The off-campus Agricultural Education Master of Science program is planned as a professional degree for students who have completed the requirements of a four-year curriculum in agricultural education or allied fields of study. Areas of concentration include program planning, curriculum development, teaching methodologies, instructional technologies, and youth development. Students in the program complete course work in both education and agriculture for professional development to become high school or community college instructors of agriculture programs, extension agents, and professionals in related work areas. Students in the agricultural education concentration may also pursue state certification for teaching high school agriculture. The Council on Teacher Education serves as the governing body for certification at the University of Illinois, and specific course work can be planned for students to meet requirements for both certification and the Master of Science degree.

The off-campus Master’s degree program in Agricultural Education enables students to take a series of Web-based and available site-based courses that meet the same requirements as the traditional on-campus degree program. The program has a history of providing courses for anyone interested in learning how to conduct research related to teaching and learning, and how to provide effective instructional programs related to agricultural, consumer, and environmental sciences. Students can enroll in individual courses for personal or professional advancement as a non-degree- seeking student, or can apply for admission to the master's degree program in agricultural education.  Many courses within the program are offered through other departments within the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences to fulfill the requirements, such as Crop Sciences, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Food Science and Human Nutrition and Animal Sciences.