Agricultural Extension Education SpecializationMaster of Agriculture in Agricultural Sciences
This program is a professional degree administered by the College of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with several departments within and outside the college. This interdisciplinary program provides maximum flexibility in allowing you to select courses to suit your goals and interests.
The degree provides a broader area of study than research-oriented M.S. degrees. Each program can be individually designed to meet your professional needs and specific goals. Students may select Plan A which requires applied research and a formal thesis, Plan B which requires a scholarly paper, or Plan C which is coursework only.
Program Requirements
While all students completing this program and earning the M.Agr. degree must complete the program requirements, students with a specialization in extension education must also meet the specific requirements. Course options vary, so ask your academic advisor for more information.
Plan A and Plan B
- Minimum of 30 course credits
- 24 credits must be earned at Colorado State
- 16 credits of formal upper-division coursework excluding seminars, independent or group studies, internships, supervised college teaching, and research
- Up to 6 credits of 400-level coursework related to your program of study may be taken with prior approval of your advisor.
- An extension education internship is required in a county or state extension office or other advisor-approved setting.
- Plan A requires a thesis; Plan B requires a professional paper.
Plan C
- Minimum of 36 course credits
- 21 credits must be 500-level and above.
- 10 credits of upper-division Agriculture (AGRI) coursework.
- No credits less than 400-level accepted.
- The 36 coursework credits for the degree exclude seminars, independent or group studies, internships, supervised college teaching, practicum and research.
- Plan C requires only coursework.
Working for CSU as a County Extension Agent, I was interested in learning more about the land grant university Extension system, as well as broadening my knowledge base relative to Colorado agricultural issues. The CSU Master's of Agriculture program helped me become a better Extension professional by providing me with current knowledge and skills that I could immediately apply to my work. It also helped me create new partnerships in my community, since several of the courses required working collaboratively with local professionals in weed and pest management, natural resource management, and county government.
– Elisa Shackelton
Program Curriculum
Required Courses - Plan A and Plan B
Contact the program distance degree advisor for Plan C course information.
- AGRI 500 - Issues in Agriculture (3 cr.)
- AGRI 546 - Principles of Cooperative Extension (3 cr.)
- AGRI 547 - Delivery of Cooperative Extension Programs (4 cr.)
- AGRI 587 - Internship (1-12 cr.)
- AGRI 692 - Seminar (1 cr.)
- EDRM 600 - Introduction to Research (3 cr.) (or equivalent course)
Additional Required Courses (minimum of two courses)
- EDAE 520 - Adult Education (3 cr.)
- EDAE 620 - Processes and Methods (3 cr.)
- EDAE 624 - Adult Teaching & Learning I (3 cr.)
- EDAE 629 - Program Development (3 cr.)
- EDUC 628 - Models of Teaching (3 cr.)
Recommended Electives
Elective courses include, but are not limited to, the following:
- AGRI 698 - Research (1-6 cr.)
- CON 570 - Grantsmanship and Proposal Writing (3 cr.)
- EDAE 590 - Workshop: Teaching and Learning at a Distance (1-18 cr.)
- EDAE 590 - Workshop: Learning Technologies (1-3 cr.)
- FW 576 - Wildlife Policy, Administration and Law (3 cr.)
- NR 501 - Leadership and Public Communications (3 cr.)
- NR 515 - Natural Resources Policy and Biodiversity (3 cr.)
- NRRT 505 - Environmental Education History and Theory (3 cr.)
- RS 500 - Advanced Rangeland Management (3 cr.)
- RS 531 - World Grassland Ecogeography (3 cr.)
- RS 552 - Range Animal Production and Management (4 cr.)
In addition, approved courses from other institutions may be accepted; talk with your advisor before including these in your course plan.
Application and Admission Requirements
This program follows the general admission or Track II admission requirements and procedures with the following adaptations:
- A 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate course work. (A person with a GPA lower than 3.0 could still be considered if they present evidence acceptable to the college of their ability to complete advanced degree requirements.)
- Leadership potential.
More Information
About distance education and registration:
Gayle Roslund
(970) 491-2570
groslund@learn.colostate.edu
About the curriculum or admissions:
Pam Schell
Administrative Assistant
(970) 491-2410
pam.schell@colostate.eduDr. Dennis Lamm
Distance Degree Advisor
(970) 491-2074
dennis.lamm@colostate.edu
Degree at a Glance
Delivery
Correspondence, online, videotape set, and televised, or a combination of two media. On-campus attendance is not required to complete this program.
Total Credits
Plan A or B - 30 credits (minimum)
Plan C - 36 credits (minimum)
Tuition
$429 per credit for required courses. For electives, see individual courses.
Time Frame
Can be completed in two years. Program duration may vary based on previous course work, intensity of study, and course availability. Summer courses are not required.
Designed For
Those who wish to pursue a career in Cooperative Extension, but it is often appropriate for others who have career objectives in which a combination of disciplines is desired.