IX. Graduate Programs

Capacity Development and Extension

MSc Program

Capacity Development and Extension offers a professionally oriented program leading to the MSc degree in capacity development and extension. The program covers a broad range of topics including capacity development, interpersonal communication, communication technologies and international extension programs. A variety of learning formats are offered by the program including independent study, distance education, seminars, international courses and research colloquia.

Graduate students focus on Capacity Development and Extension. The Program offers three core courses and nine restricted electives. Other courses of interest are available in other academic units including Rural Planning and Development, and the Departments of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, 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 Capacity Development and Extension 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 course work, or equivalent, must be completed. Thesis and Major Paper options are available.

All students enrolled in this field are required to complete a Thesis or a Major Research Paper, and a set of core courses that provide a foundation for capacity development and extension research and practice.

For the Major Paper option, these consist of:

CDE*6900 [1.00] Major Research Paper
CDE*6070 [0.50] Foundations of Capacity Building and Extension
CDE*6260 [0.50] Research Design
EDRD*6000 [0.50] Qualitative Analysis in Rural Development
OR
RPD*6380 [0.50] Application of Quantitative Techniques in Rural Planning and Development

In addition, for the Major Paper option, students are required to complete a minimum of four (4) restricted elective courses.

For the Thesis option, these consist of:

CDE*6070 [0.50] Foundations of Capacity Building and Extension
CDE*6260 [0.50] Research Design
EDRD*6000 [0.50] Qualitative Analysis in Rural Development
OR
RPD*6380 [0.50] Application of Quantitative Techniques in Rural Planning and Development

In addition, for the Thesis option, students are required to complete a minimum of two (2) restricted elective courses.

Students select an advisor and a research committee who will assist them in course selection, research and thesis development.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1

Canada
519-824-4120