Initial admission to the online Master of Science in Agriculture degree program will be into the non-thesis plan type, which is generally more suitable for distance students. Students who wish to pursue the thesis option are invited to prepare a thesis petition (see Appendix) for review by the director of the MSAG program. The director will assess the extent of the proposed project to ensure it meets the thesis expectations for the program and that acceptable arrangements are in place for mentoring the thesis research. Upon approval, the academic coordinator will facilitate the change of the student’s plan type.
The objective of the non-thesis option is to provide students who do not intend to develop comprehensive research skills with an opportunity to obtain an advanced degree of similar quality and depth as a thesis-based master’s degree program. The non-thesis degree is not recommended for individuals who intend to continue further with graduate education past the master’s degree. Additional coursework and the independent project paper or industry-immersion (internship/practicum) based paper are substituted for the intensive thesis experience.
The non-thesis option is designed for students with relevant experience in industry who are interested in expanding their expertise in a particular agricultural discipline. Knowledge acquired through this experience will be used by successful candidates to improve performance or expand opportunities for advancement in a current employment situation, or to support a student with redirecting their career opportunities towards a new discipline.
Independent Project Requirements – Section 4.a.
A non-thesis student must complete an independent project and a 30-page minimum (12 pt double-spaced including tables and figures) final report. With collaboration from the committee, students determine a project based on their study interests and where there is a need within their industry. The independent project can be completed in one of the two following categories:
Industry Immersion (Internship/Practicum): This is an immersion based training involving a student-arranged practicum/internship with an industry employer, a university affiliated researcher, or non-profit organization. The internship/practicum must be approved by the student’s committee and must be conducted in accordance with the MSAG Internship/Practicum Guidelines available on the MSAG website and includes preparing and defending the prescribed Internship/Practicum final report.
Project Based: Alternatively, a non-thesis option may be based on an independent project which is mentored and monitored by the advisory committee and also includes preparing and defending a final report. It is an avenue that allows students to design a project based on their professional and learning goals. This project should go above and beyond workplace expectations. Examples of independent projects include but are not limited to:
- Literature review
- Evaluation of a process
- Curriculum development
- Assessment of needs for a program, community or organization
- Policy paper
- Extension publication
- Feasibility study
- Technology application development
Project Proposal: The independent project must be approved by the advisor through the project proposal or MSAG Internship/Practicum form and students should use their whole committee as key resources while accomplishing their independent project. See Appendix for additional Non-Thesis Independent Project Guidelines.
Non-thesis Final Exam Requirements – Section 4.b.
There will be a two-part final exam for non-thesis MSAG degrees:
- An open oral presentation including the student’s graduate committee covering the projects and materials developed during the independent project or internship/practicum experience
- An oral exam following the oral presentation that allows committee members to further explore issues related to the presentation, independent project or internship/practicum experience and relevant coursework
Students are required to be registered for 2 credits of AGRI 702 in the term in which the exam is held.