The program is open to qualified graduates from a wide variety of disciplines including agriculture, education, international development, sociology, communication, cultural studies, health, political science, history, and economics. A four-year honours degree is considered as the normal and basic admission requirement. Work or volunteer experience in a rural area or community level is considered especially useful in applying theory to practice and in identifying research needs and topics.

Students in Capacity Development and Extension have employment opportunities in areas such as rural and volunteer organizations, community development, non-formal education, family and consumer studies, social work, communication technology, agricultural extension and applied research, health, international development project management and program analysis, and technology transfer.

Students enrol in one of two study options: 1) course work and major paper, or 2) thesis. A minimum of two full-time semesters of course work, or equivalent, must be completed. The MSc program requirements provide a foundation for capacity development and extension research and practice.