Agriculture M.S.
CIP: 010000
The Master of Science program in Agriculture is designed to further develop the technical knowledge and professional training necessary for those preparing for occupations in agriculture and for more advanced graduate studies. The emphasis is on current knowledge and how it may be adapted to future problems of all those engaged in producing, processing and marketing agricultural products. This program is implemented by selecting one of the following options:
Option One: Thesis
All agriculture students in the graduate program who choose the Thesis Option are required to take the core courses listed below (AGRI 03691; AGRI 03699; AGRI 03693; MATH 17637). Based on the option chosen i.e. Animal Science or Agronomy Track options students will be required to choose 9 - 12 credit hours of electives in their program area (Agronomy or Animal Science) and another 6 - 9 credit hours outside of their program area. Choice of courses will be determined through consultation with their advisors.
Required Courses
| AGRI 03691 | Methods of Research in the Life Sciences | 3 |
| AGRI 03699 | Research in Agriculture | 1 to 5 |
| MATH 17637 | Computer Methods in Statistics II | 3 |
| AGRI 03693 | Seminar in Agriculture | 1 |
| Additional coursework to total 30 hours | 18-22 |
Agronomy Track
In addition to the core courses listed above (AGRI 03691; AGRI 03699; AGRI 03693; MATH 17637) students choosing the Agronomy Track option will be required to choose 9 - 12 credit hours of electives in Agronomy and another 6 - 9 credit hours outside of Agronomy/Agriculture. Choice of courses will be determined through consultation with their advisors. Agronomy Track students choosing the Thesis Option will work with their advisor on a research project and submit a thesis on their research to their graduate committee. (Coursework option - non-thesis described below)
Animal Science Track
In addition to the core courses listed below (
AGRI 03691;
AGRI 03699;
AGRI 03693;
MATH 17637) students choosing the Animal Science track option will be required to choose 9 - 12 credit hours of electives in Animal Science and another 6 - 9 credit hours outside of Animal Science. Choice of courses will be determined through consultation with their advisors. Animal Science track students choosing the Thesis Option will work with their advisor on a research project and submit a thesis on their research to their graduate committee. (Coursework option - non-thesis described below)
Students, in conjunction with their advisor, must petition the graduate faculty of the agricultural sciences department in order to be admitted to and pursue the thesis option. Students must have a combined verbal/quantitative score of at least 284 on the GRE before full acceptance into the program.
Students having a combined verbal/quantitative GRE score of less than 284 can petition the graduate faculty of the Agricultural Sciences Department for a waiver of the GRE requirement.
The graduate program director, together with each student pursuing this option, will appoint an advisory committee consisting of a thesis advisor, who will direct the research of the student, a second faculty member from agriculture, and a faculty member from a field related to the student’s program. The advisory committee will assist the student in planning the research program and will conduct an oral examination of the student over the thesis upon completion of the student’s research project.
Option Two: Coursework
Required Courses
All agriculture students in the graduate program who choose the Coursework option are required to take the core courses listed below (AGRI 03691; AGRI 03693; MATH 17637). Based on the track chosen i.e. Animal Science or Agronomy Track options students will also be required to take two (2) credit hours of special topics class. Agronomy track students will be required to take AGRI 03649 -Special Topics in Agronomy; whereas Animal Science Track students can choose between AGRI 03669 - Special Topics in Animal Science or AGRI 03679 - Special Topics in Dairy Science. The Special Topics class would vary based on the interest area of the student. Students choosing the Coursework Option will also be required to take 12 credit hours of electives in their program area (Agronomy or Animal Science) and another 10 credit hours outside of their program area. Choice of elective courses will be determined through consultation with their advisors.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Students must have a combined verbal/quantitative score of at least 284 on the GRE before full acceptance into the program.
Students having a combined verbal/quantitative GRE score of less than 284 can petition the graduate faculty of the Agricultural Sciences Department for a waiver of the GRE requirement.
A student must complete 9 credit hours outside of agriculture, which forms a collateral field supportive of the student’s interest in agriculture. These courses will be chosen in conjunction with, and approved by, the graduate program director. The student must maintain a “B” or better GPA in the collateral field.
The department graduate program director, together with each student pursuing this degree option, will appoint an advisory committee consisting of a major advisor from the student’s chosen field of interest and a second faculty member from agriculture. This committee will assist the student in planning a program.
Writing Sample
All graduate students are required to submit a writing sample during the first semester of their coursework. The writing sample will be evaluated by the graduate faculty of the Department of Agricultural Sciences to determine if there is a need for supplemental coursework in writing skills.
Comprehensive Assessment
Students pursuing Option One (Thesis) or Two (Coursework) must also take a written comprehensive examination over his or her coursework.