The advising guides outline approved program coursework specific to each option.
The advising guides are provided to aid you in planning your initial coursework and preparing your program of study. Once your Program of Study is approved, it will serve as your official “road map” to your MS Agriculture degree.
General Track
Non-thesis overall minimum credit requirement: 30 (26 graded, and 4 research credits).
MS in AG Non-Thesis Core Requirements (6 credits)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGRI 587 | Research and Extension Communications in Ag | 3 | Fall, Summer | C. Perillo |
| STAT 412 | Statistical Methods in Research I | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer | Varies |
Additional Graded Credits (20 cr)
An additional 20 graded credits minimum are required on the program of study. Six of these additional credits may be at the 300-400 level but the balance of these credits needs to be at the 500-level. Please visit our courses and registration page to view a list of program approved courses to determine (with your advisor) the remaining courses you wish to take in order to fulfill your program of study requirements.
Research Credits (4 credit minimum)
AGRI 702 Master’s Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination: A minimum of four credits are required; you must be enrolled in 2 credits of 702 in the term of your final exam. Project and examination requirements are explained in section 4 of the MSAG handbook.
Background
Students should have a background in a related area, such as agriculture, plant science, biology, entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, or food science; or documented evidence of coursework or work experience in these areas. Without this relevant background, students may need or be required to complete 6 to 9 semester credits of prerequisite courses at the beginning of their degree program, and these courses may or may not be counted toward the degree program requirements.Please review your preparedness or concerns regarding specific coursework in advance with your advisor and/or instructor.
Pre-Requisites
The registration system(s) does not recognize external transcripts in determining if prerequisites have been met. In these cases, students who meet the prerequisites may contact the instructor to request a prerequisite override exemption.
Program of Study (POS)
The Program of Study document (confirming your committee and outlining your coursework) must be prepared by you and approved by your advisor and committee, as well as the MSAG director by the end of your first semester. The form is located on the graduate school website. See also section 6 of the MSAG handbook.
Enrollment and Continuous Enrollment
Degree-seeking students must maintain continuous enrollment in the Graduate School by enrolling for a minimum of 2 credits per semester (excluding summer sessions). A student who is not on approved graduate leave or internship leave status, and who is absent for 1 semester or 2 consecutive semesters (excluding the summer) must complete the reenrollment form ($25) before the student can register for classes. A student not enrolled for three consecutive semesters will be dropped from the Graduate School.
Thesis option: Enrollment in a MSAG thesis option is by exception only via permission of the MSAG director.
The requirements are slightly different than the non-thesis option. The thesis option requires STAT 512 vs STAT 412, and AGRI 700 vs AGRI 702. The overall credit requirement for the thesis option is 30 (21 vs 26 graded credits, and 4-9 research credits). Only 6 vs 9 of the graded credits may be at the 300-400 level. Project and examination requirements are explained in section 5 of the MSAG handbook.
Food Science Management
Non-thesis overall minimum credit requirement: 30 (26 graded, and 4 research credits).
MS in AG Non-Thesis Core Requirements (6 credits)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGRI 587 | Research and Extension Communications in Ag | 3 | Fall, Summer | C. Perillo |
| STAT 412 | Statistical Methods in Research I | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer | Varies |
FSM Non-Thesis Food Science Requirements (11 credit minimum)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FS 509 (UI Co-op) | Principles of Environmental Toxicology | 3 | Spring | Moller |
| FS 510 | Functional Foods and Health | 3 | Spring | Bernhard |
| FS 515 | Food Fermentations: Microbiology and Technology | 3 | Spring Even years | Unlu |
| FS 516 (Fall 2024) | Food Laws | 2 | Fall | Bernhard |
| FS 531 | Advanced Food Safety and Quality | 3 | Spring | Bernhard |
| FS 536 (UI Co-op) | Principles of Sustainability | 3 | Fall, Spring | Moller |
| FS 564 (UI Co-op) | Food Toxicology | 3 | Fall | Moller |
FSM Non-Thesis Management Requirements (6 credit minimum) Proposed substitutions will be considered.
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 505 | Developing Effective Leadership: Tidal Leadership | 2 | Fall | Varies |
| ECONS 505 | Economics of Agricultural Decision Making | 3 | Fall | Gallardo |
| E_M 522 (online course, synchronous-real time. - EM Course tuition rates - $866/credit. ) | Leading People and Organizations | 3 | Fall | Varies |
| E_M 564 (online course, synchronous-real time. - EM Course tuition rates - $866/credit. ) | Project Management | 3 | Fall, Summer | Varies |
Research Credits (4 credit minimum)
AGRI 702 Master’s Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination: A minimum of 4 credits are required; you must be enrolled in 2 credits of 702 in the term of your final exam. Project and examination requirements are explained in the MSAG handbook.
Background
Students should have a background in a related area, or documented evidence of coursework or work experience in this area. Without this relevant background, students may need or be required to complete 6 to 9 semester credits of prerequisite courses at the beginning of their degree program, and these courses may or may not be counted toward the degree program requirements. Please review your preparedness or concerns regarding specific coursework in advance with your advisor and/or instructor.
Course Substitutions
Any substitutions to the course requirements must be approved by the MSAG director; refer to the MSAG website online course list. Pullman students may have additional face to face course options. Regarding Statistics, students who have taken a comparable course may substitute additional coursework at the discretion of the MSAG director. Transfer credit may be another possibility.
Pre-Requisites
The registration system(s) does not recognize external transcripts in determining if prerequisites have been met. In these cases, students who meet the prerequisites may contact the instructor to request a prerequisite override exemption.
Program of Study (POS)
The Program of Study document (confirming your committee and outlining your coursework) must be prepared by you and approved by your advisor and committee, as well as the MSAG director by the end of your first semester. The form is located on the graduate school website. See also section 6 of the MSAG handbook.
U of I Co-op Course Enrollment Instructions
Visit ur U of I course registration page for instructions.
Enrollment and Continuous Enrollment
Degree-seeking students must maintain continuous enrollment in the Graduate School by enrolling for a minimum of 2 credits per semester (excluding summer sessions). A student who is not on approved graduate leave or internship leave status, and who is absent for 1 semester or 2 consecutive semesters (excluding the summer) must complete the reenrollment form ($25) before the student can register for classes. A student not enrolled for three consecutive semesters will be dropped from the Graduate School.
Thesis option: Enrollment in a MS-AG thesis option is by exception only via permission of the MSAG director.
The requirements are slightly different than the non-thesis option. The thesis option requires STAT 512 vs STAT 412, and AGRI 700 vs AGRI 702. The overall credit requirement for the thesis option is 30 (21 vs 26 graded credits, and 4-9 research credits). Thesis students should consult with their advisor to achieve a balanced program in Plant Health and Management coursework, similar to that illustrated above. Only 6 of the graded credits may be at the 300-400 level. Project and examination requirements are explained in the MSAG handbook.
Plant Health Management
Non-thesis overall minimum credit requirement: 30 (26 graded, and 4 research credits).
MS in AG Non-Thesis Core Requirements (6 credits)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGRI 587 | Research and Extension Communications in Ag | 3 | Fall, Summer | C. Perillo |
| STAT 412 | Statistical Methods in Research I | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer | Varies |
PHM Non-Thesis Plant Health Requirements (9 credit minimum)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL_P 501 | Biology and Control of Plant Diseases | 3 | Spring | Grove |
| SOIL_SCI 547 | Soil Fertility Management | 3 | Fall Even Years | LaHue |
| IPM 552 | Pesticides and the Environment | 3 | Spring Even Years, Summer | Felsot |
| ENTOM 555 | Agricultural Chemical Technology for Crop Protection & Production | 3 | Fall | Felsot |
PHM Non-Thesis Management Requirements (6 credit minimum) Proposed substitutions will be considered.
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 505 | Developing Effective Leadership: Tidal Leadership | 2 | Fall | TBD |
| ECONS 505 | Economics of Agricultural Decision Making | 3 | Fall | Gallardo |
| E_M 522* (*online course, synchronous-real time - EM Course tuition rates - $866/credit.) | Leading People and Organizations | 3 | Fall | Varies |
| E_M 564* (*online course, synchronous-real time - EM Course tuition rates - $866/credit.) | Project Management | 3 | Fall, Summer | Varies |
| PHIL 530 | Bioethics | 2 | TBD | TBD |
PHM Supporting Coursework (0-6 credit)
| Course | Online Course Title | Credit | Semester Offered | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENTOM 351 | Ecological and Integrated Pest Management | 3 | Spring | Felsot |
| SOIL_SCI 441 | Soil Fertility | 3 | Spring | Koenig |
Research Credits (4 credit minimum)
AGRI 702 Master’s Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination: A minimum of 4 credits are required; you must be enrolled in 2 credits of 702 in the term of your final exam. Project and examination requirements are explained in the MSAG handbook.
Background
Students should have a background in a related area, or documented evidence of coursework or work experience in this area. Without this relevant background, students may need or be required to complete 6 to 9 semester credits of prerequisite courses at the beginning of their degree program, and these courses may or may not be counted toward the degree program requirements. Please review your preparedness or concerns regarding specific coursework in advance with your advisor and/or instructor.
Course Substitutions
Any substitutions to the course requirements must be approved by the MSAG director; refer to the MSAG website online course list. Pullman students may have additional face to face course options. Regarding Statistics, students who have taken a comparable course may substitute additional coursework at the discretion of the MSAG director. Transfer credit may be another possibility.
Pre-Requisites
The registration system(s) does not recognize external transcripts in determining if prerequisites have been met. In these cases, students who meet the prerequisites may contact the instructor to request a prerequisite override exemption.
Program of Study (POS)
The Program of Study document (confirming your committee and outlining your coursework) must be prepared by you and approved by your advisor and committee, as well as the MSAG director by the end of your first semester. The form is located on the graduate school website. See also section 6 of the MSAG handbook.
Enrollment and Continuous Enrollment
Degree-seeking students must maintain continuous enrollment in the Graduate School by enrolling for a minimum of 2 credits per semester (excluding summer sessions). A student who is not on approved graduate leave or internship leave status, and who is absent for 1 semester or 2 consecutive semesters (excluding the summer) must complete the reenrollment form ($25) before the student can register for classes. A student not enrolled for three consecutive semesters will be dropped from the Graduate School.
Thesis option: Enrollment in a MS-AG thesis option is by exception only via permission of the MSAG director.
The requirements are slightly different than the non-thesis option. The thesis option requires STAT 512 vs STAT 412, and AGRI 700 vs AGRI 702. The overall credit requirement for the thesis option is 30 (21 vs 26 graded credits, and 4-9 research credits). Thesis students should consult with their advisor to achieve a balanced program in Plant Health and Management coursework, similar to that illustrated above. Only 6 of the graded credits may be at the 300-400 level. Project and examination requirements are explained in the MSAG handbook.