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Agriculture Mission Statement

To prepare students for entry and career advancement in the food, fiber and natural resources industry, which involves crop and livestock production, agribusiness, value-added processing, public service, public education and rural leadership. To conduct problem-solving research related to crop and livestock production, natural resource management, and value-added processing in collaboration with private and other public sector entities in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.

Agriculture Programs Of Study

The College of Agriculture (CoA) offers coursework leading to the Master of Science in Agriculture (MSA) degree with concentrations in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Business and Economics, Animal Science, Plant and Soil Science, and Vocational Technical Administration. All MSA programs require students to apply to either the Thesis or Non-thesis option. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. (http://www.astate.edu/college/sciences-and-mathematics/ doctoral-programs/) in either the Molecular Biosciences or the Environmental Sciences programs (both interdisciplinary) may do so with mentorship by approved faculty in the CoA.

Agriculture Application and Admission Procedures

Admission to the CoA graduate program begins with applying through Graduate Admissions. The application can be found online (http://www.astate.edu/info/admissions/graduate). The prospective student should review the graduate catalog to select a degree program in the CoA and select either the Thesis or Non-thesis option before applying. Priority application deadlines are February 15 for fall admission and September 15 for spring admission, although applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed after the priority deadlines. If the applicant meets all of the graduate admission requirements, the student’s packet is forwarded to the CoA Dean who initiates review of the application based on the Thesis or Non-thesis option preference.

Agriculture Admission Requirements

The prospective student must meet all admission requirements of Graduate Programs and the CoA to be admitted. There may be additional requirements and expectations as a condition for acceptance to specific degree programs. The advisor is key in the planning and development of the student’s program of study and research experience. Students are expected to meet with their advisor throughout the graduate experience to ensure satisfactory progress toward a degree.

Agriculture Non-Thesis Option

Non-thesis option applications for the MSA are routed to the CoA Associate Dean for review and processing. The CoA Associate Dean makes a determination for acceptance based on criteria established by the CoA Graduate Committee and assigns a graduate faculty advisor for accepted applicants.

Agriculture Thesis Option

Thesis option applicants for the MSA are routed to the CoA Graduate Committee Chair for consideration by the Agriculture Graduate Committee. If a graduate faculty advisor is secured, the faculty member will indicate the subject of the proposed research project. If a student has visited with a qualified graduate faculty member and requests that person to serve as their thesis advisor, a signed letter from the graduate faculty member to that effect must be included in the application materials. If a CoA faculty member is identified to serve as thesis advisor for an applicant, Graduate Admissions will be notified to admit the applicant as a thesis student. Qualified applicants that are not assigned a thesis advisor by the CoA Graduate Committee may be eligible for non-thesis admission.

Admission to Agriculture Graduate Programs is determined by Graduate Admissions and will be communicated to the applicant by Graduate Admissions. Meeting the minimum criteria for acceptance into the Master of Science in Agriculture graduate program does not guarantee admission into either the thesis or non-thesis options. Admission may be limited due to physical and human capital resources.

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