About Graduate School

Each year, many students elect to begin graduate/professional study immediately following the completion of their undergraduate degree. The student must maintain a strong academic record and complete courses that are deemed appropriate for the particular area of graduate study. Graduate studies in animal science disciplines, as well as professional study in law, veterinary medicine, and business administration, are among the most commonly chosen programs by students and graduates.

Graduate (MS/PhD) Programs

The plan of study for each degree program is determined by the student and his/her advisory committee composed of faculty from the university the student chooses to attend. In the Master of Science degree programs, students are expected to take courses in areas that support their discipline or interest, that are above and beyond the courses normally required for a B.S. degree in that major or closely related major. For the Ph.D. degree, students take courses related to their major that are beyond those for the Master of Science degree. The emphasis is usually on research at the Ph.D. level.

Admission requirements for graduate study vary greatly among the different fields of study. Similarly, there is not a centralized admission process for applying to a graduate program within the Colleges of Agriculture. Each university handles its own application processing. Applications are usually for both admission and financial assistance in the form of fellowships or assistantships. Students are encouraged to contact the specific university in which they are interested. Graduate admissions personnel within each unit are also an excellent source of information on graduate programs in that discipline at other institutions.