GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Mission

To prepare students for entry and career advancement in the food, fiber and natural resources industry, which involve crop and livestock production, agribusiness, value-added processing, public service, and rural leadership. To provide experiential training and teaching experiences for the transfer of knowledge in the classroom. 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.

Programs of Study

Graduate Checksheet/Degree Plan 

The College of Agriculture and Technology 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, vocational-technical administration, and the Specialist in Community College Teaching. All MSA programs require students to choose either a Thesis or Non-thesis option.

Thesis and Non-thesis Requirements

Students must choose a thesis or non-thesis option.  Six credit hours towards the degree requirements will be required if the thesis option is chosen; if the non-thesis option is chosen three hours will be required. The thesis or non-thesis option is chosen by the student with the consultation of the major faculty advisor. Students may count three hours of non-thesis research experience toward completion of the degree if they convert from a non-thesis to thesis option; if the thesis is an extension of the research experience, the student's thesis committee may approve the three hours of non-thesis research experience to be counted as part of the six hours total required for the thesis. The topic for the thesis or the non-thesis research experience is developed and approved by the student's graduate advisory committee, as defined by the Graduate School. The non-thesis research experience will typically require a minimum total of 150 hours of student activity on the project.

Concentration in Agricultural Business and Economics, Animal Science, or Plant and Soil Science

The Master of Science in Agriculture degree program requires the student to complete a series of general core courses as well as a selection of elective courses to provide a specialized training in a specific concentration area. Each concentration area requires 30 hours credit hours of program study. Core requirements are designed to expand the student’s knowledge of agricultural research, technology, and policy, as well as to provide a broad and general view of the latest developments in agriculture. Electives will be selected with the approval of the faculty adviser.  Elective courses selected are intended to provide the student with specific training to enter employment or advanced graduate study in the selected field. The degree requirements include a total of 30 semester hours.

Concentration in Agricultural Education or Vocational Technical Administration

The concentrations in agricultural education and vocational-technical administration are 33 hour programs. The agricultural education concentration is designed to expand the student’s knowledge of educational issues, developments and processes, and to further prepare teachers of agricultural education. The vocational-technical administration concentration is intended to prepare persons seeking careers as administrators of vocational-technical education programs or schools. Students must choose either the thesis or non-thesis option.

Specialist in Community College Teaching

NON DEGREE PROGRAMS

ADULT EDUCATION CERTIFICATION

Students seeking adult education licensure should visit with an Adult Education advisor in the College of Agriculture and Technology. Twelve of the following 27 hours are required for adult certification, if the person holds a valid Arkansas teacher's license. If a person does not hold a valid Arkansas teacher's license, 18 hours are required.

AE 5513, Introduction to Adult Education
AE 5523, Psychology of the Adult
AE 5533, Methods and Materials for the Adult Learner
AE 5543, Teaching Reading to Adults
AE 5553, Practicum in Adult Education
AE 5563, Special Problems in Adult Education
VOED 5503, Foundations of Adult Education in Vocational Education
VOED 5583, Methods and Materials for Teaching the Adult
VOED 6543, Administration and Supervision of Adult and Vocational Education

CAREER ORIENTATION CERTIFICATION

VOED 5513, Hands-On Observation and Experiences for Career Orientation
VOED 5533, Methods of Organizing and Teaching Career Orientation

Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Programs

• Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Molecular Biosciences (Ph.D.)
• Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental Sciences (Ph. D.)

Graduate Policy Manual

Graduate Checklist PDF format

Graduate Checklist Web Page

Application for Admission and Information for Prospective Students

Application for Assistantship

ASU Graduate Bulletin