Agricultural Biology - Master of Science

There is currently a strong need for M.S. graduates trained in these areas, and the demand is expected to increase dramatically.

Students are prepared for careers in research, extension, teaching, private consulting, industry, and government or to continue in a broad range of Ph.D. programs. Specific career opportunities include positions as agricultural consultants, technical and sales representatives for industry, state departments of agriculture and USDA specialists, agricultural extension agents, industry research and environmental technicians.

The Master of Science degree program in Agricultural Biology is designed to produce graduates with the academic and research background needed to facilitate effective, innovative, and environmentally sound protection of plants and animals from a wide and varied spectrum of pests.

Prefix Title Credits
Program Requirements
EPWS 590Graduate Seminar 11
Electives 212
Experimental Statistics 33
Courses within EPPWS13
EPWS 462
Parasitology3
EPWS 471
Plant Mineral Nutrition3
EPWS 486
Plant Virology3
EPWS 492
Diagnosing Plant Disorders3
EPWS 502
General Entomology4
EPWS 505
Advanced Integrated Pest Management3
EPWS 511
Introduction to Weed Science (f)4
EPWS 514
Plant Physiology3
EPWS 520
Environmental Behavior of Pesticides (so)3
EPWS 525
Scientific Writing- How to be a Productive and Effective Writing1-3
EPWS 549
Special Problems1-4
EPWS 551
Special Topics 41-4
EPWS 560
Ecology and Management of Invasive Plant Species3
EPWS 573
Fungal Biology3
EPWS 599
Master's Thesis15
Total Credits30
1

All graduate students are required to enroll in two (2) credits of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science seminars.  Typically, a student will take one seminar credit during the first semester of graduate school and present their thesis proposal plan.  Each student will take the second seminar credit in their last semester and present a public exit seminar just prior to the defense of their thesis work

2

Outlines for M.S. degree plans are generated by the student in consultation with the major professor and with input from the student's assigned graduate committee.  

3

Exact course is selected with professor and/ or committee based off previous statistics experience.

4

Maximum of 4 credits per semester. No more than 9 credits toward a degree.

Additional Requirements- Outlines for M.S. degree plans are generated by the student in consultation with the major professor and with input from the student's assigned graduate committee. 

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate work is required of which:
    1. At least 15 credits must be in courses numbered 500 or above.
    2. At least 15 credits must be in EPWS courses.
    3. At least half of the credits (exclusive of thesis) must be taken with other than a single professor.
  • Designated hours to be completed:
  1. Students must take at least four but not more than six credits in EPWS 599 Master's Thesis.  Students enrolled in EPWS 599 may be asked to present progress updates. 
  2. At least three credit hours in graduate-level Experimental Statistics