A comparison of undergraduate major and technical knowledge of post-baccalaureate teacher candidates

Abstract

This article focuses on the impact of student undergraduate major (Agricultural Education or other majors) on the technical agricultural knowledge of preservice teachers as measured by a standardized performance test and as perceived by cooperating teachers. Subjects of the study (N=130) had completed the post-baccalaureate teacher credential (certification) program at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Animal Science and Agricultural Education majors scored significantly lower on the Plant and Soil Science section of the performance test than did students holding undergraduate degrees in other areas. Differences were also found between major and student teacher knowledge as perceived by cooperating teachers. These findings reveal that there were discrepancies between knowledge as measured by these two evaluative methods. As a result, it was recommended that both evaluation methods examined in this study be continued in an effort to provide essential information on program quality to stakeholders.