Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog

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Course Descriptions

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

C. Akers, M. Baker, C. T. Boleman, B. L. Boyd, M. T. Brashears, G. E. Briers, M. J. Cepica, J. E. Christiansen, M. E. Couch, S. R. Cummings, R. L. Cummins, C. S. Davis, D. L. Doerfert, K. E. Dooley, C. D. Elbert, C. Fehlis, S. D. Fraze, D. Hamman, J. F. Harlin, J. W. Johnson, A. Larke, Jr., D. E. Lawver, J. R. Lindner, M. J. McCormick, T. H. Murphy, D. C. Pfannstiel, M. Pi–a, Jr., T. G. Roberts, M. H. Rosser, T. A. Rutherford, G. C. Shinn, J. H. Smith, D. P. Starr, N. L. Stedman, C. D. Townsend (Head), J. D. Townsend, T. A. Vestal, G. J. Wingenbach

The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications offers graduate studies leading to the degrees of Master of Agriculture in agricultural development and Master of Education, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Education in agricultural education. The Master of Agriculture in agricultural development and the Doctor of Education in agricultural education can be pursued via distance education. The Joint Ed. D. in agricultural education is offered with Texas Tech University.

Professionals who pursue advanced study in agricultural education and agricultural development work in a variety of contextual settings including agricultural communications/journalism, distance education and technology-enhanced instruction, organizational and community leadership, extension education, teacher education and international agricultural development. Course content and teaching methods used in graduate courses are selected to assist in the development of knowledge and skills in the discipline of agricultural education and agricultural development and to the application of knowledge and skills in identifying and analyzing professional problems and initiating plans of action for the solutions of those problems.

Graduate students, in consultation with a graduate advisor, may select different knowledge areas of emphasis. Examples include planning and needs assessment, learning and cognition, change theory and processes, communication hteory and practice, leadership education theory and applications, instructional design and delivery, evaluation and performance measurements and research measurement and analysis.

The faculty of the department maintains continuous contact with professionals in the field. These contacts enable faculty members to conduct teaching and research in support of graduate programs with understanding and appreciation of important and complex problems encountered by professional practitioners. For additional information about the department, its graduate faculty and programs, contact the graduate program coordinator or visit us on the website at www.aged.tamu.edu.

Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
(ALEC)

601. Advanced Methods in Agricultural Education. (3-0). Credit 3.

Learning theories; techniques and procedures to enhance the teaching-learning process; methods to evaluate learning. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

604. Writing for Professional Publication. (3-0). Credit 3.

Course will provide students in Agricultural and Extension Education with the skills necessary to compose research manuscripts, conference papers, and journal articles. Prerequisites: Introductory research course and graduate classification.

607. Youth Leadership Programs. (3-0). Credit 3.

Methods and procedures of organizing and conducting youth leadership programs in school and non-school settings. Prerequisite: Professional experience or approval of department head.

608. Leadership of Volunteers. (3-0). Credit 3.

Models of volunteerism; reasons for volunteers; assessment and evaluation techniques; task descriptions; organizational relationships.

610. Principles of Adult Education. (3-0). Credit 3.

Identification of basic principles motivating adults to learn. Procedures to implement these principles in bringing about changes in adult behavior. Prerequisite: Professional experience or approval of department head.

611. Advanced Methods in Distance Education. (3-0). Credit 3.

Course design theory for synchronous and asynchronous instructional methodology; teaching and training models for distance education incorporating high-speed computing; interactive video print merge as delivery systems.

612. Advanced Instructional Design for Online Learning. (3-0). Credit 3.

Emphasis on applying learning and teaching theory as the foundation for developing engaging online instruction; designed to pull together theory, concepts, and strategies for a broad understanding of the fundamentals of online learning from the conceptual stage to the development and delivery stages. Prerequisites: Majors only and graduate classification.

613. Techniques in eLearning Development and Delivery. (3-0). Credit 3.

The emphasis of the course is to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and deliver effective online courses, training programs, and learning units. Specific topics to be covered include: management of eLearning projects, needs assessment and audience analysis, creation and editing of documents, images, audio, and video. Prerequisites: Majors only and graduate classification.

615. Philosophy of Agricultural Education. (3-0). Credit 3.

Historical and philosophical developments in education that brought about education in agriculture; ideas of individuals that culminated in agricultural education institutions and organizations. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

625. Program Evaluation and Organizational Accountability. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examines the phologophy, methods, and issues of accountability and evaluation necessary to meet expectations of institutional mandates. Special emphasis on analytical tools and performance measures. Prerequisite: Professional experience or approval of department head.

630. Guidance and Counseling for Rural Youth. (3-0). Credit 3.

Problems of youth with special attention given to rural youth; theories of vocational development reviewed and techniques and procedures developed to help youth make career choices. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

640. Methods of Technological Change. (3-0). Credit 3.

Dynamics of cultural change as theoretical framework for planned technological change; methods of planning and implementing change, its effects and how it can be predicted. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

641. The Transfer of Technology by Institutions. (3-0). Credit 3.

Role and organization of institutions for effective transfer of technology; institutional models, assignment of priorities, institutional linkages, communications, special program design, program strategies and program evaluation. Prerequisite: Professional experience or approval of department head.

644. The Agricultural Advisor in Developing Nations. (3-0). Credit 3.

Trends, conditions, critical incidents, techniques, roles and preparation affecting the success of persons desiring to provide technical assistance in projects of agricultural development by serving as agricultural advisors in developing nations, especially in cross-cultural settings. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

645. Initiating, Managing and Monitoring Projects of International

Agricultural Development. (3-0). Credit 3. Origin of projects in agricultural development involving host governments; procedures in developing contracts with sponsors; duties and responsibilities of contract administrators, project leaders and the home institution; reporting systems, project reviews and evaluation procedures; procedures effective in managing projects. Prerequisite: ALEC 640 or approval of instructor.

646. Institutions Serving Agriculture in Developing Nations. (3-0). Credit 3.

Comparisons among programs and functions, strengths and weaknesses, organization, and relationships of institutions and agencies in public sectors serving agriculture in developing nations; includes those responsible for agricultural extension, agricultural research, agrarian reform, price stabilization, agricultural credit and agricultural cooperatives. Prerequisite: ALEC 641 or approval of instructor.

681. Seminar. Credit 1 each semester.

Group study and discussion of current developments in agricultural education; research and legislation as they affect programs in teacher education, agricultural science and related areas of education. Prerequisite: Approval of department head. 684. Professional Internship. Credit 1 to 6 each semester. On-the-job supervised experience program conducted in the area of the student’s specialization. Prerequisites: Graduate classification; approval of department head.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.

Studies related to classroom, laboratory, supervised activities in agriculture, work experience, extension education and adult educational activities in agricultural programs. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of agricultural education. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

690. Theory of Agricultural Education Research. (3-0). Credit 3.

Theory and design of research problems in agricultural education; communication of research proposal and results of research; evaluation of current research of faculty and students; review of current research literature. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of graduate advisor.

691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Initiation and completion of research for advanced degree. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

692. Professional Study. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Approved professional study of project undertaken as the terminal requirement for degree of Doctor of Education; preparation of a record of study summarizing the rationale, procedure and results of the completed project. Prerequisite: Approval of major advisor.

696. Qualitative Research Methods. (3-0). Credit 3.

Overview of qualitative research in agricultural education including conducting a literature review, writing a working hypothesis, keeping methodological and reflexive journals, developing data gathering tools, performing data analysis, ensuring trustworthiness measures, and writing a research manuscript. Prerequisites: ALEC 690 and graduate classification.