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students. With guidance from faculty advisers, students choose at least 30 semester credits that may include coursework, independent study, internships, workshops, school-based experiences, and an integrating paper. The program is offered by the Department of Work and Human Resource Education (WHRE) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Courses at the University of Minnesota are offered at a variety of times, including late afternoons. Students can also enroll in courses offered during the summer and at off-campus school sites.
Admission
Admission requirements for this program include the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree with a 2.50 overall grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution
- Relevant professional experience or relevant undergraduate major
- A written personal statement describing your career goals and rationale for interest in the M.Ed. program (limit two pages)
- A résumé
- A completed CEHD Application for Admission to M.Ed./Professional Studies Programs, available at the College’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu; or on the Web.
The College reviews applications on an ongoing basis. Application reviews for specific academic terms begin by the following dates. Students are encouraged to submit application materials to Student Services by the following dates:
- November 1—spring semester admission
- March 1—summer session admission
- July 1—fall semester admission
Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions four to six weeks after application deadlines.
Transfer credits
A maximum of 12 graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:
- Up to eight graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota
- Credits completed at the University of Minnesota before admission to the M.Ed. program
Transfer courses must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty adviser and the College. Contact the program’s faculty adviser for more information.
Curriculum
Note: WHRE course designators officially changed effective January 2006. Previous course designators are listed below in brackets.
Plan I—Requirements for licensed teachers
- AFEE 5290—Seminar: Current Issues in Agricultural Education
and Extension (1-3 cr)
- or
- AFEE 5280—Current Issues for the Beginning Agricultural Education Teacher (1-3 cr)
- or equivalent, chosen in consultation with an adviser
- AFEE 5995—Integrating Paper–Master of Education: Agricultural and Extension Education (1-4 cr)
- WHRE 5901 [WCFE 5901]—Using Research in Work and Human Resource Education (3 cr)
- Minimum of 6 credits in AFEE courses, with at least 2 credits from each of the following three areas: curriculum; methods; and program planning, organization, management
- 16 credits in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences or related fields of study (A maximum of 12 credits of AFEE 5220—Special Topics in Agriculture Education and Extension (1-3 cr) may be applied to this requirement.)
Plan II—Requirements for other professionals
- AFEE 5290—Seminar: Current Issues in Agricultural Education
and Extension (1-3 cr)
- or
- AFEE 5331—History, Philosophy, and Systems of Extension (3 cr)
- or equivalent, chosen in consultation with an adviser
- AFEE 5995—Integrating Paper–Master of Education: Agricultural and Extension Education (1-4 cr)
- WHRE 5901 [WCFE 5901]—Using Research in Work and Human Resource Education (3 cr)
- Minimum of 10 credits selected from the following two areas: methods; and program planning, organization, management
- 12 credits in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences or related fields of study (A maximum of 8 credits of AFEE 5220—Special Topics in Agriculture Education and Extension (1-3 cr) may be applied to this requirement.)
Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.
Registration
Currently admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students may register online for coursework.
Students who want to begin M.Ed. coursework before admission to the M.Ed. program must complete a CEHD First-Time Registration for non-degree seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are also available at the College’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.
For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.
Core faculty
Kenneth R. Bartlett
Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Outcomes of human resource development, organization development
612-614-4935; e-mail: bartlett@umn.edu
James M. Brown
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Special learning needs, program evaluation
612-624-7754; e-mail: brown014@umn.edu
Gary N. McLean
Ed.D., Columbia University
International human resource development, organizational quality and
productivity, organization development
612-624-4901; e-mail: mclea002@umn.edu
Rosemarie Park
Ed.D., Harvard University
Adult literacy education, workplace literacy, women’s issues
612-625-6267; e-mail: parkx002@umn.edu
Shari L. Peterson
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Adult education, human resource development, student retention
612-624-4980; e-mail: peter007@umn.edu
James R. Stone III
Ed.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Education and work transitions for youth and adults, work-based learning
612-624-1795; e-mail: stone003@umn.edu
Updated October 2005