Crop Sciences, MS
for the Master of Science in Crop Sciences (on campus & online)
Admission
Applicants are considered for admission to the Master of Science program if they have a bachelor's or equivalent degree comparable to that granted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Admission to the Ph.D. program will be considered for applicants with the M.S., those nearing completion of the M.S., and in some cases, those with the B.S. Because of the diversity of programs in the Department of Crop Sciences, the preparation that is needed varies considerably. Strong letters of reference, evident motivation to undertake graduate study, and good preparation in basic science courses enhance an applicant's credentials. For some programs, greater emphasis is given to previous training in plant sciences, chemistry, or mathematics. A grade point average equivalent to at least a B in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work plus any graduate level work completed is required. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the TOEFL or IELTS as evidence of English proficiency. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS to the university. Additional information for international applicants can be found at the Graduate College website.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Faculty Research Interests
Please refer to the following webpage for a detailed listing of our faculty and their areas of interest.
Financial Aid
Fellowships and assistantships are available to outstanding on campus MS students on a competitive basis. Awards for financial assistance are based principally on a candidate’s academic record, statement of plans, and letters of reference.
for the Master of Science in Crop Sciences (on campus & online)
Candidates must complete 32 hours of graduate study as approved by their graduate guidance committee with at least a B average. An oral final examination is required of all M.S. candidates, and written examinations may be required at the option of the examining committee.
The Online M.S. in Crop Sciences program enables students to strengthen their education typically through part-time study, as most students are working professionals. Courses are delivered mainly through online and other distance education technologies and occasional site-based programming (site-based courses are optional and not required to complete the degree). The Crop Sciences Online M.S. degree program is completed as a non-thesis degree. The program has a 30-plus year history of providing high quality University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign courses and began granting off-campus MS degrees in 1986 to agriculture professionals across Illinois, as well as in neighboring states. Students may enroll in individual courses for personal or professional advancement or may apply for admission to the master's degree program in Crop Sciences. Students who successfully complete three qualifying courses may also receive a Professional Development Certificate in Crop Sciences.
The Online M.S. in Crop Sciences program also works in conjunction with the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Online M.S. program and the Agriculture Education Online M.S. program to offer a diverse set of courses. The Department of Crop Sciences is looking to the future and the needs of non-traditional students. Therefore, new courses are continually in development for online delivery and blended formats. A student may complete their entire degree requirements online from anywhere in the world and they are available to in-state students and out-of-state students at the same tuition rates. For more information on Crop Sciences, the Online M.S. in Crop Sciences degree program or certificate offerings, please visit our programs online.
For additional details and requirements refer to the Graduate College Handbook.
This degree program can be completed either on campus or online; with or without a thesis, the requirements are listed below:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option | ||
| CPSC 594 | Professional Orientation CPSC | 1 |
| CPSC 598 | Seminar (required each semester; maximum applied toward degree) | 4 |
| Electives including at least 4 hours of graded coursework at the 500 level other than CPSC 599 (elective courses are chosen in consultation with faculty advisor) | 20 | |
| CPSC 599 | Thesis Research (minimum applied toward degree) | 7 |
| Total Hours Thesis | 32 | |
| Non-Thesis Option | ||
| CPSC 594 | Professional Orientation CPSC | 1 |
| CPSC 598 | Seminar (required each semester for on-campus MS program; not required for online MS program) | 0 or 4 |
| Electives including at least 4 hours of graded coursework at the 500 level other than CPSC 599 (elective courses are chosen in consultation with faculty advisor) | 27-31 | |
| Total Hours Non-Thesis | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Other requirements and conditions may overlap |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required overall: 12 |
| Minimum GPA: 3.0 |
for the Master of Science in Crop Sciences (on campus & online)
Thesis
- Students will be able to read, understand, knowledgeably discuss and summarize in writing the primary scientific literature of their particular disciplinary research area (bioinformatics and statistics, crop genetic improvement, crop production, plant protection, sustainable food systems, and water quality and environmental systems).
- Students will assume responsibility and ownership in research project development and execution.
- Students will acquire professional scientific writing and communication skills.
- Students will develop the capacity to communicate and collaborate across interdisciplinary boundaries.
- Students will develop the interpersonal skills to be competitive for career opportunities in plant sciences and agriculture.
Non-Thesis
- Students will be able to read, understand, knowledgeably discuss and summarize in writing the primary scientific literature of one or more disciplinary areas (bioinformatics and statistics, crop genetic improvement, crop production, plant protection, sustainable food systems, and water quality and environmental systems).
- Students will acquire professional scientific writing and communication skills.
- Students will develop the capacity to communicate and collaborate across interdisciplinary boundaries.
- Students will develop the interpersonal skills to be competitive for career opportunities in plant sciences and agriculture.
Online
- Students will be able to evaluate crop research methods critically and significantly contribute in the research community.
- Students will be able to apply principles of crop sciences to determine agronomic problems and formulate and implement practical management.
- Students will be able to describe and critically review concepts and practices associated with agriculture and the environment.
- Students will be able to critically assess scientific papers. Students will be able to synthesize concepts to solve complex scientific problems.
for the Master of Science in Crop Sciences (on campus & online)
Graduate Degree Programs in Crop Sciences
- Crop Sciences, MS (on campus & online)
- Bioinformatics: Crop Sciences, MS
- Crop Sciences, PhD
for the Master of Science in Crop Sciences (on campus & online)
Department of Crop Sciences
Department Head: Dr. Adam Davis (asdavis1@illinois.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Tiffany Jamann (tjamann@illinois.edu)
Director of online MS degree program: Dr. Gevan Behnke (gbehnke2@illinois.edu)
Department website
Department faculty
AW-101 Turner Hall
1102 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Contact (217) 244-1530 or grad@cropsciences.illinois.edu for on-campus programs
Contact (217) 244-0595 or Dr. Gevan Behnke (gbehnke@illinois.edu) for online programs