PREPARATION OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO WORK WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS

Abstract

This study investigated how agricultural education programs prepare teacher education students for work in diverse situations. It assessed the extent to which agricultural education programs are infusing diversity, multiculturalism, and pluralism into their curriculum as courses, field experiences, and in-service for current teachers. This census study included all universities with an agricultural education program as identified in the 2005 Directory of Agricultural Education on the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) website. The instrument was web based and was accessed by 57 program leaders. The program leaders indicated their agricultural education programs provided students with instruction on diversity through required courses, optional courses, or infusion of these topics into agricultural education courses. Results showed that students are involved in early field experiences and student teaching in settings where agricultural education undergraduates interact with people different from themselves. Coursework on diversity and in-service offerings for current teachers showed more mixed results.