Graduate co-ordinator - Jana Janakiram ( 114 Johnston, Ext. 2241)
(E-mail: janakira@uoguelph.ca)
Graduate secretary - Erika McMillan (123 Johnston, Ext. 6121)
(E-mail: emcmilla@res.uoguelph.ca)
Glen C. Filson BA, BED, MED Saskatchewan, PhD Toronto - Associate Professor
Jana D. Janakiram BSc Madras, MSc Indian Agricultural Research Institute (New Delhi), PhD Western Australia - Associate Professor
Allan C. Lauzon, BA, MSc Guelph, EdD Toronto - Assistant Professor
Douglas H. Pletsch BSA Toronto, MSc, PhD Ohio State - Professor
Donald Richardson BA, MA Guelph, PhD McMaster - Assistant Professor
James C.M. Shute BA Queen's, MA, PhD Michigan State - Professor
Mark W. Waldron BSc (Agr) McGill, MSc, PhD Wisconsin - Professor
From the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business:
Wayne C. Pfeiffer BS, PhD Nebraska - Associate Professor
From the Department of History:
Terry A. Crowley BA Bishop's, MA Carleton, PhD Duke - Professor
From the Department of Political Studies:
Jorge Nef Lic. Chile, PhD California - Professor
From the Department of Sociology and Anthropology:
Nora Cebotarev BSHE West Virginia, MSc, PhD Pennsylvania State - University Professor Emerita
K. Victor Ujimoto BSc, MA, PhD British Columbia - Professor
Special Graduate Faculty
Hedley G. Dimock BA Beloit College, MA, EdD Columbia - Centre for Human Resource Development
James P. Mahone BSc U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Connecticut), PhD Michigan State - Special Assistant to the Dean of OAC
Associated Graduate Faculty
Donald J. Blackburn BSA Saskatchewan, MSc, PhD Wisconsin - Retired
Janice L.S. Jiggins BA Bristol, PhD Vidyodaya/Peradeniya - University of Agricultural Services, Sweden
Donald K. McIntosh BSc Toronto, MS, PhD Syracuse - Independent Consultant
G. Ab B. Moore BA Western Ontario, BD Victoria, MA, PhD Syracuse - Retired
John Wibberley, BSc, MSc, PhD Reading - Independent consultant
Graduate students focus on one of the two areas of concentration, namely rural extension processes or communication technology as related to rural and remote regions. The department offers three core courses and sixteen other courses. Other courses of interest are available in other academic units including the School of Landscape Architecture, University School of Rural Planning and Development,and the Departments of Agricultural Economics and Business, Geography, History, and Sociology and Anthropology,
Admission Requirements
The program is open to qualified graduates from a wide variety of disciplines including agriculture, home economics, sociology, communication, education, health and medicine, history, and economics. A four-year honours degree is considered as the normal and basic admission requirement. All incoming students are expected to have completed at least one third- or fourth-year-level undergraduate statistics course. Work experience in a rural area or non-urban community is considered especially useful in applying theory to practice and in identifying research needs and topics.
Students in the Department of Rural Extension Studies have employment backgrounds in areas such as agricultural extension, rural and volunteer organizations, community development, education, family and consumer studies, social work, communication technology, health, international project management, and technology transfer.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of two full-time semesters of coursework, or the equivalent, must be completed. Thesis and major-paper options are available. for the thesis option, 4.0 credits plus a research thesis are required; for the major-paper option, 5.0 credits plus the Major Research Paper are required. All students must complete the core courses (described in the course list for this program) and one of the following courses: 3806260, 3806311, 3806390.
All students take a comprehensive exam near the end of the coursework. Students select an adviser and a research committee who will assist them in course selection, research and thesis development.
All students will be required to complete a thesis or major research paper. Normally a supervised practicum or internship will be required, unless the student has substantial relevant experience.
The Department of Rural Extension Studies participates in the collaborative international development studies (CIDS) program. Students take a minimum of 2.5 course credits in the department and a minimum of 2.5 credits in international development studies. The MSc degree for students in this program will have the specialist designation rural extension studies: international development studies. Please consult the International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of the collaborative program including the special additional requirements for each of the participating departments.
University School of Rural Planning and Development Shared MSc Program
The department offers a shared program with the University School of Rural Planning and Development. The option is available to students with either a Canadian or international focus. The options differ by USRPD core course requirements. The MSc degree is granted from the Department of Rural Extension Studies but will indicate a focus on rural planning and development issues.
The shared program will include:
Three core courses from the Department of Rural Extension Studies
- 3806070 Foundations of Rural Extension
- 3806230 Program Planning and Evaluation in Rural Extension
- 3806060 Adult Learning and Development
Three core courses from the University School of Rural Planning and Development
- 9506240 Planning and Development Theory
- 9506280 Rural Planning Methods
OR
9506030 International Rural Development Planning: Principles and Practices
- 9506300 Rural Planning Synthesis
OR
9506400 Synthesis: Seminar in Integrated Rural Development Planning
ALL students in the shared program take a research methods course from either department/school:
- 3806260 Research Design in Rural Extension Studies
OR
9506170 Philosophy and Methods in Rural Planning and Development Research
Students in the shared program will have a research adviser from each department/school.
Rural Studies PhD Program
The Department of Rural Extension Studies is a major participant in the PhD in rural studies in the field of sustainable rural communities. Included in the graduate faculty for this program are G.C. Filson, J. Janakiram, A. Lauzon, J. Mahone, D.H. Pletsch, D. Richardson, J.C.M. Shute and M.W. Waldron. This PhD program provides opportunities for students to be advised by faculty in this department. PhD students will enroll in the interdepartmental Rural Studies program; those with advisers in the Department of Rural Extension Studies may be accommodated in the facilities of the department.
- 3806060 Adult Learning and Development (0.5)
- Adult development through life stages; profile of adult learners; learning abilities and difficulties; learning theory as applied to adults; sociological contexts for adult learning; participation levels and barriers to participation.
- 3806070 Foundations of Rural Extension (0.5)
- Historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of rural extension and nonformal education. Investigation of changing rural community structure. Past, present and future institutional support for nonformal and extension education: the issues of access and professionalism. Significant leadership by individuals and groups. Critical appraisal of philosophical assumptions and social functions of nonformal and extension education.
- 3806230 Program Planning and Evaluation in Rural Extension (0.5)
- This course will focus on concepts and processes of program planning and the evaluation in rural extension. Programs designed with client involvement in situational analyses and priority settings will receive particular attention.
Rural Extension Processes
- 3806130 International Extension Studies (0.5)
- An analysis of extension and human resource development programs around the world, with emphasis on developing nations.
- 3806190 Communication and Interpersonal Relations (0.5)
- The role of communication in interpersonal relations in informal and formal structures. Case studies and selected readings.
- 3806311 Extension Methods (0.5)
- Theories, principles and practices associated with effective instruction in extension are taught. Emphasis is given to nonformal teaching-learning situations; importance of socio- economic and cultural environment; communication skills using creative and appropriate technology in the transfer of information.
- 3806320 Development Administration (0.5)
- An interdisciplinary approach to the study of institutional and behavioural change with emphasis on the role of education in the planning and management of development programs.
- 3806330 Leadership Development (0.5)
- An analysis of the leadership function with participation in the dynamics of leadership in programs of change and development.
- 3806390 Management Theory and Practice in Rural Extension (0.5)
- Managers and management in the rural-extension context; planning, organizing, leading, controlling and appraising; time management; meeting management; managing volunteers; developing long-range plans and objectives; relating needed management skills to the extension function.
- 3806430 Marketing of Extension Programs (0.5)
- This course features discussions of the following topics for extension programs: marketing the non-profit organization; basics of a marketing plan; marketing research; developing new markets for programs; advertising strategies; principles of copywriting; achieving creative excellence; comparing and evaluating different media types; the use of media.
Communication Technology
- 3806110 Issues in Societal Communication (0.5)
- This course addresses the scope and definition of the Information Age with its implications for communication, leadership and non-formal education in a variety of societal contexts. The course raises issues related to the cultural processes of knowledge creation and the roles of the individual in an information society.
- 3806420 Communication Technology: Principles and Practice (0.5)
- This course examines the principles of communication technology emerging from contrasting bases in the physical and social sciences. These principles are investigated in case- study applications in a variety of nonformal educational and remote contexts.
- 3806450 Distance Education: Theory and Application (0.5)
- This course deals with the newly emerging field of distance education: that is, education that is not taught in the traditional face-to-face formats. Associated with this field are new approaches to curriculum development, delivery technologies and new forms of counselling and student-support services.
Other (May be applicable in either or both of the above fields)
- 3806260 Research Design in Rural Extension Studies (0.5)
- This course acquaints participants with a series of fundamental and operational decisions that must be made to produce a coherent research design. Alternative research philosophies, functions and formats are examined prior to data consideration.
- 3806290 Special Topics (0.5)
- Selected study topics which may be pursued in accordance with the special needs of students in the program.
- 3806300 Student Research Seminar (0.5)
- This course is designed around a seminar (rather than lecture) format and is intended for all MSc candidates in rural extension studies irrespective of their length of enrolment in the program. Seminar topics include philosophy of science, academic writing, thesis design, the research process and others which students suggest as appropriate. It also provides graduate students with the opportunity to develop and present their research intentions for peer appraisal.
- 3806410 Readings in Rural Extension Studies (0.5)
- A program of supervised independent study related to the student's area of concentration.
- 3806500 Practicum (0.5)
- Designed to provide practical experience for students, this practicum offers students an opportunity for a short-term work placement in a public, private or voluntary agency concerned with adult education, information technology and related applications of learning and communication theory.
- 3806900 Major Research Paper (1.0)
- Students select a topic and write a paper that does not necessarily include original data but is an analysis and synthesis of materials dealing with the topic selected.
