Master of Agriculture | Master of Science | Doctor of Philosophy

Master of Agriculture

The Master of Agriculture (MAg) degree requires a student to attain advanced knowledge and achievement in Horticulture and two other fields of study. At least one of the two other fields of study must be from the College of Agricultural Sciences or closely related areas. The third field of study can be from any approved graduate major or minor. With approval, each field of study may contain integrated components.The MAg is generally considered a non-thesis degree, although a 6 credit thesis is an option (see below).

Requirements for MAg degree:

• A minimum of 45 credits are required, 24 of which must be outside of the major (Horticulture).
• Horticulture will be considered the major field and the other two minor fields.
• Twelve credits must be in the major field (Horticulture) exclusive of thesis or research credits (see below).
• Each minor field must contain a minimum of 9 credits.
• Students have an option of a research paper (3-6 credits) or thesis (6 credits).
• No more than 6 blanket-numbered* credits are to be contained in the program, excluding research paper or thesis. [* blanket-numbered courses are those whose middle digit is zero, e.g., 505, 507, etc. (See Graduate Catalog for more information).
• The Department of Horticulture requires the following be included in a student's MAg study program:
  • Hort 507 (1 credit), Horticulture Seminar. The student presents a seminar a the regularly scheduled time of the department seminar (Tuesdays at 4:00 pm).
  • Hort 511 (2 credits), Research and Educational Perspectives in Horticulture, to be taken the first Fall term of enrollment.
  • Hort 512 (1 credit), Discussions in Plant Science. Students enroll once per academic year.
• Successful completion of a final oral exam which may include questions from both the coursework and the research paper or thesis.

Masters of Science

The MS degree consists of "regular" course work and original research, which is reported in a thesis. The research is under the guidance of the major professor. The study program, i.e., the list of graduate courses to be taken, is developed under the guidance of the major and minor professors. A committee of Graduate faculty (Graduate Committee) evaluate the thesis and a student’s knowledge of major and minor fields in a final oral examination.

Requirements for MS degree:

• A minimum of 45 graduate credit hours is required, including 6 -12 credits of thesis, i.e., Hort 503.
• Approximately two-thirds of work (30 hours) must be in the major and one-third (15 hours) in the minor field.
• The residence requirement is 30 Oregon State University credits after admission as a graduate student. This does not include hours taken as a post-baccalaureate or special student.
• A maximum of 15 term hours of graduate work may be completed at another accredited institution.
• A study program for the degree must be filed in the Graduate School before the completion of 18 hours of graduate course work, usually before the end of the second term.
• The Department of Horticulture requires the following be included in a student’s MS study program:
  • Hort 507 (1 credit), Horticulture Seminar. The student presents a seminar a the regularly scheduled time of the department seminar (Tuesdays at 4:00 pm).
  • Hort 511 (2 credits), Research and Educational Perspectives in Horticulture, to be taken the first Fall term of enrollment.
  • Hort 512 (1 credit), Discussions in Plant Science. Students enroll once per academic year.
• Successful completion of the final oral examination.
• All work for a Master's degree must be completed within seven years, including transferred credits, course work, thesis, and all examinations.

The MS Graduate Committee consists of two faculty members from the major department, one from the minor department, and a representative from the Graduate Council (the "Grad Rep"). The department recommends selection of the Grad Rep early in the program so that students can obtain their input.

Students majoring in Horticulture are required to have 30 credit hours in the major. These courses may be selected from those in Horticulture as well as from those offered by many other departments. The minor need not be restricted to one department but may represent an integration of supporting courses from two or more departments.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctorate is granted primarily for attainments and proven ability in research and scholarship. The research is under the guidance of the major professor with input from the student’s doctoral committee (i.e., Graduate Committee). The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of five members of the graduate faculty, including at least two from the Horticulture, a representative from the Graduate Council (the "Grad Rep"), and a member of the minor department, if a minor is declared.

Requirements:

• There is no rigid credit requirement; however the equivalent of at least three years of full-time graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree (at least 108 graduate credits) is required.
• The equivalent of one full-time academic year in regular non-blanket course work (at least 36 graduate credits).
• A graduate student who holds an MS degree must file a study program with the Graduate School by the end of one calendar year of enrollment as a PhD student. This program is formulated and approved at a formal meeting of the student's Doctoral Committee prior to this date.
• No more than 15 hours of blanket-numbered courses (e.g., 501, 507, etc.), other than thesis (Hort 503), may be included in the program.
• The Department of Horticulture requires the following be included in a student’s PhD study program:
  • Hort 507 (1 credit), Horticulture Seminar. The student presents a seminar a the regularly scheduled time of the department seminar (Tuesdays at 4:00 pm).
  • Hort 511 (2 credits), Research and Educational Perspectives in Horticulture, to be taken the first Fall term of enrollment (not required if the student earned these credits as an MS student).
  • Hort 512 (1 credit), Discussions in Plant Science. Students enroll once per academic year.
• Successful completion of an oral preliminary examination. In Horticulture it is the prerogative of a major professor to require a written comprehensive examination as well.
• Successful completion of a final oral examination, which includes a defense of the thesis.

Courses in the major, Horticulture, may be selected from those in Horticulture (i.e. with a Hort designation) as well as from those offered by many other departments and programs.