CORE AND SPECIALTY CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE DEGREE PROGRAM IN AGRICULTURAL AND EXTENSION EDUCATION (HIGHER)

The Problem. This study examined core and specialty requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree for a Department of Agricultural and Extension Education.;Major Findings. The following are the major findings of this study: (1) The agricultural and extension education programs should be designed to allow a second major in an agricultural science field. (2) Extension education majors should not be required to complete the same number of semester hours in education (28) as required for teacher certification. (3) Extension education majors should not be required to complete courses in secondary school teaching methods. (4) Vocational agriculture majors should have a choice of agricultural mechanization courses other than the 14 shop areas now required for teacher certification. (5) The core courses that should be completed with a grade "C" or better to be admitted to the agricultural and extension education programs are: (1) General Psychology; (2) Freshman English; (3) Speech; and (4) Junior English. (6) Extension education majors should be required to complete a minimum of 15 semester hours for an entry level position. (7) Directed field experience should be the same length of time and carry the same semester hour credit for vocational agriculture majors and extension education majors. (8) The Department of Agriculture and Extension Education at the University of Arkansas offers 7 courses of mutual value to both disciplines, 4 courses that should be offered only as vocational agriculture courses, and 4 courses that should be offered as extension education courses.;Methods and Procedures. A mail questionnaire was used to obtain data from a random sample of 100 Vocational Agriculture Teachers (84 percent return) and 100 County Extension Agents (92 percent return) employed in Arkansas. The survey instrument was designed with a Linkert scale and "yes" and "no" responses.