College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Agricultural and Extension Education

Overview

• This curriculum provides a diversified coverage of technical and professional agricultural subjects necessary to prepare teachers of agricultural education for service in the public middle, secondary, and post-secondary schools; extension agents in agriculture for service in local extension units; and training specialists for agricultural industry.
• Specialty areas available for students in the teaching option include agriscience, agricultural production, agricultural machinery service, horticulture, agricultural business, natural resources management, middle school, and teaching the disadvantaged. Students in the extension option may specialize in an area of technical agriculture or receive broad preparation in the basic and applied sciences in technical agriculture. Students in either option will find that the experiences and education gained will well qualify them for training positions in agricultural industry and governmental agencies.
• The minor in agricultural education permits students to develop the human relations skills essential for success in people-oriented professions and to meet teaching certification requirements. Those desiring to obtain a minor in agricultural and extension education should consult the career advisor for agricultural and extension education prior to the junior year.

Teaching Option

• This program, in the Teaching and Learning Division of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (through 2007), prepares students to teach Agricultural Education in the public schools of Virginia and throughout the United States. The program includes extensive preparation in organization, management, curriculum development, and instructional planning and delivery. The skills developed are aimed specifically at preparing Agricultural Education teachers, but are usable in any profession that requires extensive contact with the public. With over 10,000 teachers of Agricultural Education in the United States and an annual requirement for about 700 replacement teachers nationwide, the demand for our graduates far exceeds the supply. Agricultural Education graduates are highly sought by agricultural business and industry for their "people skills" and because they have broad backgrounds in many of the technical disciplines in the agricultural sciences rather than specialties.

Extension Option

• Students in this option are aiming at careers in Cooperative Extension. Most states require master's degrees for beginning extension agents. We would anticipate that most Extension option graduates would continue their formal education at the graduate level in order to qualify to work in Cooperative Extension. Graduates from this program are ideally suited for generalist positions in Extension, such as 4-H agent, because this is a degree program that provides a broad background in many of the technical disciplines in the agricultural sciences, rather than a concentration in a single discipline. This is a very "people-skills" oriented program.

Minor

• This program provides the same basic professional development courses and experiences required of Agricultural Education Teaching option students. With a minor in Agricultural Education, students expand both their array of "people skills" and their career options by adding licensure to teach. In addition, graduates in scientific disciplines which are particularly biology-intensive, often find that they are also eligible for licenses to teach biology.

Satisfactory Progress

• Teaching Option: Defined as qualifying for Admission to Professional studies in Agricultural Teacher Education. "Satisfactory progress" will include:
  • completion of 57 hours (within one semester of seeking admission to Agricultural Teacher Education if transferring in 57 or more credit hours)
  • an overall GPA of at least 2.00 and a 2.50 in-major GPA
  • completion of 30 hours of core curriculum courses and 9 hours in the major by the completion of 72 hours
• Extension Option: By the end of the academic year in which the student attempts 60 hours (at least 36 from Virginia Tech) "satisfactory progress" will include:
  • an overall GPA of at least 2.00
  • having passed at least 15 hours that apply to the university core
  • having declared an official option in the Office of the University Registrar

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Undergraduate Course Descriptions (AEE)

3014: LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Designed to assist students in developing a knowledge and understanding of leadership theory and basic skills required to perform effectively in leadership positions within agricultural community situations. (3H,3C)

3074: MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES OF AGRICULTURAL CONSTRUCTION
Introduction to materials selection and construction procedures for carpentry, concrete, and masonry construction. Understanding and skills applicable to construction of agricultural buildings. Junior standing or consent of instructor required. (1H,6L,3C)

3084: AGRICULTURAL METAL FABRICATION
Introduction to metal working tools, equipment, and processes. Fundamentals of hot and cold metal working, plumbing, and welding applications, including inert gas welding processes. Junior standing or consent of instructor is required. (1H,6L,3C)

3624: COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE IN WRITING
Development of communication skills necessary to deal with the general public and audiences in the food, agriculture, and natural resources fields. Emphasis on writing and on creation of a portfolio including multiple types of written communication. (3H,3C)

3634: COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE IN SPEAKING
Development of strategies and techniques for effective oral communication in the professions related to food, agriculture, and natural resources. Emphasis on oral, visual, and interpersonal communication, as well as on group leadership and meeting management. (3H,3C)

3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.

4004: TEACHING ADULTS IN AGRICULTURE
Organizing classes, developing programs of instruction and teaching techniques applicable to out of school groups in Agriculture. (2H,2C)

4014: INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
An overview of the Cooperative Extension Service as it applies to agriculture. Major areas discussed include history, organization, functional areas, responsibilities of local agents, and employment in extension. (3H,3C) I.

4024: MANAGING AGRICULTURAL SUPERVISED OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS
Major emphasis will be given to the agricultural teacher's responsibility for supervision of the Supervised Occupational Experience Program (SOEP). The course will emphasize the ownership project, the cooperative placement project, maintaining record books, and supervising the SOEP. (2H,2C)

4034: METHODS OF PLANNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR AGRICULTURE
Course examines the procedures involved in the development of courses, curriculum, and instructional materials for educational programs in agriculture. Pre: 3004. (3H,3C) I.

4054: INTERNSHIP IN COOP EXTENSION
Off-campus participation experience for those preparing to become extension agents in the Cooperative Extension Service. Variable credit; 6-16 credits. Variable credit course.

4064: AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS LABORATORY MANAGEMENT
Plan, organize, and manage secondary school mechanics laboratories. Management of the instructional program, facility, equipment, inventory, safety, liability, personnel, material control, and student/customer work. Pre: 3074, 3084. (2H,3L,3C)

4234 (EDCT 4234): CURRICULUM FOR CAREER AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION
Provides current and prospective career and occupational education teachers with research bases, resources, and available curricula for teaching content in the respective disciplines. Develops the ability to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate curricula. The prerequisite EDCT 2604 will be waived for Agricultural Education students. Pre: EDCT 2604. (3H,3C)

4244: METHODS OF TEACHING CAREER AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION
Developing instructional plans, delivering and evaluating instruction, and evaluating learner performance for career and occupational education. Pre: 4234. (3H,3C)

4254 (EDCT 4254): ADULT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Theory, practices, and procedures involved in planning, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating adult education programs in Vocational and Technical Education. Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, courses in teaching methods and curriculum required. (3H,3C)

4744 (EDCT 4744): METHODS, MATERIALS AND PRACTICES IN INSTRUCTION
Planning, using, evaluating classroom procedures; selection and organization of subject content and materials in vocational and technical education. Maximum credit: 6. Consent required. Variable credit course. X-grade allowed. Co: EDCT4754.

4754: INTERNSHIP IN EDUCATION
Planned program of clinical practice in education under the direction and supervision of a university supervisor and a selected practitioner. Recommendation of program area and successful completion of Professional Studies required. Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4884: YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Organizational design of educational youth programs such as 4-H and FFA, including administrative planning, human resource development, recruitment, marketing, and budgeting. (3H,3C)

4964: FIELD STUDY/PRACTICUM
Variable credit course.

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

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