New Courses

Summer 2008 Graduate Courses
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education

The Department of Agricultural and Extension Education is offering the following graduate level courses Summer 2008. These courses are offered from June 16 to July 3, 2008, using a one course in one-week format.

The courses and time of offerings were based on a recent survey of agriculture teachers, extension educators, and FCS teachers. Interested individuals can obtain registration and enrollment information through Continuing Education or by calling 814-865-3443.

Visit the AEE Graduate Web page for information relative to graduate degrees offered in Agricultural and Extension Education. Contact Dr. Joan Thomson, AEE Graduate Coordinator, or call 814-863-3825.

All classes meet from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 005 Ferguson Building
(Except AEE 521 which will meet on Sunday, June 29, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. due to the
July 4, 2008 Holiday.)

Summer 2008 Course Description

AEE 515 Engagement Through Outreach Scholarship in Higher Education (3)

Through this course, students will develop an understanding of outreach scholarship as a non-formal educational system and its relationship to relevant domestic and international social systems. Students will explore the historical and legislative history of how higher education evolved. Drawing from both contemporary as well as historical resources, students will understand the "land-grant" philosophy and outreach scholarship in higher education in order to define an engaged university. Using their definitions, students then critique outreach scholarship as it is carried out through specific institutions of higher education, both in the United States and around the world. Alternative institutional missions, organizational policies and procedures as well as organizational structures and financial arrangements will be explored to demonstrate how distinct approaches to outreach scholarship evolve and their perceived value within an institution. Within this framework, students explore today's definition for scholarship and appropriate standards for scholarly performance through outreach. Case studies, interviews, and guest lectures supplement the current and historical literature. Students carry out individual capstone projects in order to allow each of them to synthesize course content in terms of their own professional interests within an engaged university.

Given the visibility of outreach scholarship in higher education today and the fluidity of its definition, implementation, and perceived value within institutions, this course reflects contemporary thought in addition to its historical underpinnings.

YFE 550 Program Development and Evaluation in Youth, Families and Communities (3)

This is a graduate level course in program development and evaluation. It examines the importance of the integral relationships between program evaluation and program development. Prior courses in program design and research methods and statistics are suggested. Students examine various program development and planning approaches used in formal and non-formal settings. The course is designed to provide students with the skills and expertise to plan, implement, and evaluate youth, families and community programs. Enrollees in this course will study various program evaluation models and theories and thus gain a conceptual overview of the theory and practice of program evaluation. Examples of program evaluations completed are also shared and discussed for a better understanding of the implementation processes involved in evaluating educational programs. Students will formulate programming recommendations based on evidence gathered and discuss how to integrate evaluation results into the decision making process. In addition to tests, critiques, and case studies, students individually or on group basis will select an educational or social program and develop a detailed evaluation plan for that program. Evaluation of student outcomes are assessed using both objective and subjective measures such as tests, critiques, case studies, writing of evaluation plans, group projects and presentations and classroom discussion. The course is being offered every spring semester.

AEE 521 Basic Applied Data Analysis in Agricultural and Extension Education (1-4)

Continuation of AEE 520; emphasis upon statistical techniques for students' individual problems.