Admissions to the Graduate School
All Herbert College of Agriculture master’s and doctoral candidates must apply through the Graduate School.
Master’s and Doctoral Degree Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a 2.7 out of 4.0 GPA or 3.0 GPA during the senior year of undergraduate study.
- Submit scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) standardized testing. Please check with your desired program to see which standardized testing scores are required.
- Submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Master’s Degree Options—Majors
Agricultural and Resource Economics Master’s Program
Concentrations (Required) and Options Available:
- Agricultural Economics—Thesis
- The thesis option in agricultural economics is designed to prepare students for analytical and research careers in the public and private sectors and to prepare students interested in entering a PhD program.
- Agricultural Economics—Project
- The project option in agricultural economics is designed to prepare students for analytical and research careers in the public and private sectors.
- Natural Resource
- The natural resource economics concentration is designed to prepare students for analytical and research careers in the public and private sectors with an emphasis on natural resource economics and to prepare students interested in entering a PhD program.
The agricultural leadership, education and communications program is designed for students wanting to learn more about leadership skills and styles, educational methods for youth and adults, methods of communication and styles, and community outreach programs used in agricultural and related fields. The program offers four distinct focus areas: leadership, agricultural education, Extension, and communications.
The animal science master’s program areas of research emphasis are animal physiology (e.g., ruminant and nonruminant nutrition, reproduction, stress, and obesity), health and well-being (e.g., immunology, microbiology, pre-harvest food safety, and behavior), and genomics. Programs emphasize experiential learning with animal species, including beef and dairy cattle, poultry, swine, small ruminants, and animal models for human disease. See the department’s graduate program website for a listing of graduate research faculty and their specific research focus areas. The major professor, an animal science faculty member at the rank of assistant professor or above, chairs the student’s graduate advisory committee. The student and major professor select the other members of the advisory committee, which should contain at least two other faculty members at the rank of assistant professor or above, one of whom may be outside the department. The student’s advisory committee assists in the planning of coursework and may require specific courses in addition to those required by the animal science graduate program. The student’s graduate advisory committee also aids in formulating an appropriate research project and assesses achievement of other degree requirements, including the research proposal and thesis defense.
A graduate program leading to the Master of Science degree with a major in biosystems engineering technology is available to graduates of a recognized curriculum in agriculture or other related fields. The program emphasizes the application of engineering to agricultural and other biological systems. Major focus areas of the program are machinery systems; environmental quality and resource conservation; instrumentation, sensor, and control systems; and bioprocessing. Depending on the applicant’s academic background and interest area within the program, prerequisite courses may be required.
A graduate program leading to the Master of Science degree with a major in biosystems engineering technology is available to graduates of a recognized curriculum in agriculture or other related fields. The program emphasizes the application of engineering to agricultural and other biological systems. Major focus areas of the program are machinery systems; environmental quality and resource conservation; instrumentation, sensor, and control systems; and bioprocessing. Depending upon the applicant’s academic background and interest area within the program, prerequisite courses may be required.
The entomology and plant pathology Master of Science degree is designed to provide students with the basic disciplinary knowledge and research background for a career in the life sciences. Graduates have proven to be competitive in obtaining positions at academic institutions, in public service or the private sector, or admission to PhD programs. Many of the specialties within the department involve cross-disciplinary activity, including close cooperation with ecologists, horticulturists, plant geneticists, soil scientists, and veterinarians. The department has special interest and expertise in alternative methods of insect and disease management, such as biological control, resistant cultivars, cultural techniques, and integrated pest management to help meet the need for safe food production with or without reduced use of pesticides.
Students seeking the Master of Science degree with a major in environmental and soil science will generally concentrate their studies in one of the environmental and soil science focus areas: soil and water chemistry; nutrient and elemental cycling; land management and reclamation; pedology, genesis, and classification; environmental climatology; soil biology and biochemistry; and soil physical processes. For additional information, contact the director of graduate studies of the environmental and soil sciences program.
The food science master’s program requires applicants to have a Bachelor of Science degree in food technology, food science, or a related scientific field. Commodity interests (meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables, bakery products) can be emphasized in any of the areas by careful selection of courses and research topic. Minors are available in cognate fields. For detailed information, contact the department head or director of graduate studies. Students in the thesis option are trained with the capability to perform quality research in an area of their interest. In addition to meeting course requirements, a thesis of original research directed by a research faculty member serving as the major professor is required to receive a master’s degree with thesis. The master’s non-thesis options (project and course only with examination) are available for students with no interest in completing a thesis or decided by the advisory committee for inadequacy to complete a thesis. These options require the same course hours as the MS thesis option.
The forestry master’s program has education related to the management of the broad spectrum of natural resources including forest biology, forest business management, forest economics, forest inventory, restoration and conservation science, urban forestry, and wildland recreation. This program will prepare students for careers with private, state, and federal agencies involved in managing our natural resources.
The Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture (MALA) is intended for students interested in developing greater knowledge and understanding of landscape-related topics while simultaneously advancing a more specialized area of investigation from a liberal arts perspective. This degree will not prepare students for professional licensure but will prepare them for career paths that benefit from knowledge of landscape architectural design concepts, design thinking skills, visual communication skills, and related fields such as ecosystem management, sustainable development, green infrastructure, and more. While forty-two credit hours is the minimum number needed to satisfy this degree track, students have the option to work with advisors to craft a unique curriculum that allows for greater development of design skills or supporting knowledge as necessary. This track requires the successful completion of a robust thesis project.
The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is a design-based professional degree that concludes with a design thesis or advanced design project. The MLA has a first-professional track (MLA, Track 1) that is designed to prepare students as critically engaged practitioners, and a post-professional track (MLA, Track 2) that provides opportunities for research-oriented studies in areas of speculation and specialization.
Concentrations:
The Master of Science in Landscape Architecture (MSLA) is intended for students interested in developing greater knowledge and understanding of landscape-related topics while simultaneously advancing a more specialized area of investigation. This degree will not prepare students for professional licensure but will prepare them for career paths that benefit from knowledge of landscape architectural design concepts, design thinking skills, visual communication skills, and related fields such as ecosystem management, sustainable development, green infrastructure, and more. While forty-two credit hours is the minimum number needed to satisfy these degree tracks, students have the option to work with advisors to craft a unique curriculum that allows for greater development of design skills or supporting knowledge as necessary. This track requires the successful completion of a robust thesis project.
Both thesis and project options are available for the major in plant sciences, each guided by a graduate committee consisting of the major professor and two or more other faculty members. Studies are possible across a wide variety of crop commodities, including fruits, vegetables, weeds, cereals, grains, turfgrass, ornamental plants, and public horticulture. Plant sciences students can undertake research to address challenges related to plant protection, molecular biology, breeding, genetics, biotechnology, physiology, ecology, culture, and management. Students must select a formal concentration as a focus of study.
Concentrations:
- Crop Sciences—Thesis, Project
- Horticulture—Thesis, Project
- Plant Breeding—Thesis, Project
- Plant Molecular Genetics—Thesis, Project
- Weed Science—Thesis, Project
The wildlife and fisheries science master’s program includes the science and art of maintaining populations of wild animals at levels consistent with the best interests of both wild species and people. Management goals may be aesthetic, economic, or ecological. Students obtain jobs with private, state, and federal agencies involved in managing wildlife resources.
Master’s Degree Options—Minors
Agricultural and resource economics master’s program minor
Entomology and plant pathology are interdisciplinary sciences that focus on the study of plant diseases and insects, respectively. Graduate students who wish to broaden their knowledge of both sciences, or integrate these topics with other fields of study, may choose the combined entomology and plant pathology minor.
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, an interdisciplinary science that specializes in plant, human, and animal health with a focus on problematic and beneficial insects. Graduate students who wish to increase their knowledge of entomology or integrate the topic with other fields of study may choose the entomology minor.
Forestry master’s program minor
Plant pathology is an interdisciplinary science with a focus on plant diseases. It encompasses knowledge of biochemistry, botany, crop science, ecology, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and soil science. Graduate students who wish to increase their knowledge of plant pathology or integrate the topic with other fields of study may choose the plant pathology minor.
The plant sciences minor studies are possible across a wide variety of crop commodities, including fruits, vegetables, weeds, cereals, grains, turfgrass, ornamental plants, and public horticulture. Students gain an understanding of the challenges related to plant protection, molecular biology, breeding, genetics, biotechnology, physiology, ecology, culture, and management.
The watershed minor teaches students about the growing awareness of the complexity of water quantity and quality issues related to human activities and leads to dealing with those issues on a watershed scale. This minor is for graduate students wishing to develop expanded skills in watershed science/engineering, planning and design, and culture and policy issues related to water. These skills are especially useful for careers in natural resource policy, water and land management, sustainable development and design for private industry, and storm water management for government agencies. Successful completion of the watershed minor is documented on the transcript.
Wildlife and fisheries science master’s program minor
Wildlife health master’s program minor
Doctoral Degree Options
The animal science doctoral degree areas of research emphasis are animal physiology (e.g., ruminant and nonruminant nutrition, reproduction, stress, and obesity), health and well-being (e.g., immunology, microbiology, pre-harvest food safety and behavior), and genomics. Programs emphasize experiential learning with animal species, including beef and dairy cattle, poultry, swine, small ruminants, and animal models for human disease. See the department graduate program website for a listing of graduate research faculty and their specific research focus areas.
The entomology, plant pathology and nematology PhD program is evidence of exceptional scholarly attainment and demonstrated capacity in original investigation. Requirements for the degree include courses, examinations, and a period of resident study, as well as arrangements that guarantee sustained, systematic study and superior competency in the chosen concentration. The program of study as listed by the student on the Admission to Candidacy form must be approved by the doctoral committee and the director of graduate studies.
Concentrations:
A food science PhD program is the highest degree awarded in food science. Students entering the PhD program typically have already earned a master’s degree in food science or a closely related field. Students admitted to the PhD program without an MS degree must demonstrate promise to complete a doctoral dissertation by the third semester before continuing further doctoral studies, which will be determined by the graduate admissions committee based on progresses such as submitting manuscripts to referred journals, presenting papers at scientific meetings, or independently developing and proving research hypotheses. Students not meeting the expectations are advised to switch to the MS program. Commodity interests (meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables, bakery products) can be emphasized in any of the areas by careful selection of courses and the research topic. Minors are available in cognate fields. For detailed information, contact the department head or director of graduate studies.
Concentrations:
- Food Chemistry
- Food Microbiology
- Food Processing
- Sensory Science
The natural resources – forestry, wildlife and fisheries doctoral program emphasizes interdisciplinary research approaches toward the understanding and management of natural resources in a broad context. Areas of study include forest, wildlife, and fisheries biology, ecosystem function and structure, natural resources economics and policy, human dimensions of natural resource management, wood sciences, and multidisciplinary natural resources management. Students are not required to declare a concentration.
Concentrations:
- Bio-based Products and Wood Science and Technology
- Natural Resource Economics
- Wildlife Health
Students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in the area of natural resource economics may do so with a concentration in natural resource economics under the natural resources PhD major located administratively within the School of Natural Resources, formerly known as the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries (see Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries catalog entry for detailed information). The student’s doctoral committee will assist the student in developing a program of graduate coursework that will meet the requirements for the natural resource economics concentration under the natural resources PhD major while drawing heavily from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Department of Economics.
A doctorate with a major in plant, soil and environmental science – environmental and soil sciences concentration is offered under a multi-departmental doctoral program. Faculty from two departments participate – the Department of Plant Sciences and the soils faculty in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science. Other concentrations within the plant, soil, and environmental sciences doctoral program include crop sciences, horticulture, plant breeding, plant molecular genetics, and weed science. Focus areas in the environmental and soil sciences concentration include soil and water chemistry; nutrient management; pedology, genesis and classification; environmental climatology; soil biology and biochemistry; and soil physical processes. See the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science graduate education website for additional information or contact a faculty member in the area of interest.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Plant, Soil and Environmental Science – Plant Sciences Concentration with concentrations in crop sciences, horticulture, plant breeding, plant molecular genetics, and weed science is offered under a multi-departmental doctoral program. Faculty from two departments participate – the Department of Plant Sciences and the soils faculty in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science. Another concentration within the plant, soil and environmental sciences major is environmental and soil sciences. Students must select a formal concentration as a focus of study. We recognize that modern research approaches in plant sciences often overlap. Students may specialize in one or more approaches, including plant biotechnology, molecular biology, breeding, genetics, physiology, ecology, culture and management. Research approaches may be applied to model plant systems, public horticulture, turfgrass, weeds, or woody ornamental plants, as well as fruit, vegetable, cereal, grain, or fiber crops.
Concentrations:
- Crop Sciences
- Horticulture
- Plant Breeding
- Plant Molecular Genetics
- Weed Science
