Agriculture Education
Frequently Asked Questions
teacher certification?
How many years of college will it take to become an AgEd Teacher?
UConn has two programs for students who are preparing to teach
Agricultural Education. Each of these programs is structured to allow you
to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Arts degree, and
complete requirements for the Initial Educator Teaching Certificate in five
years. Some students may take longer if they decide to complete extra
courses for UConn’s Additional Degree program. Students who complete
additional degree requirements earn a discipline/content area B.S
degree from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AgNR)
and an Agricultural Education B.S. degree from Neag School of Education
(NSoE).
Why can’t I find Agricultural Education on the Undergraduate
Admissions application?
Education/teacher certification programs at UConn are only offered to
undergraduates at the junior/senior level and to graduate students. You
will start your undergraduate education as a student in AgNR in order to
develop a solid content/subject area knowledge base for teaching AgEd.
You may select a specific discipline-specific major (Animal Science,
Horticulture, Natural Resources, Resource Economics, etc.) or choose
the interdisciplinary major titled “Agriculture and Natural Resources”. We
will help you select courses that will meet general education
requirements, courses required for your major, and prerequisite courses
for the teacher preparation/certification programs in NSoE.
What are the two programs for AgEd teacher preparation/certification
at UConn?
Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program (IB/M)
Years 1 & 2:
Students enroll in their undergraduate major of choice in AgNR
and complete general education requirements, courses for the major,
and prerequisites for NSoE. Students apply by January 15 of the
sophomore year to enter the NSoE at the start of their junior year.
Years 3 & 4:
Students are NSoE undergraduates, taking courses in education and in
agriculture. In addition to courses, students are also involved in K-12
school-based activities, including student teaching during the spring
semester of the senior year.
Some students remain enrolled in both AgNR and NSOE and complete
additional courses to earn two Bachelor of Science degrees – one from
NSoE in Agriculture Education and one from AgNR in their content area
major.
Year 5:
Students are NSoE graduate students. Most courses are in education;
one course may be taken in AgNR. Students obtain additional experience
in schools by developing and completing an inquiry project/internship
during the graduate year.
Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG)
Years 1-4:
Students are AgNR undergraduates and earn a Bachelor of Science
degree in an AgNR major.
Students apply in the fall of senior year (by December 1) to enter the
Neag School of Education as a graduate student.
Year 5:
TCPCG students start the school in the first summer session after
graduating in May. The TCPCG requires a twelve month, full time
commitment for two summer sessions and two full-time semesters.
Students complete courses and projects during the summer to prepare
for student teaching. Student teaching occurs during the Fall semester
and additional school-based experience continues into the Spring
semester. Course work and seminar interaction with other student
teachers is included in each semester.
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What kind of courses will I be taking in my subject area and in
education?
Both programs will include a combination of general education
requirements and subject/content area courses for the Bachelor of
Science degree(s). Education courses are the primary emphasis
during the Master of Arts year, but one to three courses in AgNR may be
possible. Sample course sequences are available on the Neag School of
Education website. Click here to view the sample course sequences.
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What is the difference between degree completion and teacher
certification?
The University of Connecticut awards the Bachelor of Science and Master
of Arts degrees to graduates who complete the requirements. The
Connecticut State Department of Education issues teaching certificates
to authorize qualified individuals to teach in schools. The Connecticut
State Department of Education issues Initial Educator Teaching
Certificates to graduates of IB/M program and TCPCG based on the
recommendation of the Neag School of Education at the University of
Connecticut.
Certification from one state does not guarantee eligibility to teach in
another state. Connecticut participates in the NASDTIC Interstate
Agreement for Facilitating Mobility of Educational Personnel. This
agreement outlines reciprocity and other agreements between states.
Click here to view the agreement.
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Do I have to take the Praxis exams?
Connecticut law requires that prospective teachers complete
assessments to assure they have essential academic and content area
skills. Praxis I assesses academic skills in reading, writing, and
mathematics. All IB/M and TCPCG applicants must take Praxis I unless
they qualify for a waiver based on SAT or ACT scores. Praxis II is used to
assess content area knowledge. At this time, AgEd does not require
Praxis II. Click here to view eligibility requirements for Praxis waivers.
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For more information on Agriculture Education at UConn, please contact:
Patricia Jepson, CANR Office of Academic Programs
Tel. 860-486-2919
Email: Patricia.Jepson@uconn.edu
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