The Master of Applied Science is a practitioner degree that addresses the advanced educational needs of working life science professionals. The degree is interdisciplinary and sufficiently flexible to meet the specific educational goals of individuals employed in applied life sciences. As an interdisciplinary degree the Master of Applied Science program is not housed within an individual department and is administered by a faculty committee selected from many departments.

Because there are no prescribed areas of study within the Master of Applied Science, students are able to individualize, with approval of their supervisory committee, their particular curriculum programs to best meet their own career objectives. Academic advisors are in the following departments: Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication; Agricultural Economics, Agronomy and Horticulture; Animal Science; Entomology; Food Science and Technology; Natural Resources; and Plant Pathology.

A unique aspect of this master's program is the Degree Project, which replaces the traditional Master's Thesis. The Degree Project is specifically intended to be immediately of value in the student's workplace or career advancement.

The program provides a general background in several areas of agriculture and allows for professionals to:

• enhance or add areas of expertise
• advance in their field
• network throughout the state and other locations
• fulfill personal and professional goals
• schedule courses around work

For more information:
Visit the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources site

• 36 credit hours of graduate course work (with 12 credit hours open exclusively to graduate credit)
• At least 18 credit hours in an area of concentration (may be interdisciplinary), including a Degree Project
• At least 9 credit hours must be completed in a secondary area of emphasis for breadth to maximize flexibility, there are no core courses required
• A 3 to 6 credit hour Degree Project is required
• A comprehensive examination, either written and/or oral; the successful completion of the Degree Project, including examination by the Examining and Advisory Committee, may serve in lieu of a written comprehensive examination
• The final examination over the Degree Project and program of study is oral
• Where appropriate, a professional competency or certification exam may be required as part of the final examination
• Not less than 50% of the course work, excluding Degree Project, of the minimum number of graduate credits required must be University of Nebraska-Lincoln credit

For course descriptions, please refer to the Graduate Distance Catalog.

High speed Internet connection is required. Check the Graduate Distance Catalog to learn the specific requirements for your program.

Some distance courses have supplemental materials on DVDs or CDs, requiring audio and video cards and Real Media Player. Others courses may require phone conferencing. You will interact with the professor and other students through e-mail, phone conferencing, and Blackboard.

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The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) guidelines for admittance to the Master of Applied Science program:

• Undergraduate degree in life sciences or an undergraduate degree (or higher) in related area, such as biological or physical science, and experience in applied science.
• Undergraduate course work in basic sciences (biology and chemistry) and in agriculture appropriate to the area of concentration.
• Sufficient evidence of academic ability, typically a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
• Approval of the Master of Applied Science Graduate Committee and the Graduate College.

The term "experience in agriculture" is with reference to students with related degrees. This is to address, as well as clarify, the importance of appropriate prerequisite knowledge for student success in the courses leading to a Master of Applied Science degree.

Provisional admission into the degree may be accorded by the Master of Applied Science Graduate Committee to accommodate diverse student backgrounds and needs; however, provisional admissions must include a detailed timetable for the student to move from provisional admission to full standing or to leave the degree. All admissions will follow Graduate College procedures, with admission contingent on acceptance by the Master of Applied Science Graduate.

See the Masters of Applied Science Web site for details and mailing address.

Graduate Advising:
John P. Markwell, Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Phone:(402) 472-2924
Fax: (402) 472-9170
E-mail: jmarkwell2@unl.edu