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
Required Courses
| AGRI 03691 | Methods of Research in the Life Sciences | 3 |
| AGRI 03699 | Research in Agriculture | 1 to 5 |
| MATH 17635 | Computer Methods in Statistics I | 3 |
| AGRI 03602 | Advanced Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AGRI 03658 | Advanced Animal Science | 3 |
| AGRI 03638 | Advanced Applications of Crop Science | 3 |
| Electives in Agriculture | 6 |
| Electives outside Agriculture | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: 32
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
| AGRI 03691 | Methods of Research in the Life Sciences | 3 |
| MATH 17635 | Computer Methods in Statistics I | 3 |
| AGRI 03602 | Advanced Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AGRI 03658 | Advanced Animal Science | 3 |
| AGRI 03638 | Advanced Applications of Crop Science | 3 |
| Electives in Agriculture | 8 |
| Electives outside Agriculture | 9 |
Total Credit Hours: 32
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.
All graduate students are required to submit a writing sample during the first trimester 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.
Students pursuing Option One (Thesis) or Two (Coursework) must also take a written comprehensive examination over his or her coursework.