Griffin Campus: Academic Programs

Programs of Study

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication Master of Agricultural Leadership Degree Program

General Information

The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication (ALEC) at The University of Georgia offers this innovative program to individuals interested in completing a master’s degree via videoconferencing and Web based instruction. Included on this site are key features and requirements.

Key Features :

Master of Agricultural Leadership degree is approximately a two-year program
Courses will be offered using GSAMS, Web delivery, and/or by using other innovative teaching methods
The degree is designed primarily for practicing agriculture teachers and county extension agents; however, any Georgia educator holding a T-4 certification will qualify for the T-5 certification upon completion of the MAL degree.
Two fifteen-week courses will be completed in the spring and fall semesters with two eight week courses held each summer
Individual advisor in your area of specialization

Basic Requirements :

Commitment to improving yourself as a professional
Commitment to complete the entire program
One on-campus meeting at the beginning of the program
One on-campus meeting at the completion of the program
Admittance into the Master of Agricultural Leadership graduate program
Reliable Internet access
Reliable access to a computer system meeting the ALEC @ UGA computing requirements

If you should have additional questions about this program, please contact the Academic Affairs Office at 770-412-4400 or email griffin at uga.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Master of Agricultural Leadership Degree Program?
This is a graduate program specifically designed to meet the needs of practicing county extension agents and middle/high school agriculture teachers, especially those outside of the Athens area. The course schedule and content are tailored to best meet the instructional and scheduling needs of busy practicing educators. At the completion of the program, individuals will earn a Master of Agricultural Leadership degree from the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication at The University of Georgia.

Who can participate in this graduate program?
Individuals who are currently employed as either an agriculture teacher or as a county extension agent are given first priority to participate in this program.

How long is the program?
The program will take approximately two years to complete. Two fifteen-week courses will be completed in the spring and fall semesters with two eight-week courses held each summer.

Does this program require a thesis?
Students have the option of a completing a thesis or a portfolio. All students will be asked to develop and submit a research project; students will work closely with their advisors on the development and approval of this project. The thesis option is the continuation of the research project that culminates in a thesis paper at the end of the two year period. The portfolio option is a collection of your best work from various classes in this program and is also due at the end of the program. During the final semester, you will take a written final exam that reflects the coursework contained within the program.

Who will be my academic advisor?
When you are admitted to the program, you will be assigned an advisor. First preference is to match county extension agents with department extension faculty and to likewise match agriculture teachers with one of the agricultural education faculty as their advisor. Due to faculty numbers it is not guaranteed that your advisor will be from your respective discipline. You will be notified of your advisor in your acceptance letter. It is important that you contact your advisor soon after receiving notification of your acceptance.

What are the admission requirements?
Minimum requirements for admission to the program are set by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies. There is no guaranteed acceptance or rejection criterion to this program; the final decision regarding acceptance is at the discretion of the graduate faculty. The ALEC department also requires three letters of recommendation and a Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose is a letter written to explain the reasons you would like to enter our graduate program.

If you have not recently taken the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), it is recommended that you register to take the exam as soon as possible. The exam is offered several times each week at various sites throughout the state at: http://www.gre.org.

How do I apply?

Complete the on-line graduate application form which is available at http://www.applyweb.com/apply/ugg/. Applicants should submit all required application materials one month prior to the published Graduate School deadline for the semester which they wish to begin the program.

Will I need to travel to Griffin, Tifton or Athens?
Participants will only be required to travel to either the Griffin campus, Tifton campus or Athens campus twice. There will be an orientation session held at the beginning of each cohort group in August. During this session you will be able to meet the ALEC faculty and access various resources that you will use during the program. At the completion of the program, all participants in a cohort will meet again at the Athens campus to present their final projects and attend a program culminating activity.

What is WebCT?
WebCT ("Web Course Tools") is a course management system, which facilitates the creation of web-based educational environments. It does this in two ways:

It provides a set of educational tools to facilitate learning, communication, and collaboration
It provides a set of administrative tools to assist the instructor in the process of management and continuous improvement of the course

What is HorizonWimba?
HorizonWimba allows students and instructors to meet in "virtual space" for an interactive online conference call using the computer. PowerPoint slides and other content can be pushed out to students while the instructor leads the class in a discussion of the content. This interaction happens in real time and is intended to be a supplement to the WebCT material.

What are the computer requirements for this program?
Since many of the courses in the program will be taught entirely on-line, having reliable Internet service is critical. Students must also have reliable access to a computer system meeting the ALEC @ UGA requirements. All courses will require access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software programs. QuickTime and any software/hardware associated with the use of HorizonWimba at UGA will also be required. Technology difficulties are not an acceptable reason for failure to complete assignments in a timely manner.

How often will each course meet?
Most courses within the program will not have a set meeting time. The courses will be broken into various lessons or modules. In most cases you will have one week to complete the readings and assignments contained within each lesson. The amount of time this will take varies greatly between individuals. On average, each lesson is designed to take 5-10 hours to complete. Some classes will utilize HorizonWimba and/or GSAMS which will require a set meeting time in order to conduct in class discussions.

How much does this program cost?
This program follows the same tuition and fee schedule as other graduate courses at The
University of Georgia for Georgia residents.

Sample Course Schedule

Master of Agricultural Leadership Program

Fall Semester Year 1
ALDR 7350 Ag Organizational Group Development - 3 hours
ALDR 7500 Issues in Ag Environmental Sciences - 3 hours

Spring Semester Year 1
ALDR 7200 Foundations of Agricultural Leadership - 3 hours
FDST 7010/7010D Food Formulation and Preservation - 3 hours

Summer Semester Year 1
ALDR 7070 Planning in Agricultural Leadership - 3 hours
ALDR 7400 Communication in Ag. Env. Science - 3 hours

Fall Semester Year 2
ALDR 7080 Ag & Extension Administration - 3 hours
ALDR 7100 Ag Leadership Directed Study (Non-thesis research project) - 3 hours

Spring Semester Year 2
ERSH 6300 Applied Statistical Methods in Education - 3 hours
ALDR 7700 International Ag Development - 3 hours

Summer Semester Year 2
ALDR 7020 Program Evaluation - 3 hours
ALDR 7040 Agricultural Youth Groups - 3 hours

Final Written Exam
If seeking teaching certification in conjunction with the MAL degree, substitute EAGR 6350 for ALDR 7040 and substitute EAGR 6360 for ALDR 7020.

Electives
EAGR 6350 Curriculum Planning in Agricultural Education - 3 hours
EAGR 6360 Instructional Strategies in Agricultural Education - 3 hours

Total Program: 36 credit hours

Registration Procedures

Statement of Purpose
Our department requires that each applicant to the graduate program complete a Statement of Purpose. This statement should include 1) why you want to pursue this master’s degree program and 2) why you are well positioned to successfully pursue this master degree program. The Statement of Purpose gives us a better understanding of you as a student and what your intentions are after you would receive your master’s degree.

Letters of recommendation
The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication requires three letters of recommendation regarding the applicant’s academic ability and potential as a graduate student. These letters are carefully considered during the evaluation of applicants for graduate study. All letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Master of Agricultural Leadership Program Coordinator in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication.

Graduate School Application
The graduate school application is available at: http://www.applyweb.com/apply/ugg/.

Transcripts
All applicants must submit a complete official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate work to The University of Georgia Registrar. Transcripts from course work completed at The University of Georgia are not required. Official supplementary transcripts are required as soon as they are available for any work completed after application for admission has been made.

Minimum admission requirements
Minimum requirements for admission to the program are set by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies. There is no guaranteed acceptance or rejection criterion to this program; the final decision regarding acceptance is at the discretion of the graduate faculty. Our department also requires three letters of recommendation and a Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose is a letter written to explain the reasons you would like to enter our graduate program.

You can find a local GRE administration site by visiting http://www.gre.org. It is highly
recommended that interested individuals obtain practice materials prior to taking the GRE. These materials may be purchased from ETS or most bookstores. Copies are also available free of charge at most local libraries. It is recommended that individuals select study materials that include an interactive CD-ROM containing practice exams to help best prepare for the GRE.

Evaluation of applications for graduate study
Applicants must submit all required application materials one month prior to the published Graduate School deadline for the semester which they wish to begin the program. All completed applications are referred to the Graduate School by the Admissions Office, then to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and finally to the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication. The Master of Agricultural Leadership Degree committee then reviews each application and develops a recommended list of individuals . This list is then forwarded to the Graduate Programs Committee in the department. The Graduate Programs Committee then votes on the admission status of each individual recommended. One of three courses of action is taken: (1) direct admission, (2) conditional admission, or (3) denial of admission.

Direct admission
Applicants with acceptable academic qualifications, favorable letters of recommendation ,
and who show potential for success as a graduate student will be recommended for direct admission.

Conditional admission
Students may be given conditional admission in the Graduate School if any elements of the application packet fall below the standards established for direct admission. Such students will be notified by the Graduate School of the special conditions under which they have been admitted. When these conditions have been satisfied, the Graduate School will notify the student in writing and send a copy of such notification to the Department. Approved graduate course work taken while the student is under conditional status will apply toward the graduate degree.

Denial of admission
Students who are denied admission will be contacted via letter by the Program Coordinator.