Tennessee State University

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences

Program of Study

The degree candidate must file a program of study after completing at least nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit, but before completing fifteen (15) hours of graduate credit. The program lists the courses which will be used to satisfy degree requirements, as well as details how other requirements will be met. The student may later change the program of study with the written approval of the Department and the Graduate School.

When the candidate files the program of study, he or she may also apply for admission to candidacy. The candidate must have a grade point average of 3.00 or above on a 4.00 scale and successfully defended the thesis proposal (thesis option) or successfully passed the written and oral comprehensive examinations (non-thesis option) to be eligible for admission to candidacy.

Core Courses: Thesis option 18 credit hrs. or Non-thesis option 17 credit hrs.

• AGSC 5060 – Statistics for Research 3 credits
• AGSC 5110 – Research Methods 3 credits
• AGSC 5120 – Thesis Writing 4 credits

or

• AGSC 5350 – Independent Study of Contemporary Issues & Problems (non-thesis option) 3 credits
• AGSC 5500 – Environmental Issues and Sustainability

or

• AGSC 5510 – Ecosystem Science and Management 3 credits
• AGSC 5260 – Environmental Analysis 3 credits
• AGSC 5610, 5620 – Graduate Seminar in Agricultural Sciences I, II 1, 1 credit

Concentration Electives: 12 credit hrs minimum with Thesis or 18 credit hrs minimum for Non-thesis option

Natural Resources Concentration

• BIOL 5190 – Ecology 3 credits
• AGSC 5320 – Wetlands Ecology & Management 3 credits
• AGSC 5530 – Forest Ecology and Management 3 credits
• AGSC 5570 – Climate Change 3 credits
• AGSC 5900 – Applied Entomology 3 credits
• AGSC 6510 – Geospatial Information Systems 3 credits
• AGSC 6525 – Remote Sensing Image Analysis 3 credits
• AGSC 5350 – Independent Study of Contemporary Issues & Problems (thesis option) 3 credits

or

• Guided elective (non-thesis option) 3 credits

Plant Science Concentration

• AGSC 5015 – Principles of Organic Agriculture 3 credits
• AGSC 5180 – Soil Classification 3 credits
• AGSC 5190 – Plant Breeding 3 credits
• AGSC 5220 – Plant Growth Substances 3 credits
• AGSC 5230 – Advanced Propagation of Horticultural Plants 3 credits
• AGSC 5900 – Applied Entomology 3 credits
• AGSC 6510 – Geographic Information Systems 3 credits
• AGSC 5350 – Independent Study of Contemporary Issues & Problems (thesis option) 3 credits

or

• Guided elective (non-thesis option) 3 credits

Geospatial Sciences Concentration

• AGSC 6510 – Geospatial Information Systems 3 credits
• AGSC 6520 – Advanced Spatial Analysis 3 credits
• AGSC 6525 – Remote Sensing Image Analysis 3 credits
• AGSC 6530 – Advanced Geospatial Metadata 3
• AGSC 6540 – Advanced Spatial Database Design and Management 3 credits
• AGSC 6550 – Advanced Geospatial Information Systems Application and Design 3 credits
• AGSC 6560 – Global Positioning Systems 3 credits
• Guided elective 3 credits

Thesis Option

Each student must pass Research Methods (AGSC 5110) and Statistics for Research (AGSC 5060), must have a thesis advisory committee appointed, and must be advanced to candidacy before enrolling in Thesis Writing (AGSC 5120).

The candidate must submit a thesis on a topic approved by the major advisor. Upon completion of the thesis, the candidate must satisfactorily a pass proposal defense conducted by the student’s thesis advisory committee. Students choosing the thesis option will require thirty (30) hours of course work which will include four (4) credit hours of thesis research (AGSC5120).

Non-Thesis Option

This option is for students who would like to focus on training in specialized areas to meet the needs of employers in agricultural and environmental sciences related industry, private sector, and state and federal government agencies. This program is not recommended for students who have any aspirations toward pursuing a Ph.D. degree.

Students choosing the non-thesis option will be required to take a minimum of thirty-five (35) credit hours of course work which will include AGSC 5350 – Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems. The graduate student with guidance from his or her major advisor will identify contemporary issues and problems in agricultural and environmental sciences, conduct a comprehensive literature review, write a report in a format of a review paper and make an oral presentation to his or her advisory committee.

Upon completion of core courses including AGSC 5350, students choosing the non-thesis option must take a comprehensive written and oral examination administered by the student’s advisory committee that includes faculty members representing appropriate subject matter areas. The student’s major advisor will serve as the committee chairperson and will facilitate the administration of both oral and written examinations.

If a student fails the comprehensive examination, one retake will be allowed. Should the student again fail, a third and final examination may be taken upon completion of additional course work (minimum of 6 hours) to be selected by the student’s advisory committee.