The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication (ALEC) at the University of Georgia offers an innovative and flexible graduate degree program to individuals interested in furthering their education. Following are Frequently Asked
Questions about the master degree.
Key Features:
 Master of Agricultural Leadership (MAL) degree is a 36 credit hour program

Courses are offered using both face-to-face and online delivery
 MAL is designed to enhance career prospects for those interested in teaching agricultural education, communication, leadership, and environmental education
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Customized plan of study and individual advisement in preferred area of specialization
If you have additional questions about the master degree, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nick Fuhrman
Graduate Program Coordinator
(706) 542-8828
142 Four Towers
405 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30602 www.alec.uga.edu
fuhrman@uga.edu

What is the Master of Agricultural Leadership Degree Program?
MAL is a graduate program specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals such as county extension agents, middle/high school agriculture teachers, communicators, leadership educators, and environmental educators. MAL is also appropriate for students completing the Bachelor of Science degree and seeking additional specialization for career readiness. The course schedule and content are tailored to best meet the instructional and scheduling needs of working professionals by offering some courses online. At the completion of the program, individuals will earn a
Master of Agricultural Leadership degree from the Department of Agricultural
Leadership, Education, and Communication (ALEC) at The University of Georgia.
How long is the program?
36 credit hours. Students can chose to enroll in courses full-time or part-time as needed.
Does the program require a thesis?
Students have the option of completing a thesis or a modified research project. All students will be asked to develop and submit a research proposal; students will work closely with their advisors on the development and approval of the project. The thesis option is the continuation of the research project that culminates in a thesis according to the guidelines of the Graduate College. During the final semester, students defend their thesis and/or research project.
Who will be my academic advisor?
After students are admitted to the program, they have one semester to select an advisor. By the end of two semesters students should identify two additional faculty members to serve on the graduate committee. One of the faculty members may be outside ALEC.
What are the admission requirements?
Minimum requirements for admission to the program are a GRE score of 150 for verbal and 140 for quantitative and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. There are no guaranteed acceptance or rejection criterion to the program; the final decision regarding acceptance is at the discretion of the graduate faculty. In addition, submit a
Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose is a letter written to explain reasons for pursuing a graduate degree and how the program will compliment career goals and previous education and experience.
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What are the Deadlines for Admission?
Fall Semester
 February 15 for early decision (important for consideration for an assistantship)
 April 15: Mid decision
 June 15: Regular decision (all applications must be received by this date for the fall semester)
Spring Semester
 November 15: All application must be received
How do I Obtain an Assistantship?
Graduate research and teaching assistantships (GRA/GTA) are paid positions within the department. A graduate assistant also receives full tuition waiver for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. GRA/GTA assist faculty with research and/or teaching and are expected to work 15 hours per week during the semester. Once fully admitted into the program, students should submit a Letter of Intent and resume to the graduate coordinator detailing the reasons for pursuing funding and how experience and education contribute to the department’s teaching, research, and Extension missions.
What is eLC?
Electronic Learning Communities is the UGA online learning portal. Access your account at https://www.elc.uga.edu/webct/logonDisplay.dowebct
.
What is HorizonWimba?
Software allowing students and instructors to meet in virtual space for an interactive online conference call. PowerPoint and other content can be pushed out to students while the instructor leads the class in discussion. Interaction happens in real time and is intended to be a supplement to eLC.
What are the computer requirements for this program?
Some of the courses in the program will be taught online. Access to high-speed reliable
Internet service is critical. Students should invest in a computer with the most up to date software and memory capacity for functioning in a multi-media environment. All courses require frequent use of Microsoft Office products. QuickTime and software associated with HorizonWimba at UGA is required.
How much does this program cost?
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See Office of the Registrar for tuition and fees: http://www.reg.uga.edu/tuition . The program follows the same tuition and fee schedule as other graduate courses at the
University of Georgia. The MAL requires 36 credit hours to complete.
How do I apply?
Complete the on-line application at the University of Georgia Graduate School web site
( http://www.grad.uga.edu/ ). Complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and have scores sent to UGA. See http://www.ets.org/gre/ for information about the GRE. Submit a Statement of Purpose and submit directly to the department. See graphic for a stepby-step guide for admission.
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