Program Overview

Master of Extension Education

The Master of Extension Education features a multi-disciplinary program with core courses focused on principles of Extension in needs assessment, program development, evaluation, and social science research methodology as well as a suite of supportive elective courses in a variety of Extension specialty areas. Graduates with Extension education experiences are prepared for dynamic careers in secondary and post-secondary education, non-profits, government, and leadership roles in enterprise.

General Information

• About
• Faculty

About

The Master of Extension Education offers a thesis and non-thesis option.

• Thesis Option: For the thesis option, 6 credit hours must be in AGST 799, "Master’s Thesis Research." The thesis should be completed towards the end of the student's coursework. The thesis must be approved by the Thesis Examining Committee, which consists of three members of the graduate faculty. The chair of the committee should be the student’s thesis advisor.
• Non-Thesis Option: For the non-thesis option, a minimum of 6 credit hours must be from courses numbered 600 and above. Instead of a thesis, students should submit one professional article in publication-ready format or present an individually created research-based creative component (curricula, professional training design, learning media product, etc.) to the Non-Thesis Review Committee, which consists of three members of the graduate faculty. The chair of the committee should be the student’s advisor.

Master of Extension Education Core Courses

Faculty

The following faculty members have committed to advising students in the Master's of Extension Education Program:

• Alex Chan, Ph.D., LMFT: Family & Consumer Science Specialist
• Diana Cochran, Ph.D.: Assistant Clinical Professor, Horticulture
• Anna Mae Glenn: 4-H Agent, Frederick County
• Nicole Fiorellino, Ph.D.: Assistant Professor & Extension Agent Specialist, Agronomic Crop Production
• Darren Jarboe: Assistant Director & Principal Extension Agent, Agribusiness Management
• Andrew Kness: Senior Extension Agent, Agronomy
• Neith Little: Extension Agent, Urban Agriculture
• Luke Macaulay, Ph.D.: Extension Agent Specialist, Wildlife Resources
• Kurt Vollmer: Extension Agent Specialist, Weed Management
• Xuan Wei, Ph.D.: Extension Specialist, Urban Farm and Agribusiness Management

Prospective Students

• Admission Requirements
• Admission FAQs

Admission Requirements

• General Requirements: Statement of Purpose, Transcript(s), TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
• Program-Specific Requirements: Letters of Recommendation (3), CV/Resume, Supplementary Application, Writing Samples (2 required), Description of Research/Work Experience (optional), Portfolio PDF Upload (optional)

Admission FAQs

Topics discussed in the admission FAQs include:

• Overview
• Required Courses
• Thesis vs Non-thesis option
• Elective Courses
• DC Consortium availability
• Transfer Credits
• Contact

Current Students

• Course Registration & Advising
• Deadlines
• Forms

Course Registration & Advising

• Mentoring: For more information on mentoring, please see the Statement of Mutual Expectations for Mentoring document.
• Program Timeline: Depending on the student's line of study, use the timeline that is appropriate for your program line of study.
• Course Advising: Each semester, please meet with your faculty advisor to go over advising for coursework requirements.

Deadlines

• Graduate School Information and Deadlines: Deadlines for admissions, class registration, fellowship and award, thesis, dissertation, and graduation can be found on the Graduate School's website.
• University academic deadlines (drop/add, credit level changes, withdrawal, etc.) can be found on the Office of the Registrar's Academic Deadlines page.

Forms

• Graduate School Forms
• AEED Forms: IMPORTANT: The Adobe Sign system will ask for faculty names and UMD emails once you have submitted the initial part of the form. You must list the names in the exact order you put them initially. Suggestion: Take a screenshot each step to make sure it lines up.
  • AEED Plan of Study (File submitted prior to advising session with your advisor each semester)
  • Appointment of Advisory Committee (File submitted after completing first semester, update as needed)
  • Thesis/Final Project Update Form (File submitted after completing first semester, update as needed)