Master of Agriculture – Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Agriculture – Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration

Advance your career in agriculture with the fully online, 30-credit hour, non-thesis Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Agricultural and Extension Education (MAGAEE) from Mississippi State University. This graduate program is designed for professionals who want to lead, educate, and make a lasting impact in agricultural communities.

Program Highlights

The Agricultural and Extension Education concentration prepares students to:

Design and deliver formal and non-formal educational programs tailored to the needs of agricultural stakeholders
Apply research-based evaluation methods to improve programs continuously
Communicate agricultural knowledge effectively to diverse audiences
Strengthen leadership and communication skills essential for careers in education, extension, and outreach

Students also deepen their expertise in agricultural science while gaining the tools to educate and lead in today’s evolving agricultural landscape.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Is This Program Right for You?

This program is a great fit for professionals who are passionate about the human side of agriculture—those who want to teach, mentor, and support agricultural development in schools, communities, and organizations.

100% Online – Complete all coursework from anywhere in Mississippi or across the country
Flexible Schedule – Courses are delivered asynchronously to accommodate work and life schedules
Affordable Tuition – All online students pay in-state tuition, no matter where you live

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the MAGAEE program are prepared for leadership and education-focused roles within agriculture, including:

Extension Agent or Specialist
Agricultural Education Instructor
Agricultural Program Coordinator
Agricultural Communications Specialist
Community Development Specialist

Program Structure – 100% Online Agriculture Degree

The Master of Agriculture – Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration is a fully online, 30-credit hour program designed for working professionals in the agriculture industry who want to lead, educate, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Flexible Pace: Complete 10 courses (3 credit hours each), including core courses and electives. Study full-time or part-time to fit your schedule.
Course Requirements:
- 18 credit hours in Agricultural and Extension Education concentration courses
- 12 credit hours of advisor-approved electives tailored to your interests and career goals
Scholarly Project: In your final semesters, you’ll complete a scholarly project aligned with your professional goals and area of study. This applied project is designed to help you demonstrate your knowledge and contribute to your field.
Comprehensive Exam: Upon completing all coursework, students must successfully defend their scholarly project and pass a comprehensive oral exam to earn the degree.

Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration Courses

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
AELC 8100	Creative Component	3
AELC 8203	Advanced Communications	3
AELC 8243 Administration and Supervision OR AELC 8413 Methods of Planned Change		3
AELC 8503 Program Planning and Development in AEE OR AELC 8153 Curriculum Development in Agricultural Education		3
AELC 8593	Historical Foundations of AEE	3
AELC 8703	Evaluation of Agriculture and Extension Education	3
Advisor approved electives		12
Total Hours:		30

Admissions – Online Master of Agriculture (MAGAEE)

Ready to advance your education with a flexible, fully online master’s degree in agriculture? Follow the steps below to apply for the Master of Agriculture – Agricultural and Extension Education Concentration at Mississippi State University.

Admissions Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree: Must be from a fully accredited four-year institution.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last four semesters of undergraduate coursework.
No GRE Required – The GRE is not required for admission to this program.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester – August 1
Spring Semester – December 1
Summer Semester – May 15

Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Students seeking full admission into the Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Agricultural and Extension Education program should apply as a classified student.

Submit online application. You will choose Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Agricultural and Extension Education as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online program should apply as an Unclassified student.

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

*If a student doesn't meet all admission criteria, their application may still be considered based on the strength of other submitted materials.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.