Master of Science in Agriculture – 2003-05 Catalog
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Sciences Bldg. (11), Room 211
(805) 756-2161, FAX: (805) 756-6577

MS Agriculture with Specializations in:

Agricultural Education
Agricultural Engineering Technology
Animal Science
Crop Science
Dairy Products Technology
Environmental Horticultural Science
Food Science and Nutrition
General Agriculture
Irrigation
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management
Soil Science

General Characteristics

Graduate studies in the College of Agriculture allow the student to pursue either a professional program designed to enhance the competencies of agricultural educators, or an academic program of graduate-level scholarly activities and research in one of several specializations. Graduates are prepared for:

* professional-level positions with business and industry, government, and foreign service in agriculture and related fields;

* agricultural teaching in secondary schools or community colleges; or

* continued graduate work at other institutions.

When to Apply

Application filing periods are given on page 93 of this catalog. To ensure adequate processing and full consideration, all application materials should be filed with the Cal Poly Admission's Office before the dates given below; nevertheless, applicants are encouraged to file during the initial filing period.  

Fall Quarter	July 1
Winter Quarter	November 1
Spring Quarter	March 1
Summer Quarter	April 1

Prerequisites

Consideration for admission to this program as a classified graduate student requires a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the last 90 quarter units attempted. An applicant not meeting these academic standards, but who meets the basic university standard of a grade point average of 2.5 in the last 90 quarter units attempted may be considered for admission as a postbaccalaureate student; such admission does not constitute admission to graduate degree standing (refer to page 95). A change from postbaccalaureate status to graduate status requires application and additional processing through the university's admissions office.

An applicant meeting the grade point requirement for classified graduate status, but who is deficient in background courses in agriculture, natural resources and/or related support disciplines may be considered for admission as a conditionally classified graduate student. Before such a student is advanced to classified graduate status, deficiencies in prerequisites must be removed and satisfactory academic performance in a graduate program must be demonstrated by the completion of no fewer than 12 units of specified courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Courses taken to remove deficiencies in prerequisites will not count toward the unit requirement for the degree.

All applicants who do not speak and write English as their primary language are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a minimum score of 550, and the Test of Written English (TWE), with a minimum score of 4.5.

Program of Study

The MS Agriculture program includes the following specializations: Agricultural Education, Agricultural Engineering Technology, Animal Science, Crop Science, Dairy Products Technology, Environmental Horticultural Science, Food Science and Nutrition, General Agriculture, Irrigation, Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, and Soil Science. The General Agriculture specialization provides students with the opportunity to focus their graduate study in one of several additional areas, including Agricultural Communication. Although the program offers several specializations, there is a single degree; students may not earn more than one Master of Science degree in the College of Agriculture.

The thesis is based on independent, supervised research; students should contact individual departments to determine the availability of funding support for their research. The final copy of the thesis must meet the standards explained in the "Manual of Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of the Master's Thesis or Master's Project" available from the Cal Poly Research and Graduate Programs Office. At least one course in statistical methods and/or experimental design is required of students in a thesis curriculum.

Graduate students must file the formal program of study for the degree with the Graduate Studies Coordinator of the College of Agriculture no later than the end of the quarter in which the 12th unit of approved courses is completed. The formal program of study must include at least 45 units of committee-approved graduate coursework; at least half of the minimum units required must be at the 500 level. Students should refer to the course descriptions in this catalog for credit limitations of individual courses; for example, total credit for AG 500, Individual Study, is limited to six units. Students also should refer to the Graduate Program Guidelines available from the Graduate Studies Coordinator. At least one course in statistical methods and/or experimental design is required of students in a thesis curriculum.

All candidates must meet the current Graduation Writing Requirement; see page 98. All students, whether completing a thesis or project, are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination which is normally given during the final quarter of the program of study. A written comprehensive exam may also be required by the master's degree committee, but this is optional. For students in a thesis program, the final oral comprehensive examination will include, but not necessarily be limited to, a defense of the thesis.