Entry requirementsFor admission to Graduate Studies as a degree-seeking student, applicants must meet minimum entrance requirements as set by the Texas A&M University Office of Admissions and Records and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Satisfying the minimum criteria qualifies an applicant for consideration but does not guarantee admission to the program.
Acceptance criteria:
1. Undergraduate academic record
2. Recommendation forms
3. GRE test scores
4. Applicant statement of desire/purpose
It is recommended that you contact the Poultry Science Department Distance Education Coordinator and discuss your background with a faculty advisor before you apply. Admission to Graduate Studies as a non-degree seeking student (NDS) requires all of the items listed above except the GRE. NDS students may reapply for degree seeking at a later date but there are limitations as to the number of courses taken as NDS that can be used towards a degree.
Course descriptionThe Master of Agriculture (M.Agr.) program in the Department of Poultry Science is intended to prepare individuals for leadership roles in professional careers in agriculture and life sciences. This is a non-thesis, professional degree program that emphasizes the development of problem solving skills and the practical aspects of academic coursework. Because of the diverse nature of the careers selected by M.Agr. graduates, degree plans will vary considerably and are generally unique for each individual.
How do you get the class content?
The primary delivery system for course materials and student-teacher communication is the Internet. Using the Blackboard Vista platform as the interface for the course, students can view streaming videos of lectures, access supplemental notes, slide presentations, and resource materials through the TAMU Library. Required textbooks may be purchased online as well. Streaming video gives the student the sense of being in the actual classroom. These are not just “canned” courses. All lectures are presented in an asynchronous format, in other words, you do not have to be logged into the course web site at the same time as the class here on campus. You may view the lectures online at anytime of the day or night.
What courses will I need to take?
The M.Agr. Poultry Science degree plan consists of 36 hours of course work, a professional paper and a comprehensive final oral examination to be administered by the advisory committee. The courses are selected by the students and his/her advisory committee to develop skills and expertise in specific academic areas to meet the student's career objectives. These areas may include but are not limited to:
Live Production (nutrition, physiology, diseases, waste management, etc.)
It will take approximately 3-4 years to complete this degree online if the student takes only one or two courses a semester. For a time-frame reference, students attending those same courses here on campus at a full course load of 9 hours a semester would complete those same 36 hours in about 1.5 - 2 years.
Courses Available Online: Advanced Undergraduate Level courses
POSC 333 - Instincts & Behavior
POSC 326 - Commercial Egg Industry
POSC 411 - Poultry Nutrition
POSC 412 - Poultry Feed Formulation
POSC 427 - Animal Waste Management
Several other courses are in development. Additional courses from other Texas A&M departments can also be used (eg. statistics, food plant sanitation, food law, feed milling, etc.). A listing of all Texas A&M University courses is posted on the course schedules page maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Courses completed through other universities can be credited toward your degree at Texas A&M with prior approval from your academic advisor.