University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master of Applied Science

Format: Online

Program Description:

The Master of Applied Science degree program is interdisciplinary and sufficiently flexible to meet the specific educational goals of individuals employed in a wide variety of 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 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

The Master of Applied Science degree program requires a total of 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

Accreditation:

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Chartered in 1869, UNL is an educational institution of international stature. Nebraska is listed by the Carnegie Foundation within the "Research Universities (very high research activity)" category. UNL is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). UNL celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding on Feb. 15, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements:

To participate in this program the student must have:

•Undergraduate degree in the life sciences or an undergraduate degree (or higher) in a related area, such as biological or physical science, and experience in applied science
•Undergraduate coursework in basic sciences (biology and chemistry) and in agriculture appropriate to the area of concentration
•Sufficient evidence of academic ability, typically a 3.0 GPA 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 clarify,the importance of the appropriate prerequisite knowledge for student success in the courses leading to a Master of Applied Science degree.

# of Credits Required:

36

International Student Requirements:

?If your native language is not English, demonstrate your English proficiency by providing at least one of the following: Paper-based TOEFL score of at least 550 Internet-based TOEFL score of at least 79

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: {Item not available}

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Midsize City

Size & Settings: Not applicable