Agricultural Education and 4-H Youth Development
James J. Connors, Dept. Chair (Agricultural and Extension Education Bldg., P.O. Box 442040, 1134 West 6th, 83844-2040; phone 208/885-6358; email@example.com; aee.ag.uidaho.edu/). Faculty: James J. Connors, Lou E. Riesenberg, Allison J.L. Touchstone, Kattlyn J. Wolf. Affiliate Faculty: Rebecca Brown, Robert J. Haggerty. Adjunct Faculty: Michael G. Rush.
The mission of the Department of Agricultural Education and 4-H Youth Development includes teaching, research, and service. The specific objectives of the department are: (1) to prepare educators for employment in teaching agriculture and extension programs; (2) to provide service and direction to FFA in Idaho; (3) to prepare for careers in general learning/ranching or entry level positions in agricultural industry and agribusiness; (4) to provide an opportunity for graduate study in the areas of agricultural and extension education; (5) to assist in providing inservice education for agricultural educators in Idaho; (6) to provide service to related agencies and organizations for the support of education and the development of human resources; (7) to conduct quality research in agricultural and extension education; (8) to assist in maintaining viable agricultural education programs; and (9) to assist in the development of information and instructional materials for the support of agricultural educators and extension personnel.
Courses in animal science, agricultural economics, agricultural mechanics, entomological science, plant science, horticulture, and soil science will prepare graduates to teach these areas as secondary agriculture instructors or develop educational programs as county extension faculty. The agricultural education curriculum is approved by the State Board for Professional-Technical Education. Graduates who have completed a minimum of 28 credits in agricultural education and who meet the state certification requirements for a standard secondary teaching certificate are qualified to teach secondary agriculture. Government and agribusiness agencies that seek persons with training in agriculture and education provide employment opportunities for graduates of this curriculum. Courses provide students an opportunity to develop employment opportunities in teaching agriculture, cooperative extension, and agribusiness occupations.
The department provides opportunities for professional growth and development to agricultural educators through a planned program of graduate study. The pursuit of an M.S. degree allows for the development of problem-solving skills through scientific investigation of appropriate research topics. Graduate work in agricultural and extension education is offered with the opportunity for students to elect options in agricultural sciences, extension education, professional-technical teacher education, international agricultural education, or other areas that parallel their career goals. Because of the diversity of research efforts by departmental faculty members, a graduate student has a wide variety of specializations from which to choose a thesis topic. Students with this degree are well prepared to move into a job market or to pursue a Ph.D. program at another institution.
Admission to a graduate program requires an undergraduate degree with a major in agricultural education or a closely related field. The department may require the Graduate Record Examination if there is insufficient information available to indicate that the student will be successful in graduate work.
The department welcomes inquiries about its programs and suggests that anyone interested in possible pursuit of a degree in agricultural and extension education should contact the department (telephone 208/885-6358).
See course description section for courses in Agricultural Education (AgEd) and Agricultural Science and Technology (Ag).