StudyQA — Master: Agricultural Sciences — Tennessee State University

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Description Contents Requirements

The College of Agriculture offers master of science degree with different majors.

Master's concentrations

Agribusiness Management and Analysis
Agricultural and Extension Education
Animal Science
Food Marketing and Supply Chain Analysis
Plant and Soil Science

The master’s program in the Agricultural Sciences is designed to:

1. Prepare research scholars in the increasingly complex scientific field of agriculture and related areas;

2. Prepare scholars for rewarding careers in government, the agricultural industry, and higher education;

3. Prepare scholars for leadership roles in professional agriculture;

4. Prepare professionals with a set of critical and analytical business skills to fulfill the unique demands of the food and agribusiness industry;

5. Prepare scholars for further training in doctoral programs; and

6. Provide advanced training in agricultural education for graduates working in secondary schools and vocational agriculture; and

7. Provide advanced training in the application of Geospatial Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems OVERVIEW The Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences is offered with five concentrations: Agribusiness Management and Analysis, Food Supply Chain Management, Agricultural Education, Animal Science, and Plant Scie

Thesis Option

Each student must pass Research Methods (AGSC 5110), must have a thesis guidance committee appointed, and must be advanced to candidacy before enrolling in Thesis Writing (AGSC 5120).

The candidate must submit a thesis on a topic approved by the major advisor. Upon completion of the thesis, the candidate must satisfactorily pass an oral examination conducted by the Thesis Examination Committee. Students choosing this option will require 30 hours of coursework which will include 4 hours of thesis research.

Non-Thesis Option

The option is for students who would like to focus on training in specialized areas to meet the needs of employers in agricultural product processing, marketing organizations, input supply firms, teaching, agricultural extension services, and various state and federal government agencies. This program is not recommended for students who have any aspirations toward pursuing a Ph.D. degree.

Students choosing the non-thesis option will be required to take a minimum of 35 hours of course work which will include AGSC 5350 Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems.

Comprehensive Examination

Upon completion of AGSC 5350 and during the semester of graduation, students choosing the non-thesis option must take a comprehensive written and oral examination administered by the student’s advisory committee and other faculty members representing appropriate subject matter areas. The student’s major advisor will serve as chairperson of the committee conducting the examination.

If a student fails the comprehensive examination, one retake will be allowed. Should the student again fail, a third and final examination may be taken upon completion of additional course work (minimum of 6 hrs) to be selected by the student’s advisory committee.

Candidates must have the equivalent of the bachelor’s degree with a major in one of the Agricultural Sciences and a minimum quality grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 point scale and a composite score of at least 291 (870 on the previous scale)(verbal and quantitative, or verbal, quantitative and subject), or 370 on the MAT for unconditional admission. An applicant with a bachelor’s degree in areas other than the Agricultural Sciences may be recommended to the Graduate School for conditional admission and be required to take up to eighteen (18) credit hours of undergraduate prerequisite courses in the Agricultural disciplines: as recommended by the departmental admission committee. An applicant may also be recommended for conditional admission if he or she has a 2.25-2.49 GPA and a minimum pre-admission test score of 935 on the GRE or 383 on the MAT or 2.00-2.24 GPA and a minimum pre-admission test score of 1000 on the GRE or 394 on the MAT. Candidates having a Master’s degree from an accredited institution may be exempted from GRE Score requirements.