AKSU offers the following programmes through this Department:

1. Bachelor of Science (B.Agric) in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development

2. Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development

3. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development with specialization options including:

   • Agribusiness Management

   • Food Marketing & International Trade

   • Farm Management & Production Economics

4. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development with specialization options including:

   • Agricultural Extension and Communication

   • Rural Sociology and Development

🎓Undergraduate Studies

University Requirements 

a.) Admission through JAMB and Post UTME

i. Admission into Akwa Ibom State University shall be through Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) OR Direct Entry. In addition to attaining, the general required standard in UTME, candidates must satisfy the general university requirement as well as the specific Faculty and Programs requirement. All Admissions shall be through JAMB.

ii. The candidate must be over 16 years of age by 1st October in the year of admission.

iii. Candidates must possess at least 5 credit passes in relevant subjects (Chemistry, English language, Biology or Agricultural Science, Mathematics or physics and Economics or Geography) at GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents at not more than 2 sittings.

iv. Candidates with Teachers Grade II (TC II) with passes at credit or merit levels in conjunction with credit passes in relevant subjects at GCE, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents may be considered. No subject may be counted at both TC II and GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents.

b.) Admission by Direct Entry

Candidates for Direct Entry Admission must possess any of the following qualifications:

i. Two (2) passes at GCE, A/L, HSC, IJMB or approved equivalents in relevant subjects, and at least credits passes in two other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than two sittings.

ii. Two (2) passes at GCE, A/L, HSC, IJMB or approved equivalents in relevant subjects, and at least credits passes in two other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than two sittings.

iii. Two (2) passes at merit or above in two (2) recognized NCE subjects or approved equivalents, and at least 3 credit passes in other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than 2 settings.

Other Admission Requirements

i. A pass in general paper at HSC or approved equivalents would not be accepted as a substitute for a credit pass in English Language at GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents.

ii. Interviews may be conducted as a component of the admission process in addition to UTME or Direct Entry by JAMB. 

iii. Specific Faculty/Departmental Requirements will be stipulated in addition to the general University entry requirements.

Transfer Admission

Candidates with adequate qualifications who wish to transfer from other universities to the Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development shall be admitted into either Year II or Year II depending on their qualifications and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) as approved by the University. Such candidates must submit an official transcript from their former Universities. There is no admission beyond Year II.

🎓🎓Postgraduate Studies

Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)

🔸SSCE with 5 credits including English and Mathematics (in not more than 2 sittings)

🔸One of:

• HND in Agriculture with Lower Credit

• Third Class Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture or related science

• HND Pass with six years of cognate experience.

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

🔸SSCE with credits as above

🔸One of:

• Bachelor’s Degree (minimum of Second Class Lower) in Agriculture or science-related discipline

• HND Upper Credit plus PGD at Distinction level.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

🔸SSCE with credits as above

🔸Master's Degree (minimum CGPA of 3.5) in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development or science-related discipline.

The Department publishes the open-access journal AKSUJAEERD (Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension & Rural Development), featuring peer‑reviewed research on topics like e‑readiness of extension personnel, broiler production economics, and more.

🔸 Obio Akpa Campus Extension Studio: equipped for radio skits, video demos and print‑material design.

🔸 University Teaching & Research Farm (23 ha): hosts demonstrations on conservation tillage, integrated pest management and micro‑irrigation.

🔸 ICT Hub: broadband‑enabled labs support remote diagnostics and data analytics for extension surveys.

🌾 Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services

• Government or private-sector extension officer

• Community development facilitator

• Agricultural advisory service consultant

• Farmer training and capacity-building specialist

• Climate-smart agriculture extension expert
  
  

🏡 Rural & Community Development

• Rural development project coordinator

• Community mobilization and empowerment officer

• NGO programme officer (food security, nutrition, gender, youth, etc.)

• Rural livelihoods and resilience specialist

• Social inclusion and humanitarian services officer
  
  

📊 Development Planning, Policy & Research

• Development planning analyst

• Agricultural policy support officer

• Monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL) specialist

• Research assistant in rural sociology, development, or communication

• Field research enumerator with development agencies
  
  

📚 Education, Media & Knowledge Transfer

• Lecturer or trainer (with further qualifications)

• Agricultural radio/TV content creator or presenter

• Digital agriculture communication specialist

• Instructional and outreach content developer
  
  

💼 Agribusiness & Entrepreneurship

• Farm enterprise development officer

• Cooperative formation and management consultant

• Rural agribusiness value-chain facilitator

• Social enterprise founder (women/youth-focused ventures)
  
  

🌍 International, Public & Humanitarian Agencies

Opportunities exist in organizations such as:

• IFAD, FAO, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, FADAMA

• State & Federal Ministries of Agriculture

• Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP)

• Community-based and donor-funded development projects