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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

The graduate program in agriculture is designed to further the professional competence of those individuals engaged in production agriculture, careers in agricultural and related businesses and industries, and/or agricultural education and extension.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

1. An undergraduate degree in agriculture or a related field.

2. Earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) on all previous college studies or a 2.8 on the last sixty semester hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree.

3. Score 800 or more on the Graduate Record Examination on the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections or score 950 or 1000 points on the Graduate Management Admissions Test based on the following formulas:

   a. 200 X (overall GPA) + (GMAT score) = 950

   b. 200 X (advanced hours GPA) + (GMAT score) = 1000

4. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must present a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

For application forms or further information, write or call:

Graduate Studies Office
Department of Agricultural Sciences
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2478
Telephone: (936) 294-1971

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Sciences Option:

This degree is designed to be a broad-based degree including thirty-seven hours of course work. Fifteen hours will be from agribusiness, agricultural education, agricultural mechanization, animal science, horticulture, and agronomy. In addition, the curriculum includes a course in research methodology and a course in agricultural statistics. Fifteen semester hours are designated as electives and can be taken in agriculture or from a related field. The degree is designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and capabilities in several fields of agriculture.

MBA IN AGRI-BUSINESS

In a cooperative effort with the College of Business Administration, students may earn an MBA with a concentration in agri-business. Students seeking the MBA with the concentration in agri-business must earn a minimum of 24 graduate credit hours from courses offered by the College of Business Administration, to include the MBA core, and twelve graduate credit hours in agriculture courses. To earn the concentration in agri-business, four (4) of the graduate electives in the MBA program must be used to take AGR 536, AGR 560, AGR 586, and AGR 598. With approval from the graduate coordinators of the MBA program and agri-business program, a maximum of two 400-level agriculture courses may be used in lieu of two of the 500-level agriculture courses. A description of the MBA program and the required core courses can be found in the College of Business Administration section of this catalogue. Consult with the graduate coordinator for any additions to the list of 400- and 500-level agriculture courses.

GRADUATE COURSES

AGRICULTURE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

AGR 530 TECHNIQUES FOR JOINING METALLIC AND NONMETALLIC MATERIALS. Principles and techniques of bonding and fusing metallic materials by the electric and oxyacetylene processes. Study of fluxes, chemicals, and oxidants used in joining metal. Joining of non-metallic materials by mechanical and chemical means.

AGR 531 MECHANIZED HARVESTING AND HANDLING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. Fundamentals of selection, service, and operation of agricultural harvesting machines. Analysis and development of mechanical systems to feed and care for livestock. Storage and handling facilities for agricultural products.

AGR 533 ADVANCED RURAL UTILITIES. Selection and use of electrical equipment as related to efficiency and economy in agricultural production, processing and storage of feeds, forage crops and grain in connection with livestock enterprises.

AGR 535 ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT. Survey of current knowledge and concepts in breeding and reproduction, nutrition, and modern management techniques of livestock enterprises. Includes a review of current research and issues and possible effect on future practices.

AGR 536 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS. Analysis and discussion of current issues in agricultural business with appropriate principles and theories. Issues may include marketing, management, finance, policy, international, legal and ethical topics. Student participation is expected via reports throughout the semester or term reports.

AGR 560 AGRICULTURAL POLICY. Advanced analysis of government policies and programs important to agriculture. Topics include: the policy making process and leaders, interest groups, organization and functions of federal and state agencies, policies relevant to production agriculture and natural resources, rural development, consumer and food safety, international marketing and food distribution.

AGR 562 PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION. Diagnosis, epidemiology, and control of plant pests. Causative and limiting factors are stressed. Designed for prospective or practicing teachers and technicians in the agro-chemical industry or in federal or state plant pest control agencies.

AGR 564 AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIP. A directed study utilizing industry to develop an understanding of agricultural production and management principles.

AGR 570 FOOD AND FIBER CROPS. A study of traditional plant breeding techniques and an overview of contemporary crop improvement methods. The physiology, adaptation, classification, taxonomy, and utilization of major crop species used for production of food and fiber are covered. Genetic and environmental influences of crop quality are discussed.

AGR 575 STATISTICAL METHODS IN AGRICULTURE. Applications of statistical methods for making meaningful interpretations of qualitative and quantitative data from experiments in agriculture. Instruction includes sampling and randomization, correlation and regression, analysis of variance and testing of hypotheses of means and variances, and design of experiments in agriculture.

AGR 582 NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INTER-RELATIONSHIPS. Physiological functions of various body processes in domestic animals with emphasis on the metabolic relationships among minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, enzymes, hormones and non-nutritive feed additives and the effect of nutritional antagonists.

AGR 586 CAPITAL MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS. This course provides an in-depth understanding of capital marketing, capital budgeting, financial planning, and appraisal principles important in the field of agribusiness.

AGR 598 ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. Agricultural production principles applied to the use of resources; cost analyses of production enterprises; linear programming of enterprises for maximizing returns; elements of depreciation schedules; evaluation for income tax purposes.

AGR 614 GRADUATE SEMINAR. This course is designed to provide students a forum for presentation of their graduate project and to provide an opportunity for faculty to present seminars relative to contemporary issues in agriculture. The project is an agreement between student and his/her committee. Course cannot be repeated.

AGR 635 TECHNIQUES AND INTERPRETATION OF RESEARCH. A course designed to develop the competencies needed to interpret and utilize agricultural research. Topics will include: the philosophy of the scientific method, formats for agricultural research data, interpretation of data, application of information to specific situations.

AGR 698,699 THESIS.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

AED 564 ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. A directed individual investigation of advanced problems in Vocational Education.

AED 576 PERSONAL LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS. Concepts and practices in planning and presenting materials to agricultural groups. Includes leadership skills, concepts of community development, and dynamics of technological change.

Career and Technology Program

The graduate programs in Career and Technology are designed to accomplish the following basic purposes: to improve the professional competencies of the career and technology teachers, to prepare teachers as career and technology supervisors and counselors, to prepare for further graduate study at the doctoral level, and to provide advanced specialized training needed for leadership in commercial and industrial areas requiring a career and technology background.

Master of Education, Plan II. This degree plan is designed for secondary and post-secondary career and technology teachers. A minimum of 36 hours of credit, 30 hours of which must be courses numbered 500 or above, is required. Twelve to 30 hours of Career and Technology Education are required. Six to 24 hours are included in one or two of the support areas such as: Agriculture, Home Economics, Industrial Education, and Education. A comprehensive examination is required.

GRADUATE COURSES

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

VED 564 ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. A directed individual investigation of advanced problems in Career and Technology Education.

VED 585 PLANNING AND ORGANIZING PROGRAMS OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE. Placement and educational opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students are studied under various career and technology situations. A historical resume of the guidance movement is presented.