Degree – Master of Science in Agriculture, MS
Concentration: Agricultural Extension Education

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Extension Education is offered in an online format. It is designed to accommodate the demands and needs of students and potential employers in the field of agriculture. The online program equips students with knowledge about contemporary aspects of U.S. agricultural education and positions in agriculture-related industries.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze contemporary aspects of U. S. agricultural education
  • Gain admission into doctoral programs
  • Design curricula and impact knowledge on future generations
  • Apply knowledge and skills gained in administrative and professional positions in agricultural extension education and related industries

Admission Requirements:

Students applying for entrance to the Master of Science in Agriculture are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the department’s admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School. Official test scores must be submitted from Education Testing Service (ETS) and must not be older than five years, official transcripts from the sending school, and Credential Evaluations (International students) from an approved Credential Evaluation Service.

Standardized Test:

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is the official standardized test required for admission to the Master of Science in Agriculture. WAIVED

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Extension Education online program requires 33 credit hours of coursework and a non-thesis project for degree completion. Students complete 21 hours of required core credits and 12 hours of required electives.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Write an acceptable non-thesis proposal
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.

See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.

Academic Track: Non-Thesis

The Non-Thesis Research Project is an exit requirement for the Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Extension Education. This discipline has specific expectations for selection of topics and the type of non-thesis project. Students pursue independent research on a question or problem of their choice in the relevant disciplines under the guidance of a graduate faculty member. The Non-Thesis Plan is a smaller-scale research project that investigates a specific topic of interest or special problem not covered in organized courses. This non-thesis research project consists of three chapters.

Master Degree Audit:

Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.

Time to Degree Completion

Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the agricultural extension education program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.

See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements

Degree Plan and Course Sequence

Non-Thesis Plan
Core Courses (24 Hours)
AE 508 Rural Economics and Community Development
AG 610 Thesis I
AN 500 Administration of Agricultural Education
AN 506 Advanced Methods of Teaching
AN 511 Youth Organization and Program Management
AN 515 Advanced Principles of Teaching Agricultural Education
AN 601 Special Problems in Agriculture and Extension Management
PS 548 Advanced Soil Management

Approved Electives (9 Hours)

AE 520 Advanced Farm Organization and Management
AE 525 Advanced Agricultural Marketing
AN 510 Agricultural Education Media
AN 584 Advanced Occupational Information
AS 523 Advanced Animal Nutrition
AS 533 Physiology of Production
AS 564 Special Problems in Selected Topics
ED 512 Foundation of American Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
PH 504 Psychological Statistics
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology
PS 535 Advanced Soil Classification
PS 541 Agricultural Plant Pathology
PS 559 Advanced Soil Fertility
PS 590 Advanced Research Techniques
PS 601 Special Problems in Vegetables and Small Fruits

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Victor Njiti ▪ 601.877.6572 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Agriculture)