Technical Agriculture Courses and Course Content Required for Undergraduate Degree Completion in Agricultural Education: A Historical Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v66i2.2908Keywords:
Teacher Preparation, Agriculture Career Pathways, School-Based Agricultrual EducationAbstract
Teachers must possess a deep understanding of subject matter to effectively teach content. Historically, Agricultural Education degrees were technical agriculture degrees with a specialization in education. Degrees consisted of one-third technical content, with an additional one-third of the coursework in integrative studies, where students incorporated professional coursework with technical agricultural content. Analysis of the number of technical agriculture courses needed for degree completion in Agricultural Education teacher preparation has been done sparingly, and typically focused on only one particular agricultural career and content pathway. The purpose of this study was to explore the technical agriculture content course requirements at Agricultural Education teacher preparation institutions from 1980 to 2020, specifically the content and scope of these courses. Historical research methods were used to achieve the purpose of this study. From 1980 to 2020, the average total course credit hours in technical agriculture content courses had declined. Researchers examined six career and content pathways and found a negative trend in the number of courses required from 1980 to 2020. Required courses have decreased between 0.63 courses to 1.83 courses (approximately two – six credit hours) in the past 40 years. With technical agriculture courses being removed from degree requirements, researchers recommend further inquiry in teachers’ needs for additional curriculum and content focused on specific agriculture sectors is a byproduct of these programmatic changes.
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