In practice this means a minimum number of courses will be prescribed and that the prerogative of students to develop programs of study tailored specifically for their needs and interests will be vested in them and in their advisory committees. Master's students should have a bachelor's degree and a strong record of achievement in one of the natural sciences, social sciences, or engineering sciences, or a bachelor's degree plus equivalent experience in these areas. Ph.D. students must have a master's degree and either an undergraduate or master's degree in one of the majors in the College of Agriculture or its equivalent. The course of study for graduate degrees in Sustainable Agriculture will demand an integrated education in multiple areas of inquiry. The five courses and colloquium that comprise the core curriculum serve to create a common base of experience for students and faculty in the program, thereby fostering a group identity.
Core courses are team-taught by program faculty.
Each student must have completed Statistics 401 or an equivalent course, either prior to matriculation or by the time of graduation. Equivalence will be determined by the P.O.S. committee. The balance of course requirements will be electives approved by the P.O.S. committee, for at total of 34 credit hours for the M.S. and 72 credit hours for the Ph.D. A graduate minor in Sustainable Agriculture will require completion of 3 of the 5 core courses and three semesters of the colloquium for a total of 12 credits. At least one member of the student's P.O.S. committee must be a member of the Sustainable Agriculture faculty. Minors must be listed on the P.O.S. form, and the subject area will be tested at the final oral examination.