Fundamentals of an Extension Education Doctoral Specialization: The University of Florida Framework

Abstract

Academic departments need to periodically assess their programs to ensure that students are developing the competencies needed for successful careers. Consistent with this goal, a new framework for guiding the doctoral specialization in extension education was developed by the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida. A modified Delphi method was used to guide the project with a goal of achieving consensus regarding fundamentally important theories, knowledge, literature, and experiences for graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees specialized in extension education. The resulting framework can be used as a guide for recruiting, advising, and communicating job qualifications.