Recommended Competency – Section 3.a.
Students should have a background in a related area, or documented evidence of prerequisite coursework or work experience in this area. Otherwise, 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.
Depending on your graduate interest, suggested preparatory coursework includes subjects in agriculture, plant science, biology, entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, food science, and introductory statistics. Please review your preparedness or concerns regarding specific coursework in advance with your advisor and/or instructor. Online WSU course options in these subjects are listed here.
- Soil Science 201, Introductory Soil Science
- Crop Science/Soil Science 360, World Ag Systems
- Agricultural Food Systems 302, Introduction to Agroecology
- Biology 301, General Genetics
Community colleges, convenient to the student’s access, may have additional options.
Degree/Plan Type Requirements – Section 3.b
| Graduate Coursework | MSAG Non-Thesis | MSAG Thesis |
|---|---|---|
| MSAG Core Courses | AGRI 587 Stat 412 (or FS 575 for FSM students) | AGRI 587 Stat 512 |
| Total Graded Coursework (refer to this section and the advising guides for additional coursework requirements for each plan/option) | 26 min (17 cr min at the 500-level) (9cr max at the 300-400 level) | 21 min (15 cr min at the 500-level) (6 cr max at the 300-500 level) |
| Research Credits | 4 cr min of Agri 702 (preparation of an independent project, paper, and final exam) | 4 cr min of Agri 700 (preparation of a formal thesis/research paper and final exam) |
| Overall Credits Required for the Degree | 30 cr min | 30 cr min* *The remaining 5 cr needed to reach the 30 cr minimum can be any combination of graded and/or 700 level coursework as determined by the student and their committee. |
| Plan Type Description | 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. Additional coursework and the independent project paper or industry-immersion (internship/practicum) based paper are substituted for the intensive thesis experience. | The thesis degree is ideal for people who are interested in pursuing or expanding a professional career involving the scientific aspects of an agricultural discipline. This thesis degree is also suitable for individuals who intend to continue their graduate education. It is a research degree leading to the preparation and defense of a formal thesis based on a project conducted by the student with guidance from the committee. A thesis is a document that is prepared by the student and that presents the author’s original research findings. |
Core Coursework – Section 3.c.
All MSAG students must complete the following core coursework (6 credits) as part of their degree requirements. These required courses will ensure that graduates of the program are consistently prepared with the knowledge necessary to produce their own research as well as interpret and analyze the research of others. With these core requirements, graduates of MSAG have the skills which are essential in understanding and producing academic research. Course substitutions for the MSAG core are by exception only and must be approved by the MSAG director.
Non-Thesis Plan
- STATS 412 Statistical Methods in Research I (3 credits)
Note – FSM option students may substitute FS 575 (UI CoOp) - AGRI 587 Research in Agriculture (3 credits)
Thesis Plan
- STATS 512 Analysis of Variance of Designed Experiments (3 credits)–thesis plan
- AGRI 587 Research in Agriculture (3 credits)
Additional Graded Coursework – Section 3.d
Students are required to take graded coursework in addition to the MSAG core coursework that aligns with their study interests. Only 3 credits may be seminar courses. Approved courses for the degree program are listed on the MSAG website.
Students in the general Agriculture plan should consult with their committee when creating their program of study to determine which MSAG approved coursework will best support their learning and research goals.
Students admitted to the Food Science and Management, or Plant Health Management plan options must choose approved courses according to that outlined in the respective advising guide, which support students within their professional and academic interests.
Food Science and Management Option required coursework:
- 11-12 credits minimum in approved food science coursework
- 6 credits minimum in approved management coursework
Plant Health Management Option required coursework:
- 9 credits minimum in plant health coursework
- 6 credits minimum in management coursework
- 0-6 credits minimum in designated supporting coursework
Research Credits – Section 3.e
Students are required to take a minimum of 4 research credits, either AGRI 700 (thesis) or AGRI 702 (non-thesis) for the MSAG degree. When enrolled in a term full-time, students are required to enroll in a minimum of 1 credit of AGRI 700/702; part-time students are not required to enroll in AGRI 700 each term, but still must meet the 4-credit minimum required for the master’s degree (2 credits of AGRI 700/702 are required in the term the exam is held).
AGRI 700 (S/U grading) is for students pursuing a thesis-based degree and is the course through which students receive credit for effort devoted to research, thesis, and final examination preparation. Students must actively engage in one or more of these activities during the semester in which they register for AGRI 700.
AGRI 702 (S/U grading) is for students pursuing a non-thesis-based degree and is the course through which students receive credit for effort devoted to development of their independent project, industry-immersion internship/practicum experience, and final examination preparation. Students must actively engage in one or more of these activities during the semester in which they register for AGRI 702.
The number of hours devoted per credit hour of AGRI 700/702 enrolled is the same as for other independent study and lab course requirements. This is equivalent to 45 hours of effort per semester for each credit of AGRI 700/702 taken. Credit for AGRI 700/702 cannot be granted for work conducted in other courses, such as practicum, independent study, or special topics. Credit can be given for AGRI 700 if the effort significantly enhances work for which the student received credit in another course.
In regard to both 700/702, the faculty advisor, in consultation with the student’s committee, sets expectations and defines deliverables for each semester that a student is enrolled in AGRI 700/702 credits, and provides an S/U grade at the end of the semester based on the student’s performance in meeting those requirements. In extenuating circumstances, faculty may use the X grade to indicate continuing progress toward completion of those requirements. The X grade should be changed when the faculty member determines that the student has successfully met the requirements for that semester; the X grades should be changed by the faculty no later than the semester of the final defense.