Ph.D. in Agronomy Requirements

Program of study and supervisory committee requirements for a Ph.D. Degree in Agronomy

(please see the graduate handbook for a full description of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree)

Students who have completed an M.S. degree

Basic requirements for the program of study are 90 hours of graduate credit including the following stipulations:

• Prior completion of an M.S. degree will transfer in as 30 hours of credit toward the Ph.D. degree

• No courses <500 from any department

• Maximum of 6 hours of courses at the 500 to 599 level

• No courses <600 from AGRON (i.e., courses at 500 to 599 must be outside Agronomy)

• Maximum of 6 hours of problems courses (AGRON 600, 670, 800)

• MUST include at least 30 hours of Ph.D. research (AGRON 999), may include more than 30.

• MUST include 3 hours of seminar (AGRON 810)

• MUST include at least 15 hours of coursework ≥800 (not including research hours, AGRON 999).

• MUST be approved by your committee

• Note that most committees in Agronomy also have a basic requirement of STAT 703 and STAT 705 plus one more statistics course (9 hours of statistics). Equivalent courses completed with the M.S. degree may fulfill part or all of this requirement based on committee review.

Students who by-pass the M.S. degree

Basic requirements for the program of study are 90 hours of graduate credit including the following stipulations:

• No courses <500 from any department

• Maximum of 12 hours of courses at the 500 to 599 level

• No courses <600 from AGRON (i.e., courses at 500 to 599 must be outside Agronomy)

• Maximum of 6 hours of problems courses (AGRON 600, 670, 800)

• MUST include at least 30 hours of Ph.D. research (AGRON 999), may include more than 30.

• MUST include 3 hours of seminar (AGRON 810)

• MUST include at least 15 hours of coursework ≥800 (not including research hours, AGRON 999).

• MUST be approved by your committee

• Note that most committees in Agronomy also have a basic requirement of STAT 703 and STAT 705 plus one more statistics course (9 hours of statistics).

Committee requirements for Ph.D. degree

• Major advisor or Co-major advisor must be in the department of Agronomy and must be a member of the graduate faculty certified to supervise Ph.D. candidates

• Committee must include at least four faculty with graduate faculty membership (including major/co-major advisor(s)). Consult with your major advisor regarding the composition of your committee.

• At least one of the four faculty on your committee must be an “Outside Committee Member” (see definition below). NOTE: an “External Committee Member” does not fill this requirement.