Current Status of Preservice Teacher Education Programs In Agriculture

Preservice teacher education programs in agricultural education are administered in Colleges of Agriculture. The average preservice agricultural education program has 41 teaching majors educated by 1.7 full-time equivalent faculty members. Admission requirements into teacher education vary by institution. The curriculum/degree program preservice students complete to become certified teachers consists of 131 semester hours, including 45 semester hours in general education, 43 semester hours in technical agriculture, and 37 semester hours in professional education courses. Preservice students are also expected to complete coursework and experiences in multicultural education, exceptional children, computers/instructional technologies. Preservice teacher education students complete 60 clock hours of an early field experience in a local agricultural education program and complete student teaching for 12 weeks.