Graduate Degrees Offered
Master of Agriculture — The Master of Agriculture (M.Ag.) degree is designed for students who want professional graduate training with a management orientation in agriculture, food and natural resources. It is intended to emphasize the problem solving skills involved in the use of science and technology to benefit humanity, not as a research degree.
Individuals with a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing, or qualified Texas A&M University seniors during their last semester, may apply for admission to graduate studies to pursue the non-thesis degree of Master of Agriculture. The candidate’s advisory committee shall specify prerequisite work where necessary.
The degree may be earned in any academic department of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and in five interdisciplinary areas: agricultural chemistry, food science and technology, natural resource development, plant sciences, and agricultural development.
A minimum of 36 hours is required for the Master of Agriculture degree. Approximately 12 credit hours are to be taken outside of the student’s degree option. Students must complete 12 credit hours on the campus at College Station to satisfy the residence requirement. (See the graduate catalog for more details.)
Master of Agriculture in the Meat Industry — The Master of Agriculture (M.Agr.) degree is designed for a student who wants professional graduate training with a management orientation in agriculture, food and natural resources, and it is intended to emphasize the problem-solving skills involved in the use of science and technology to benefit humanity, not as a research degree.
The M. Agr. in the Meat Industry (MAgrMI) program is designed to provide baccalaureate-educated students with supplemental coursework in addition to practical experience (e.g., internships) to prepare them – as graduates – for a variety of careers in, and for future leadership of, the US meat industry. An essential goal of the program is to provide students with a core set of skills (in meat science, management, marketing, communication and leadership) considered to be vital in the meat industry, and to guide students in customizing the supporting internships based on specific career-path interests.
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Master of Science — The thesis-option Master of Science (M.S.) degree requires a minimum of 32 semester credit hours of approved courses and research. Texas A&M awards M.S. degrees in more than 90 fields. (See the graduate catalog for a complete listing.)
As an M.S. student, one of the first procedural steps you must take to fulfill your degree requirements is to meet with a graduate advisor and establish an advisory committee. (See “Advisory Committee” on page 49 of the graduate catalog for more information.) The graduate advisor and the advisory committee will help you prepare a degree plan. The degree plan lists the courses required for your degree and formally designates the members of your advisory committee.
In order to meet the thesis requirement, thesis-option M.S. students must follow the proper steps in submitting a thesis proposal and the thesis itself. The advisory committee and the head of the major department must approve the thesis proposal. For more information on how and when to submit the thesis proposal, check with the Office of Graduate Studies at 979-845-3631.
During your final semester as a thesis-option M.S. student you must apply for your degree, complete your residence requirements, and schedule and pass a final examination.
In addition, you must file two copies of your completed thesis with the Office of Graduate Studies’ Thesis Office after the thesis has been approved by your committee, the head of the department and the chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if appropriate. (See graduate catalog for more details.)
Doctor of Philosophy — Work leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is designed to give the candidate a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of his or her professional field and training in methods of research. The final basis for granting the degree shall be the candidate’s grasp of the subject matter of a broad field of study and a demonstrated ability to do independent research. In addition, the candidate must have acquired the ability to express thoughts clearly and forcefully in both oral and written languages. The degree is not granted solely for the completion of course work, resident and technical requirements, although these must be met.
For students who have completed a master’s degree or a D.V.M. or a M.D. at a U.S. institution, a minimum of 64 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Failure to complete the requirements for the D.V.M. or M.D. invalidates this 64-hour degree plan and necessitates petitioning to convert to a 96-hour degree plan for the Ph.D. For students who have completed a baccalaureate degree but not a master’s degree or a U.S. D.V.M. or M.D., a minimum of 96 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. (See the graduate catalog for more details.)