WHRE M.A.: Agricultural, Food, and Environmental, Education (AFEE)Specialization
Overview
The agriculture, food, and environmental education (AFEE) program combines the resources of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), two of the University's most highly regarded academic units.
The master of arts (M.A.) degree in work and human resource education with a specialization in agricultural, food, and environmental education (AFEE), administered by the Graduate School and offered by the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD).
What will my program look like?
The M.A. is offered under Plan A and Plan B. Students in either plan
complete a minimum of 34 credits of 5xxx courses, including
16 credits in the major and 6 credits in the related field. Plan A
students also take 10 thesis credits; Plan B students complete a
3-6 credit project or paper, with remaining credits taken in either the
major or related field.
How long will my master's program take?
Attending full time, including summers, students often can complete the
degree requirements in one calendar year. However, many students are
employed full time and spread their coursework over
2 years. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years
after starting the program.
Program Features
- Excellent placement rates in "life impact" careers.
- Access to a wide range of technological and quality facilities.
- Personalized instruction in AFEE classes of about 15-30 students each.
- Faculty who care about you and your future, and will advise you at every step of the way.
- Flexible major that makes you marketable for a broad range of job opportunities. You may teach or pursue many areas of agribusiness because you have developed people skills plus a broad base of agricultural education.
Your Studies Will Include. . .
- Agronomy and horticulture
- Animal science
- Applied economics
- Soil science
- Natural resource management
- Agrimechanics technology
- Food science
Other courses relating to your study include the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, communication, and liberal education courses such as social sciences, citizenship, public ethics, international perspectives, cultural diversity and the environment.
As well as education and leadership development courses:
- Foundations of education
- Methodologies for teaching
- Program planning
- Leadership, training, and development
How Does the M.A. Program Differ from the M.Ed. Program?
While the M.A. is sometimes perceived to be more prestigious than the M.Ed., there is little programmatic evidence available to support this conclusion. Persons with specific career goals are encouraged to discuss options with faculty and prospective employers to determine if there is a preference.
Admission to the M.A. degree typically requires an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale and requires a score on the Graduate Record Examination. Admittance to the M.Ed. degree requires an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8, and no admission test is required.
Tuition rates differ between the Graduate School which administers the M.A. program and the College of Education and Human Development which administers the M.Ed.
Most of the resources of the entire University are available to both M.A. and M.Ed. students, however applicants should be aware that they may encounter difficulty if they attempt to register for 8000-level courses outside of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Students who later choose to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota will be able to apply all of their credits earned in a completed M.Ed. degree toward the doctoral degree but will not be able to use their M.Ed. degree to meet residency requirements. On the other hand, M.A. students typically earn four residency units. From a practical perspective, this difference appears to have minimal impact on students.
Contacts
For questions regarding the admissions process, admissions documents, or general information about the program contact:
Dr. Jeremy
Hernandez
Coordinator of graduate studies
Phone: 612-626-9377
Email: herna220@umn.edu
Specific questions regarding course content should be directed to:
Dr. Brad Greiman
Associate Professor
Office: 146J Ruttan Hall
Phone: 612-624-5644
Email: bgreiman@umn.edu
Dr. James G. Leising
Professor
Office: 146C Ruttan Hall
Email: jleising@umn.edu
Revised April 2012