Master of Science - Agricultural Science - Plant Science - Non-Thesis

The non-thesis option differs from the existing Master of Science degree program by replacing the six (6) hours of thesis with a research project and two directed electives and administering written and oral comprehensive exit exams designed and administered by the student’s graduate committee. The replacement courses will not include supervised research or thesis and will be selected by the student with the approval of their graduate committee and the Graduate Coordinator. These additional courses will permit students to further focus their graduate training in specialties they and their committee believe are important to their professional development.

The only exception to this is that students will be required to take one (1) hour of supervised research in their final semester of enrollment for the expressed purpose of taking their written and oral exit exams. The exit exam will permit the committee to assess the student’s overall level of professional competency and assure that graduates leave the program with a consistent level of proficiency. At the discretion of the student’s graduate committee and the Graduate Coordinator, the written and oral exit exams could include a multiple-semester research project designed to allow students following the non-thesis option an opportunity to conduct applied research.