Programme Rationale
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension recognizes the urgent need to train high calibre agricultural extensionists to support the nation’s agricultural development efforts. The existing postgraduate programme at the Masters level has the limitation of research diversification, capacity building for programme renewal and human resource development in Agricultural Extension for research and higher learning institutions.
Programme Goal/Objectives
Goal
The overall goal of the programme is to to develop competent personnel who can respond to current and emerging challenges in extension and function effectively as professional practitioners in the field of Agricultural Extension.
Objectives
The specific objectives are to:
- Assist students to build sound conceptual, theoretical and technical knowledge base in Agricultural Extension.
- Assist students to develop desirable attributes for research and scholarly activities for professional development.
- Train high calibre Agricultural Extensionists at the PhD level for universities, research organizations and development agencies in Ghana and beyond.
Programme Structure
The PhD programme will be by research. On the basis of transcripts, students admitted in the programme who do not satisfy all the relevant course requirements will be required to audit some MPhil (Agricultural Extension) courses of the University of Cape Coast. A student admitted into the programme would immediately be assigned an advisor until substantive supervisors are assigned in the second semester of the first year. She/he would be required to prepare a proposal and defend it at a departmental forum by the end of her/his first academic year. The Departmental Committee on Graduate Studies will submit a report on the progress of the work and also give specific recommendations on the student to the Faculty Committee on Graduate Studies for further action. The Faculty Committee would study the recommendations and further recommend to the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) whether or not the student should progress or withdraw from the programme. Those who receive approval from the Committee would continue to complete their theses for examination. Within the study period, all students are expected to present at least three seminar papers before completing their study (see Table 1). These should cover issues from the students' field work, summary of the study findings and a presentation based on a topic of the students' own choice but which is not on the thesis. Students are expected to submit soft bound cover theses for internal and external assessment by the end of their third academic year. The PhD programme will be by research. On the basis of transcripts, students admitted in the programme who do not satisfy all the relevant course requirements will be required to audit some MPhil (Agricultural Extension) courses of the University of Cape Coast.
A student admitted into the programme would immediately be assigned an advisor until substantive supervisors are assigned in the second semester of the first year. She/he would be required to prepare a proposal and defend it at a departmental forum by the end of her/his first academic year. The Departmental Committee on Graduate Studies will submit a report on the progress of the work and also give specific recommendations on the student to the Faculty Committee on Graduate Studies for further action. The Faculty Committee would study the recommendations and further recommend to the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) whether or not the student should progress or withdraw from the programme. Those who receive approval from the Committee would continue to complete their theses for examination. Within the study period, all students are expected to present at least three seminar papers before completing their study(see Table 1). These should cover issues from the students' field work, summary of the study findings and a presentation based on a topic of the students' own choice but which is not on the thesis. Students are expected to submit soft bound cover theses for internal and external assessment by the end of their third academic year.
Table 1: Programme Schedule for Ph.D. Students
Year 1
Student Responsibility/ Output:
1st Semester:
- Initial literature review
2nd Semester:
- Complete research proposal
- Present a first seminar
Remark:
By the end of the First Year, thesis proposals would be assessed for approval by Department and Faculty Graduate Committees. Students who score B grade and above will proceed with the thesis. Those who score below B would be given only a second chance to redeem themselves
Year 2
Student Responsibility/ Output:
1st Semester:
- Complete first three chapters
- Conduct pilot study
- Present a second seminar
2nd Semester:
- Conduct main data collection
Remark:
Supervisors will report on candidates’ progress. Department and Faculty Examiners’ Committees will recommend to the SGSR for student to continue or withdraw from the programme.
Year 3
Student Responsibility/ Output:
1st Semester:
- Present a third seminar
- Complete a draft thesis
2nd Semester:
- Complete a soft bound cover thesis
- Present a final seminar
Remark:
The Department will process theses for internal & external assessment through the SGSR
