Agricultural Education (Teacher Licensure)
*M.S. in Career and Technical Education
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Agricultural Education Program awards a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Career and Technical Education. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree in Argiculture or a closely related field with specific courses required by the Virginia Department of Education. For specific details, see the CTE Content Area Course Requirements Checklist, which you'll need to complete and submit with your application to our program.
You can earn a Virginia teaching license with an endorsement in Agricultural Education and a Master’s of Science degree in one year!
VIRGINIA TECH, A LAND GRANT INSTITUTION
Virginia Tech, established as a Land Grant institution, has a long history of excellence in both agricultural studies and teacher education and is a global catalyst for individual and social transformation through education, applied research, and advocacy. The university promotes interdisciplinary collaboration which allows Ag Ed students to benefit from agricultural scientists as well as from the expertise that faculty in non-Ag Ed fields offer, including educational psychology, science education, and pedagogy. The School of Education is renowned for preparing individuals to advance the goals of equity and social justice through education, applied research, advocacy, and research.
As an institution, Virginia Tech excels in developing knowledge through experience, discovering lasting solutions to complex problems across disciplines, and partnering to serve communities to develop and share knowledge that addresses real-world concerns.
Reimagining the future begins with practices that put educational excellence, innovation, and equity at the fore. At the Virginia Tech School of Education, you will develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to transform teaching and learning, conduct groundbreaking research, and engage with learning communities around the globe. Teacher candidates from historically underrepresented populations are especially encouraged to join and contribute to our learning community.
PREPARATION FOR ENDORSEMENT, AND FOR CAREER SUCCESS
Graduates of our Agricultural Education Program provide instruction, support, management, and leadership to facilitate success for all of their students. They also often manage and advise their school’s FFA chapter while fostering student leadership. Working with local businesses and in school laboratories, they provide supervised experience on farms, and in feeding centers, greenhouses, meats laboratories, and so much more.
Virginia Tech’s CTE programs have achieved a 100% placement rate for its graduates for the past 10 years!
WHAT YOU'LL STUDY
Students in the Agricultural Education Program will complete 48 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, field work, and internships. The coursework includes classes in Foundations of Career and Technical Education, Curriculum Development in CTE, Managing the CTE Program, Strategies for Teaching CTE, Advanced Curriculum Development & Program Management in CTE, Schooling in American Society, and Internship in Education.
For more information about the course sequencing, download this document.
COHORT MODEL
The Career and Technical Education Program uses a cohort model. Members of each cohort attend all of the same classes in the same sequence and pursue common plans of study. Cohorts are built including all areas of CTE together, so students will learn together with the colleagues they will work with in their schools.
The benefits of a cohort model are many. It is designed to facilitate social interaction, collaboration, and the formation of a supportive learning community.
Students in cohorts learn from and help each other with the successful completion of coursework and professional networking. They report a strong sense of community and are more likely to complete their programs of study in a timely manner.
Summer
- EDCI 5264: Comprehending Processes and Reading in the Content Areas
- EDEP 5154: Psychological Foundations of Education
- EDCT 5614: Curriculum in Career & Technical Education
- EDCT 5624: Managing Career & Technical Work Programs
Fall
- EDCT 5654: Strategies for Teaching Career & Technical Education
- EDCT 5784: Graduate Seminar: Student Assessment in Career & Technical Education
- EDCT 5964: Field Study OR ALS 5964: Field Work / Practicum
- ALCE 5044: Program and Curriculum Design in Agricultural and Extension Education
- * EDCI 5104: Schooling in American Society
- * EDCI 5554: Educating Exceptional Learners Across the Lifespan
Spring
- ALCE 3084: Agricultural Metal Fabrication
- ALCE 4754: ALCE Internship in Education (6 hrs.)
- EDCT 5684: Advanced Curriculum Development & Program Management in Career & Technical Education
- EDCT 5754: Internship in Education
- EDCT 5964: Field Studies in Education
* NOTE: EDCI 5104 and EDCI 5554 may be taken during senior year of undergraduate studies.
Course Descriptions
While employed in a business occupation, the student completes an In-depth study of the firm's policies, practices, and procedures. Under the supervision of the employer and a Career and Technical Education professor, focuses on various aspects of the business. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Focus on the history and development of career and technical education with emphasis on the philosophical bases of the field. The conduct and purposes of career and technical education under different philosophical orientations are compared. An overview of the organization and administration, the relationship of career and technical education to agencies both in and outside of education, and how economic conditions have impacted career and technical education are explored. Definition and development of a personal philosophy is required.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Provides prospective career and technical education teachers with research bases, resources, and available curricula for teaching content in their respective fields. Develops the ability to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate curricula. Pre-requisite: Graduate standing in the CTE degree program.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Responsibilities of the career abd technical education teacher regarding work-based program standards, student guidance, school and community relations, on-the-job training, youth organization sponsorship, work-based program coordination, and program management. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing Required
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Planning CTE courses and units of instruction to include industry competencies and academic standards of learning, performance objectives, and performance assessment. Pre: Graduate standing.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Focus on identifying the major instructional methods that are appropriate in career and technical education and identifying and resolving problems that emerge from these methods that can have a negative impact on the overall effectiveness of the teacher. Various methods to evaluate the teacher's instructional effectiveness are addressed. Graduate standing or two years of teaching experience required.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Integrative learning development in Career and Technical Education (CTE) through incorporation of classroom and extracurricular experiences. Strategies and best practice to ensure interdisciplinary CTE cultural relevance. Methods of facilitating teacher professional development. Student safety.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s): (EDCT 5614 OR EDCT 5634), EDCT 5624
Corequisite(s):
This course explores the major social, economic, and political issues and trends expected to have continuing impacts on career and technical education and the workforce. The current status and philosophies of career and technical education are evaluated relative to these changes. Alternative directions for the future are identified and analyzed, with emphasis on proactive rather than reactive strategies for educators.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s): EDCT 5604 (UG) OR EDCT 5604
Corequisite(s):
Student participation in a planned clinical experience under supervision of a university staff member in an appropriate work center. (Max 12C). Consent required.
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Problem-solving clinics for experienced career and technical education practitioners who are engaged part-time in graduate study while continuing in positions of leadership. Involves systemic analysis of current educational problems and evaluation of educational practice. (Max 12C).
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Selected topics in career and technical education related to curriculum development, special education, administration, research, and evaluation. (Max 6C per course)
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Research Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Independent Study Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online
Lecture Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Research Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Administrative structure of career and technical education at the local, state, and national levels, and in business and industry; leadership for administrative planning, facilities and support services management, personnel management, supervision of instruction, professional development, and assessment in career and technical education. Alternate years.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Study of the theory and application of evaluation to career and technical education. Major emphasis on the unique requirements of program, personnel and student evaluation as specified in Federal and State legislation and regulations. National and state evaluations of career and technical education are assessed.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
In depth treatment of the nature of policy and the policy-making process as they pertain to the workforce and to education, especially to career and technical education. Included are significant aspects of policy development at local, state, and federal levels; examination of the basic questions that are answered by policy decisions; appropriate organizations for formulation of policy; an examination of current policy pertaining to career and technical education at state and federal levels; and procedures for establishing policy.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s): EDCT 5604 (UG) OR EDCT 5604
Corequisite(s):
Critical review, presentation, and discussion of current literature, research, and national reports in designated areas of education. (6C max. credit allowed toward program of study) Consent required.
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19 Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19 Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Research Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):