Online Schooling to Become an Agriculture Science Teacher: What's Required?

Teachers of agricultural science are in great demand today. Without people who are interested in agriculture, our country will not be able to sustain its people. In order to compensate for this career growth, several online course options have been developed to assist those interested in filling this demand.

Requirements for Teaching Agriculture

A teaching degree, no matter what kind, requires at least a four-year degree in education. Many colleges have developed ways for agriculture and horticulture professionals to become teachers within these topics. These online courses incorporate the classes these professionals have already taken to earn their respective degrees and add the classes needed to become teachers. There are two main reasons online programs like these have become popular. The first is because of a shortage of agriculture teachers worldwide. The second is the uncertainty of the job market. People who have an interest in teaching agriculture may find this as a solution to their career dilemma.

Associate Degrees into Agriculture Education

Associate degrees in landscaping-related, horticulture-related and agriculture-related fields can become bachelor of science degrees in teaching with the help of some programs offered by accredited colleges across the country. The idea is to use the 65 to 72 credits these professionals have already earned and apply them to a bachelor's degree. The required credits that remain apply generally to learning how to teach.
Programs of this type prepare teachers for middle school and high school level teaching. This can usually be accomplished in two years when attending full time. Sample classes required would include speech fundamentals, biological science, general psychology, humanities classes and personal health. These programs were developed to provide the maximum convenience. The one required aspect of this course which is not online is the 12-week student teaching requirement for licensure. This can be completed at any school in any city.

Licensure in Education for Agricultural Professionals

These programs are designed to assist professionals in agriculture or natural resource-related fields to become certified teachers. Applicants to this type of course are required to have a bachelor's degree in some kind of agriculture field. General application rules include at least a 2.5 GPA on all other college level courses taken, three letters of recommendation attesting to the student's character and an essay describing why the student wants to be a teacher.
An example of classes include youth organization management, occupational experience, principles of program planning and educational psychology. Most schools and states also require an internship under a certified agriculture teacher for teacher certification. Programs of this kind have become common due to the fact that agriculture science teachers have become scarce. This gives professionals in the fields of horticulture and agriculture an opportunity to share their knowledge with the next generation and it gives the next generation a chance to learn from those who have hands-on experience.

Master of Agriculture Program for Working Professionals

Similar to the programs mentioned above, these programs also take professionals in agriculture and train them to be teachers. The difference is these programs will provide the student with a master's degree in agriculture education. These programs are designed for professionals who are interested in entering the teaching profession or for those who are wishing to advance their teaching career. This online program can be adjusted to fit the student's needs. Requirements for admission are generally a 3.0 GPA in all college level classwork and a statement of why the student wants a master's degree. Different from the program above, the student can proceed at their own rate with completion not exceeding 10 years time. These type of teacher education programs work well for those who need to keep their current job while furthering their education. Some sample class topics include research and seminar, history foundations and theory, grant-seeking, problems in agriculture education and theory and practice in agriculture.