Master of Science in Career and Technical Education

The degree is structured to allow individuals to pursue a teaching or non-teaching course of study. The teaching component of this program is designed for the career advancement of individuals in career and technical programs at the high schools and technical schools in the areas of agriculture, human sciences, and industrial education/technology. The non-teaching component is to prepare technologists with advanced technical management skills who are capable of managing personnel training and facilities in technology-based organizations. The alternative component is designed primarily for persons who have completed undergraduate programs in agriculture, human sciences, and industrial technology.

Admission Requirements

  1. Satisfy University admission requirements.
  2. Satisfy one of the following:
    1. A minimum score of 700 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE and a minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA in major field.
    2. GRE (verbal & quantitative) X GPA = 2100.

Requirements for the Degree

  1. Satisfy admission requirements.
  2. Successfully complete and defend a thesis or pass both a written and oral comprehensive exit examination.
  3. Must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
  4. Must be unconditionally admitted.
  5. Complete the required course work in the three components as follows:

 

Sem. Hrs.

A. Core Courses

12

AGR 600, IET 600 - Impact of Technology

3

AGR 603, IET 603 - Quality Assurance in Science & Tech

3

CTE 630 - Evaluation Techniques

3

CTE 660 - Trends and Issues in Career/Technical Education

3

CTE 685 - Principles and Philosophy of Career/Technical Education

3

CTE 698 - Career and Vocational Guidance

3

Graduate students who pursue a non-teaching option must complete the courses, AGR-IET 600 and AGR-IET 603. Students who pursue a teaching option must take CTE 630, 660, 685, and 698.

B. Technical Concentration

9

Students interested primarily in agriculture, human sciences, or industrial technology will be allowed to take all courses in the departments of their choices, subject to the approval of their advisors.

C. Approved Research or Electives

9

Students must elect to take six hours of thesis (699), with three hours of approved electives or three hours of directed research (670) or directed study (676) and six hours of approved electives. Students shall not take more than a total of six hours of either directed research (670) or directed study (676) in the program.

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED

30

The interdisciplinary nature of this degree program necessitates the following operational procedure: The student's graduate committee will consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty with the major advisor acting as committee chair. The two other committee members (chosen by the student) will represent the technical and elective areas. Should the student elect to conduct a thesis research, the chair will serve as the thesis advisor.

Student Competencies

  1. Knowledge of the development, objectives, philosophy, and administration of career and technical education.
  2. The ability to analyze and understand the correct trends and status of career and technical education.
  3. An understanding of the importance of work and the career planning process.
  4. An understanding of guidelines for selection and use of various tests to help individuals understand career options that fit their personality and skill.
  5. An awareness of the role parents, teachers, and guidance counselors play in guiding a student through the career planning process.
  6. Knowledge of legislative funding in programs and projects in career and entrepreneurship education.
  7. An understanding of planning and evaluating career and technical education within the local school system and the ramifications for KERA.
  8. The ability to aid in development of those attitudes, understandings, and abilities which will lead to proficiency in teaching career and technical education.
  9. The ability to understand the principles of and the knowledge and skill necessary to understand and implement technical preparation education.
  10. The ability to recognize different types of data derived from an examination and to measure and evaluate individual student performance.
  11. The ability to develop tests containing the four characteristics of a good evaluation instrument.
  12. The ability to manage personnel training and facilities in educational and industrial organizations.

Non-Teaching Competencies

  1. Apply technical-management functions in business, industry, education and government.
  2. Apply theories, concepts, and principles of related disciplines to develop communication skills required for technical-trainers.
  3. Apply scientific and technological concepts to solving technological problems.
  4. Apply concepts and skills developed in a variety of technical and professional disciplines including materials properties and production processes, and quality control to conduct empirical research in order to improve the production processes and techniques.

Assessment Procedures

  1. Students are required to complete a thesis or to pass both an oral and written exit examination (passing grade for written examination = 70 percent).
  2. Students must complete the required course work with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0.

Up one level:

Department of Industrial & Engineering Technology