Agriculture

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Graduate programs

Master of Science, Agriculture

Michael Goerndt, Program Director
Karls Hall, Room 221; Phone 417-836-8824
MGoerndt@MissouriState.edu

Program description

Advanced interdisciplinary degree combining sub-specialty areas in agriculture including agricultural economic/business, agricultural education, agricultural communication, animal science, natural resources, and horticulture.

Admission requirements

  1. Meet all Missouri State University Graduate College admission requirements.
  2. A bachelor's degree in agriculturally relevant discipline from a college or university accredited by agencies recognized by Missouri State University;
  3. AND a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work; OR have a combined score of 290 (875 under the old scoring system before August 1, 2011) on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; OR you may be admitted on a provisional basis and required to complete prerequisite courses before advancing through the agricultural sciences graduate program.
  4. Receive a positive evaluation from the Director of the Agriculture Graduate Committee that is dependent upon having an accepting advisor.
  5. Complete the Statement of Interest form indicating specialty areas.

International Students: Submit your score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 79 on the internet-based test.

Follow these steps to apply to the Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences program:

  1. Complete and submit a Graduate Application.
  2. Pay the application fee
  3. Submit one copy of your official transcripts
  4. Complete the Statement of Interest form indicating specialty areas.

Admission Requirements for the Accelerated Master’s option

To qualify for admission into the accelerated master’s program, you must meet these criteria:

  1. Hold junior or senior standing with at least 60 credit hours
  2. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
  3. Complete a minimum of 25 credit hours of undergraduate hours relevant to the emphasis area (of animal sciences; agricultural business, education, or communications; or natural resources).
  4. Be accepted by an advisor who is a faculty member in the College of Agriculture who is a Missouri State Graduate Faculty Member.
  5. Receive approval by the coordinator of the Agricultural Sciences Graduate Program.

Accelerated Master's Degree option

Once admitted into the accelerated master’s program, one may take up to 12 credit hours in courses numbered 600 and above to receive both undergraduate and graduate credit. A mixed credit form listing the courses to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate requirements must be completed during the normal registration period for the semester. Please note that mixed credit form must be completed prior to the first week of classes.

Degree requirements (32 hours)

Required Courses – 9 hours from the courses below
  • AGR 790 Introduction to Agricultural Research Methods (3 hrs) OR PSY 710* Psychology of Education (3 hrs)
  • AGR 797 Seminar (1 hr)
  • AGP 730 Design/Analysis of Field Experiments (2 hrs) OR EDT 764* Instructional Design (3 hrs)
  • QBA 775 Quantitative Methods in Business Decision Making (3 hrs) OR BIO 650 Stat Methods for Biologist (3 hrs) OR COM 712 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication (3 hrs)

*Required for Agricultural Education Emphasis

Research Requirement – 12 hours

Thesis Option: The Thesis option requires the completion of a research thesis supervised by the student's advisory committee. The thesis shall be approved by the advisory committee and by the Graduate College before the degree is granted. A maximum of six hours of thesis credit can be applied toward the minimum hours required for the master's degree. An oral defense of the thesis is required.

Non-Thesis Option: The Non-Thesis option requires the completion of a minimum of one semester course which shall require an extensive research paper or creative work. The student's advisory committee must approve the final research paper and complete a Seminar Report Form that is submitted to the academic department chosen as the major area of concentration and subsequently to the Graduate College for the approval of the Dean.

  • AGR 798 Research (6 hrs)
  • Additional Course work (6 hrs)

Graduate Internship Option: The Graduate Internship option required the completion of 6 hours of Graduate Internship and other requirements as outlined by the Graduate Advisor for the Internship option.

  • AGR 796 Science Internship (6 hours)
  • Additional Course work (6 hrs)
Specialty Area Courses and additional Elective Hours – 11 hours

Specialty Area: Natural Resources

  • AGN 605 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
  • AGN 635 Soil Conservation and Water Management
  • AGN 643 Silviculture
  • AGN 655 Soil Genesis Morphology and Classification
  • AGN 665 Environmental Soil Science
  • AGN 699 Special Topics in Natural Resources
  • AGN 725 Advanced Soils Interpretations
  • AGP 633 Crop Physiology
  • AGP 653 Turf Science
  • AGP 660 Site Specific Techniques in Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • AGP 665 Grain Crops for Food, Feed, and Energy*
  • AGP 670 Forage Crops for Animals and the Environment
  • AGP 675 Plant Breeding and Genetics
  • AGP 676 Plant Breeding and Genetics Lab
  • AGP 680 Plant Biotechnology
  • AGP 683 Plant Pathology
  • AGP 685 Weed Ecology and Management
  • AGP 699 Special Topics in Plant Science
  • AGP 730 Techniques in Plant Breeding/Advanced Plant Breeding

Specialty Area: Agricultural Economics/Business

Specialty Area: Agricultural Education

Plus 8 hours from the following:

  • AGE 658 Teaching of Agriculture
  • AGE 668 Course and Program Building in Ag Ed
  • AGE 678 Methods of Teaching Ag Management
  • AGE 688 Methods of Teaching Ag Lab Management
  • AGE 718 Topics in Ag Ed (variable credit)
  • AGE 728 Induction Year Teaching I
  • AGE 738 Induction Year Teaching II
  • EAD 785 Legal and Ethical Contexts of Schooling
  • LTC 624 Analysis and Correction of Difficulties in Adolescent Literacy
  • LTC 640 Analysis and Correction of Difficulties in Literacy

Specialty Area: Animal Science

  • AGS 611 Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
  • AGS 661 Equine Nutrition and Physiology
  • AGS 712 Special Topics in Animal Science
  • AGS 716 Mammalian Reproduction and Physiology
  • AGS 752 Advanced Cow-Calf Production
  • AGS 753 Advanced Stocker and Feedlot Cattle Production

Additional recommended elective courses

  • ECO 600 Fundamentals of Economics
  • ECO 609 Applied Econometrics
  • ECO 615 Public Sector Economics
  • ECO 640 Economics of the Environment
  • ECO 665 International Economics
  • QBA 775 Quantitative Methods in Business Decision Making
  • PLS 756 Financial Management of State and Local Government
  • COM 714 Qualitative Analysis in Communication

Comprehensive examination

A written qualifying examination will be administered after most of the course work has been completed. This examination must be passed by the candidate before a degree will be given.