Wheat field trials
The Department of Crop and Soil Science offers 2 Crop Science graduate degrees with 3 areas of specialization, each with multiple disciplines and commodities.

Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Crop Science
Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Science

M.S. Degree Requirements

  • Forty-five credits of graduate courses, including up to 12 credits for the M.S. thesis, or 6 credits for a project for the non-thesis M.S. degree.
  • Completion of an original research project and presentation of a thesis; or for the non-thesis option, completion of a problem-solving project.
  • For the M.S. degree with thesis, participation in teaching is required. Students with no previous teaching experience are required to participate in teaching for a minimum of one term. This requirement may be fulfilled as a course (CROP 509) taken for credit.
M.S. Degree Learning Outcomes
  1. Evaluate design and quality of relevant Crop Science research in journals.
  2. Apply current research tools to laboratory or field-based research.
  3. Apply scientific method to independent research under PI’s direction.
  4. Write and publish a peer-reviewed journal manuscript in their discipline and commodity specialty area.
  5. Synthesize, organize, and communicate crop science concepts to appropriate audiences and demonstrate skill in use of social media for programmatic validation.
     

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

  • Completion of a graduate course program determined by the candidate's graduate committee and the Ph.D. thesis. Typically this requires about four years of full-time graduate study.
  • Completion of an original research project and thesis presentation.
  • Participation in teaching. Students with no previous teaching experience are required to participate in teaching in the crop science program for a minimum of one term. This requirement may be fulfilled as a course (CROP 509) taken for credit.
Ph.D Learning Outcomes
  1. Evaluate design and quality of relevant Crop Science research in journals.
  2. Apply current research tools to laboratory or field-based research.
  3. Apply scientific method to independently developed and directed collaborative research.
  4. Write and publish a peer-reviewed journal manuscript in their discipline and commodity specialty area.
  5. Synthesize, organize, and communicate crop science concepts to appropriate audiences and demonstrate skill in use of social media for programmatic validation.
     
Options: 

Areas of Specialization

M.S. and Ph.D. programs are organized around 3 main areas of specialization:  Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Entomology. 

Within each specialization many academic disciplines are represented, including crop breeding and genetics, crop physiology and metabolism, crop production and management, agroecology & sustainability, ecophysiology, plant breeding and genetics, food systems, small farms, weed science, seed science & technology, pedology, water science, restoration ecology, entomology, pest management, biological control, plant nutrition, organic agriculture, and waste management.

Additionally, regionally important commodities include: seed crops (grass, legume and native plants), cereals (wheat and barley), forages, hops, potatoes, onions, sugar beets, corn, beans, and alternative crops (oil seeds, fiber and medicinal crops).

Learn more: 

For more information or to apply, review our instructions on How to Apply or contact Rachel Swindon.

Degree: 
Crop Science
Level: 
Master of Science (M.S.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department: 
Department of Crop and Soil Science
Class Location: 
Corvallis Campus
Contact Us: 

Rachel Swindon
Oregon State University
107 Crop Science Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-3002
Phone: 541-737-1286
Fax: 541-737-1589

Degree Requirements - OSU Catalog