Master of Agriculture in Poultry Science

Howdy!

     The Master of Agriculture ("MAG" program) in the Poultry Science Department is intended to prepare individuals for leadership roles in professional careers in agriculture and life sciences. This is a non-thesis, professional degree program which emphasizes the development of problem solving skills and the practical aspects of academic coursework. Because of the diverse nature of the careers selected by MAG graduates, degree plans will vary considerably and are generally unique for each individual. An internship with a professional in the selected area of emphasis at the student's home site is strongly recommended where practical.

Distance Education Technologies Used in Course Delivery

     The primary delivery system for course materials and student-teacher communication is the Internet. Using the WebCT Vista platform as the interface for the course, students can view streaming videos of lectures, access supplemental notes, slide presentations, and resource materials through the TAMU Library. Required textbooks may be purchased online as well. All lectures are presented in an asynchronous format, in other words, you do not have to be logged into the course website at the same time as the class here on campus. You may view the lectures online at anytime of the day or night. Another added benefit to viewing streaming videos is that you can view the lecture more than once. Other learning tools used by some instructors include threaded discussions where the instructor posts a topic and the discussion of that subject is supplemented as students post their own thoughts on the topic. Of course no class would be complete without interaction between the instructor and the student which is usually accomplished through emails and telephone conversations.

     Access to a T-1 line or a cable modem is recommended for quality purposes. Those who have a 56K modem should still be able to access the streaming video but download time may be long and the video quality may be poor. Because the computer plays an important role in distance education, it is recommended that students acquire basic computer skills (word processing, email, and internet access) as soon as possible.

Should You Take A Distance Education Course?

     Taking a DE course is not for every one. Each student has a unique learning style and personality and not all students are capable of learning at a distance. Therefore it is important that you assess your own learning style and capabilities before you enroll in a distance education course. The following links lead to webpages designed to analyze your learning style and hopefully help you in determining if distance education is right for you.

Readiness for Online Courses Survey (TAMU)

Self-Assessment for Distance Education (Western Governors University)

Is a Distance Education Course For Me? (Blinn College)

Pop Quiz! (Texas Distance Education)

TAMU Poultry Science Department

     For questions not answered on this website, please contact one of the following:

Dr. John Carey Interim Department Head TAMU Poultry Science Dept (979) 845-1931 jcarey@poultry.tamu.edu

Liz Hirschler Distance Education Coordinator TAMU Poultry Science Dept (979) 862-7694 lhirscherl@poultry.tamu.edu