Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
https://grad.calpoly.edu/program.php?pid=2
The Master of Agricultural Education program provides students with the opportunity to focus their graduate study in agricultural education, with an emphasis on preparing candidates for careers as educators across a variety of settings, including public schools, community colleges, workforce training programs, and non-formal educational environments. Some applicants enter the program as current practitioners seeking professional development. These individuals typically have at least one year of successful experience teaching or facilitating instruction in agricultural education or related fields. Their work may occur in secondary schools, community colleges, cooperative extension, workforce development, or nonprofit educational settings. Others pursue the degree while completing requirements for a single subject teaching credential in agricultural education. These students are admitted to or concurrently enrolled in a credential program and use the MAGD to deepen their content and pedagogical knowledge while earning their credential. The program also welcomes students who are not pursuing a credential but are interested in careers in non-formal agricultural education. These individuals may work in roles related to agricultural literacy, youth and community development, public outreach, or industry-based education and training. In collaboration with their advisors and graduate committees, students engage in coursework and high-impact experiences designed to support their unique employment contexts and help them meet statewide standards in agricultural education and related fields.
Requirements for Admission
Students apply via Cal State Apply and must submit a transcript, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation.
International Students must meet all the standard eligibility criteria and demonstrate proficiency in English (English Proficiency Exam Requirements)
Prerequisites: Applicants to the Master of Agricultural Education (MAGD) program must hold a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, agricultural sciences, or a closely related field from an accredited institution. The program is designed to serve a diverse range of professionals working across formal and non-formal educational settings. All applicants should demonstrate foundational knowledge in agricultural content areas such as animal science, plant science, agricultural mechanics, or agricultural business. This background may come from academic coursework, work experience, or a combination of both. While not required, prior experience with educational theory, curriculum development, or program facilitation is recommended. As part of the application, a statement of purpose is required and should clearly describe the applicant’s professional goals and how the MAGD program aligns with their intended career path in agricultural education.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Application due date: The program accepts applicants during Fall and Spring semester based on career plan. Please communicate with the program coordinator to determine the most appropriate semester to begin the program. Please see Graduate Student Dates and Deadlines for application deadlines.
Advancement to Candidacy
Completion of at least 6 units of graduate coursework with cumulative and higher ed GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience for the Master of Agricultural Education program is a comprehensive examination, completed in two parts.
Part One is a written examination tailored to the student’s individual program of study. Questions are assigned based on the coursework completed and are designed to assess the student’s depth of knowledge and application of key concepts.
Part Two is an oral examination conducted by the student’s graduate committee. This portion includes a professional presentation in which the candidate reflects on their experience in the program, highlights key projects, discusses their professional growth, and articulates what they have learned and how they plan to apply that learning in their future work.
Program Learning Objectives
- Apply knowledge of philosophical and historical foundations of agricultural education to develop personal philosophy statements that guide components of agricultural education programs.
- Create relevant, challenging and integrative agricultural curriculum.
- Adapt agricultural education curriculum to meet current goals and objectives using a variety of educational theories and models.
- Demonstrate effective agricultural education teaching characteristics while utilizing a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies.
- Select appropriate practices to teach essential agricultural concepts, problem solving, inquiry, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Develop, administer and analyze formal, informal and performance assessment techniques to monitor and evaluate student learning and guide modification.
- Develop as reflective practitioners by collecting feedback and supporting artifacts and evaluating learning segments.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| AGED 5520 | Program Development in Agricultural Education | 3 |
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Instructional Processes in Agricultural Education and Instructional Planning in Agriculture | ||
| Graduate Internship in Agricultural Education and Communication | ||
| AGED 5581 | Graduate Seminar in Agricultural Education | 3 |
| AGED 5597 | Comprehensive Examination 1 | 0 |
| Select from the following: 2 | 6 | |
| Individual Study | ||
| Individual Study in Agricultural Education | ||
| Agriculture Specialist Clinical Practice | ||
| Teaching Agriculture in Higher Education | ||
| Special Advanced Topics | ||
| Topics for Teaching Methods in Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Pathways | ||
| Special Problems in Agricultural Education | ||
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select any 4000-5000 level AGB, AGC, AGED, ASCI, BRAE, DSCI, ERSC, ESCI, FSN, NR, PLSC, SS, or WVIT courses 3 | 14-15 | |
| Total Units | 30 | |