Agriculture and Natural Resources, M.S.A.N.R. (1190)

Master of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources

The department offers a Master of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources (M.S.A.N.R.). The M.S.A.N.R. program is administered through UT Martin Online, facilitating a minimum tuition increase for non-resident students. The M.S.A.N.R. curriculum is comprised of 36 hours of graduate course work and is offered via the Internet. The program features three concentrations to meet the needs of place-bound professionals seeking a graduate education. Students in the M.S.A.N.R. program select a concentration in either: Agribusiness and Risk Management, Natural Resources Systems Management, or Systems Science in Agriculture. The Agribusiness and Risk Management concentration provides a range of agricultural economics course work developed specifically to address risk management issues associated with agribusiness enterprises. Students selecting the Natural Resources Systems Management concentration have access to a wide range of natural resources based graduate course work from The University of Tennessee at Martin as well as participating universities in the Natural Resources Distance Learning Consortium (NRDLC). The Systems Science in Agriculture concentration features course work in agricultural engineering technology, management science, and agricultural economics providing a well-rounded graduate education for professionals seeking careers in agricultural industries and government agencies.

The Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources offers a Master of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources (M.S.A.N.R.). The M.S.A.N.R. program is administered through UT Martin Online, facilitating a minimal tuition increase for non-resident students. The M.S.A.N.R. curriculum is comprised of 36 hours of graduate course work and is offered primarily via the Internet. The program features three concentrations to meet the needs of place-bound professionals seeking a graduate education. Students in the M.S.A.N.R. program select a concentration (18 hours) in either: (Ia.) Agribusiness and Risk Management, (Ib.) Natural Resources Systems Management, or (Ic.) Systems Science in Agriculture.

The Agribusiness and Risk Management (ARM) concentration provides a range of agricultural economics course work developed specifically to address risk management issues associated with agribusiness enterprises. Students selecting the Natural Resources Systems Management (NRSM)concentration can choose courses related to natural resources management including the areas of wildlife biology, park administration, geosciences, and agricultural engineering technology. The Systems Science in Agriculture (SSA) concentration features course work in agricultural engineering technology, management science, and agricultural economics providing a well-rounded graduate education for professionals seeking careers in agricultural industries and government agencies.

In addition to the above graduate programs offered in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, students may also choose to enroll in the Master of Business Administration with an Agricultural Option in the College of Business and Global Affairs. For more information on the requirements for the MBA with an agricultural option please see the College of Business and Global Affairs graduate requirements.

Students may pursue thesis (see M.S.A.N.R. thesis qualifications) or non-thesis options in the M.S.A.N.R. program. Students pursuing the thesis option must register for and complete the requirements for Agriculture 701-702 or Natural Resources Management 701-702, while students in the non-thesis option will register for and complete the requirements of Agriculture 790-791 or Natural Resources Management 790-791.

Students must satisfy the university general requirements and the following requirements specific to the degree.

Resumé of Degree Requirements

Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources Electives (9 Hours)

Choose nine (9) hours of course work from 600 level or higher courses in agriculture, agricultural economics, geosciences, natural resources, education, natural or physical sciences, or other graduate course approved by the M.S.A.N.R. Graduate Coordinator.

*Three hours in this category must include a globalization component.

Statistics/Advanced Mathematics (3 Hours)

Students in the Agribusiness and Risk Management ARM option are required to complete AGEC 740 - Advanced Econometric Applications in Agribusiness (3) to complete the statistics requirement.

AGRI 741 - Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Natural Resources Credit(s): 3
OR
A graduate-level statistics or mathematics course approved by the M.S.A.N.R. Graduate Coordinator Credit(s): 3

Research (6 Hours)

Non-Thesis Option

AGRI 790 - Scientific Writing and Presentations Credit(s): 3
OR
NRM 790 - Scientific Writing and Presentation Credit(s): 3
AGRI 791 - Master’s Research Project in Agriculture Credit(s): 1-3
OR
NRM 791 - Master’s Research Project Credit(s): 1-3

Thesis Option

M.S.A.N.R. students seeking to qualify for the Thesis Option must have a GRE writing score of 3.5 or greater, and must complete a Writing Qualification Exam (WQE) developed and administered by the M.S.A.N.R. Graduate Coordinator. The M.S.A.N.R. Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the M.S.A.N.R. Graduate Supervisory Committee, will grade the WQE: Pass or Fail. Students receiving a “Fail” grade on the WQE may schedule a second attempt on the WQE without taking remedial writing course work. M.S.A.N.R. students receiving a Fail grade on their first and second WQE attempts must take remedial writing course work prior to taking the WQE a third and final time. M.S.A.N.R. students must receive a “Pass” grade on the WQE no later than the end of the second semester of M.S.A.N.R. course work to be considered for the M.S.A.N.R. Thesis Option. The WQE does not apply to Non-Thesis Option students in the M.S.A.N.R. program. M.S.A.N.R. students who do not qualify for the Thesis Option may continue in the M.S.A.N.R. program in the Non-Thesis Option.

Thesis option students will complete a research study in an approved area of agriculture or natural resources management. The thesis research director must have a terminal degree and be actively involved in research or extension. The student, in consultation with the thesis research adviser, must submit a written research proposal to the graduate thesis committee for approval prior to collecting thesis data. The graduate thesis committee will be composed of a minimum of three faculty members with graduate faculty status.

AGRI 701 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 3
AGRI 702 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 1-3
OR
NRM 701 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 3
NRM 702 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 1-3

Concentrations

Agribusiness and Risk Management Concentration (1194)

Natural Resources Systems Management Concentration (1192)

Systems Science in Agriculture Concentration (1193)

Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 36

A minimum of 70 percent of the degree requirements must be taken at the 700 level. All M.S.A.N.R. students must complete a written comprehensive final examination during the semester they expect to graduate. The comprehensive final exam will be administered and graded (Pass/Fail) by the student’s graduate committee. Thesis students receiving a Pass score on the comprehensive final exam will schedule an oral thesis defense at least three weeks prior to graduation. All M.S.A.N.R. students must receive a Pass score on the written comprehensive exam to graduate. Thesis students must also receive a Pass score on the oral thesis defense to graduate. Thesis students must meet all of the requirements listed above and requirements as outlined in the section of this catalog entitled Thesis Option.