Master's program 

Overview

The School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Science (MS) degree. There are three optional areas of concentration within the degree programs: Agronomy, Horticulture, and Soil Science. Students interested in a particular concentration should contact a graduate advisor for specific requirements.

Students who receive advanced degrees in Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences go on to rich and rewarding careers and leave with the challenge of contributing to the world in which they live. Graduates of our school report that their education has well prepared them for their future careers.

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Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences, M.S.

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major professor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

Thesis option

The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 hours of credit at the graduate level, of which no more than six may be thesis credit hours. Other curricular requirements include:

• At least 15 hours of credit in courses at or above the 7000-level, which may include up to three hours of thesis credit.
• At least one hour credit in the seminar class, AGRO 7001.
• A minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit.
  The student must pass a comprehensive oral examination (thesis defense).

Students are strongly encouraged to publish manuscript(s) from their MS research in appropriate peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

Non-thesis option

The non-thesis option degree requires a minimum of 36 hours credit at the graduate level. This degree option, which must be approved by the student’s major professor and advisory committee, is suitable for students with full-time employment who desire emphasis on course work rather than research. The curricular requirements include:

• At least 18 hours of credit in courses at or above the 7000-level.
• At least one hour credit in the seminar class, AGRO 7001.
• Completion of a short project and a written report.
• The student must pass a comprehensive oral examination.

Students are strongly encouraged to publish manuscript(s) from their MS research in appropriate peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

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Admission

APPLY

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School. Official transcripts, official test scores, and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: LSU Office of Graduate Admissions, 114 West David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

Applicants for admission to the MS and PhD programs are required to submit a completed application plus transcripts of all previous college work. Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to the beginning of a new term. In addition, international applicants must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Peterson’s Test of English (PTE). GRE scores are not required for applicants. Prospective students are advised to contact faculty members who are conducting research in areas of interest. For more information about admission requirements see the LSU Graduate School Prospective Student Information page.

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Financial Assistance

In the School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences, both teaching and research assistantships are available to some students. Stipends are competitive with other programs around the country. Depending upon the source of funding, tuition exemptions may apply. To ensure consideration for financial aid, all application materials should be submitted in accordance with deadlines established by the LSU Graduate School. Students holding teaching assistantships may assist in the teaching of a course or teach one to two laboratory sections and may be for supervisors who may or may not be their major professor. Graduate assistants are required to work 20 hours per week.