The Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication focuses on the scholarship of learning and communication in the context of agriculture, food, and natural resources. Our faculty are experienced mentors and social scientists with diverse disciplinary backgrounds and research expertise.

Our department offers undergraduate majors in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Communication as well as an interdisciplinary graduate program and graduate certificate. We value sound scholarship, creativity, and cultural diversity in our students, staff, and faculty.

Our department maintains strong ties with Purdue University’s College of Education and Brian Lamb School of Communication, as well as Purdue Extension and academic units across the College of Agriculture.

Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication is also an affiliate of Purdue’s Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Program.

Faculty in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication are experienced mentors and social scientists with diverse disciplinary backgrounds and expertise. They advance new knowledge and develop innovative strategies for learning and communication in the context of agriculture, food, natural resources, and science. Graduate students work closely with a faculty member of their choosing to select courses, plan their research, and achieve their career goals.

Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication offers master's and doctoral degrees, as well as a graduate certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication.

MASTER'S DEGREE (M.S.)

The master's degree in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication strikes a balance between theory and practice — students sharpen professional skills to solve problems in social sciences by conducting research in their fields of study. With guidance from a major professor, students develop a customized program of study that addresses their career goals.

Master’s programs include course work in social science theory, research methods, and disciplinary foundations in learning and communication. Students can build in-depth expertise through one of the department’s three specializations:

1. Agricultural and Extension Education
2. Agricultural and Science Communication
3. STEM Learning Systems

Full-time students usually complete our 33-credit master’s degree in two years. Students funded by assistantships or fellowships are expected to complete a thesis.

Additional details, including a potential course list, are provided in our Graduate Handbook.

DOCTORAL DEGREE (PH.D.)

Students earning a doctoral degree in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication develop a firm foundation in social science theory and research methods to design and carry out cutting-edge scholarship in their field of study. Doctoral degree programs develop interdisciplinary expertise under the guidance of a major professor and advisory committee that the student selects.

Additional expertise may be developed through one of the department’s three specializations:

1. Agricultural and Extension Education
2. Agricultural and Science Communication
3. STEM Learning Systems

Doctoral students apply their disciplinary knowledge and research skills to develop a dissertation that contributes to the scholarly literature and moves the field forward.

The doctoral degree requires 90 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree. Up to 30 credits from the master’s degree may be applied toward the total. Full-time students typically complete the doctoral degree in three to four years beyond the master’s degree.

Additional details, including a potential course list, are provided in our Graduate Handbook.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND COMMUNICATION

The Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication is available to students with majors outside of ASEC.

The 9-credit program develops knowledge and skills in education and communication in the context of agriculture, food, and natural resources. Expertise developed through the program complements science training students receive in their graduate degree programs.

Find additional details about the Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication.

The graduate program in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication prepares future professionals who have an impact in a broad range of careers in industry, agribusiness, higher education, government, and non-governmental organizations, including:

• Agricultural entrepreneurship
• College and university teaching
• Curriculum development
• Government and public service
• Higher education administration
• Informal and extension education
• Journalism
• Lobbying
  Marketing and public relations
• Organizational management
• Policy development
• Program management
• Project evaluation
• Science writing and communication
• Social science research
• Youth development

Our graduate students participate in a variety of experiences that prepare them for professional careers, connect them with research communities in their disciplines, and build friendships for a lifetime.

Our graduates are successful professionals and scholars who are making an impact in Indiana, the nation, and the world. Some of our distinguished alumni have been recognized for their contributions to their professions.

ASEC PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

SCHOLARLY CONFERENCES

ASEC graduate students develop professional networks and share innovative ideas and research through scholarly conferences, including:

• Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS)
• American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE)
• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• Public Communication of Science and Technology Network (PCST)
• Association for Career and Technical Education Research (ACTER)
• Association for Communication Excellence (ACE)
• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
• International Environmental Communication Association (IECA)
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
• North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)
• Rural Sociological Society (RSS)
• Other professional societies in engineering education, agricultural and biological engineering, and life sciences

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

Graduate students can develop teaching skills in various subject areas (such as communicating controversial science) and in informal and formal education venues, including 4-H/FFA career development events, the Indiana State Fair, precollege camps, and Purdue PK-12 programs.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Our graduate students develop common bonds through travel, study, and participation in the ASEC Graduate Student Organization (GSO). The ASEC GSO is a student-led group that participates in the Purdue Graduate Senate, intramural activities, social networking, and student governance in the department and college. Graduate students can develop leadership skills through various leadership positions.

Graduate Degrees (Master’s and Ph.D.)

Application instructions specific to ASEC’s master’s and Ph.D. programs are available from the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars. Additional information (including application instructions) that applies to all Purdue graduate programs is provided on the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars website.

You must create a free account to apply for a Purdue graduate program. When applying, select the Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication program.

Required supporting documents for your application include:

• Online application form
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Official transcripts
• GRE scores
• Approved English proficiency test scores (for international students)
• Academic statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal history statement

In addition to these documents, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average (on a 4.0 scale) from their most recently conferred undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree. Applications are due by November 15.

Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication

The Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication is a 9-credit post-baccalaureate certificate for students who are admitted to a Purdue University degree program outside of the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication. Details, including courses and fees, are available on the certificate website.

While it is the student’s responsibility to secure funding, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication regularly provides assistance. Graduate students may pay their own tuition and fees. Those seeking financial assistance can explore three main sources:

1. Fellowships
2. Assistantship
3. Scholarships

To receive maximum consideration for all forms of funding, please submit your complete application by the November 15 deadline. Visit Purdue’s Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars for more information about student funding resources.

FELLOWSHIPS

Fellowships are used to recruit highly competitive graduate students who wish to pursue doctoral study. Graduate students who are admitted can be nominated by the department and are selected by the college through a competitive process. Fellowships typically include a tuition waiver and pay graduate students a bi-weekly stipend. Students who are selected for a fellowship typically receive funding for up to four years.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

Graduate assistantships are common for resident graduate students. Graduate students should work closely with their major professors to explore opportunities. Graduate assistantships in ASEC are typically funded by external grants and other sources.

Students with assistantships typically work 20 hours per week and receive bi-weekly pay, health insurance, and paid tuition. The student pays University fees of about $750-$1,200 per year. Graduate assistants are considered graduate staff of Purdue University and receive a salary that is considered payment for services. Students may receive a 12-month or an academic-year (9-month) appointment. Academic-year appointments are typically from August 15 to May 15.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Graduate students may be eligible for a variety of scholarships offered through ASEC, the Graduate School, or other sources. Students should work closely with their major professors to explore opportunities.

Q1: What "homework" should I do before completing my graduate application?
Begin by thinking about your career goals and how a graduate degree will help you achieve those goals. You should compare at least two graduate programs to learn more about their similarities and differences. You should ask lots of questions to make an informed choice about the graduate program that's right for you. An important consideration is selecting a faculty member who will serve as your advisor. Review faculty profiles on department websites and then communicate directly with specific faculty to explore mutual interests.

Beyond that research, you’ll also want to prepare for the GRE. Many study resources are available to help you. Finally, identify individuals who can submit letters of recommendation for you.

Q2:Is the graduate program an online program?
The master’s and doctoral programs are residential programs. Some graduate courses are taught online. The Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Education, Extension, and Communication is 100 percent online.

Q3:  Can I visit the ASEC graduate program before I apply?
The graduate chair is glad to answer any of your questions via email, phone, or Zoom. You may also follow up directly with individual faculty and current students. If you would like to visit campus, please speak with the graduate chair to learn about available options.

Q4:  When should I apply?
Admission applications must be submitted by November 15 for admission the following fall.
Note: ASEC does not accept applications for the spring semester.

Q5:  What should I write in my statement of purpose?
The statement of purpose is a key component of your graduate application. Your statement should provide a sense of your motivation, goals, interests, and direction in pursuing a graduate degree. Your statement of purpose helps the graduate committee determine the right program fit and helps identify your prospective advisor.

Your statement should be approximately 500 words (about two double-spaced pages) and it should directly address your:

• Purpose for undertaking or continuing graduate study
• Reasons why you want to study at Purdue
• Research interests
• Professional plans
• Career goals

You may also wish to explain any special circumstances in your background and elaborate on any of your scholarly publications, awards, achievements, abilities, and/or professional history. The committee evaluates your statement of purpose for both content and quality of writing.

Q6:  Should my statement of purpose identify potential faculty with whom I would like to work?
You are encouraged, but not required, to mention any faculty whose work is most closely aligned with your research interests. It is important to articulate your career and research interests, even if you do not know who would be best to work with as your advisor.

Q7:  Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
You should ask three qualified individuals to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. Typically, these individuals should hold doctoral degrees and can accurately assess your competencies and potential to develop competencies as a successful graduate student. Professors who can accurately assess your academic performance and potential as a graduate student are excellent references.

Q8:  What does the graduate committee look for in an application? How can I know if I’ll be competitive?
The graduate committee considers the entire application as evidence and focuses on two global criteria:

1. Academic excellence — demonstrated through your transcripts, GRE scores, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation
2. Alignment of career and research interests with program — demonstrated through your statement of purpose, CV or resume, and letters of recommendation

A competitive graduate application will provide multiple sources of evidence that consistently support both academic excellence and program fit.

Q9:  Can ASEC provide funding? Can I get an assistantship?
Funding decisions are handled separately from admissions. Once admitted to the ASEC graduate program, students should work closely with their faculty advisors to identify and secure funding. While it is the student's responsibility to secure funding, ASEC can help provide information and strategies to find funding sources.

Assistantships are the most common source of financial support. Students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. may be eligible for fellowships. The graduate chair and committee determine if a doctoral applicant should be nominated for a fellowship.

Q10:  Do I qualify for a tuition waiver?
Typically, tuition is waived for students who have fellowships or are supported by at least a quarter-time graduate assistantship. Students on assistantships pay fees, which are around $750-$1,200 per year.

Q11:  How will I be notified if I have been admitted?
You will be notified of your admission status via email. If email is not possible, we will send a letter to the postal address listed on your graduate application. After you receive your offer, you must send a response in which you accept, decline, or defer your admission.

Q12:  How many graduate credits can I transfer into the ASEC graduate program?
Master’s degree students may transfer up to one-half of the graduate credits, if the student’s graduate committee approves. Doctoral degree students may contribute up to 30 graduate credits from their master's degree, if their graduate committee approves.

Q13:  Can I take a graduate course and then apply to a graduate degree program? What are the requirements to apply for non-degree status?
You may apply as a non-degree student and, if accepted, complete up to 12 graduate credits. Admission to non-degree status does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

To apply as a non-degree student, you must:

1. Complete the online application
2. Write a statement of purpose
3. Submit official transcripts to the department

GRE scores are not required for non-degree applications.

Q14:  What if I have additional questions?
Diane Greenberg, graduate program coordinator, is an excellent source for any questions you may have about the ASEC graduate program. She also can assist you with specific questions about completing your graduate application and checking the status of submitted applications.

You may reach the graduate chair or program coordinator by calling 765-494-8439.

Graduate Handbook 

ASEC 590 Contract 
Template for Establishing Agreement for 698/699 Credits 
ASEC Suggested Graduate Program Timelines 
Driver Authorization (RM01 Approval Process) 
Request for Travel Arrangements form. 
Concur Expense Report form 
Graduate Advisory Committee Report 
Annual Progress Review of ASEC Graduate Staff 

ASEC Defense Announcement form 

For more information, please contact:
Diane Greenberg
Graduate Program Coordinator