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The online graduate degree programmes in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University provide individuals globally the opportunity to broaden their professional knowledge and enhance their careers without disrupting their employment or family status.
Online MS-non-thesis, MS-thesis, and PhD-thesis degrees are available in Plant Breeding, Agronomy (fall 2025), and Soil Science (Spring 2026), plus an academic certificate in Regulatory Science in Food Systems. Online students take the same classes as on-campus students and from the same professors. This programme was initiated in 2013 and its faculty have over a decade of experience mentoring online students to the completion of their degree.
Former students are complimentary of the online programme, noting its convenience, which allowed them to gain a graduate degree while maintaining employment and family responsibilities. Online students are not required to come to campus and all course work, including exams, is conducted remotely through electronic platforms.
The MS-thesis and PhD graduate degrees require original research for which online students must have access to research facilities at or near their location and have a professional PhD at or near these research facilities who can assist in the conduct of the student’s original research. For the individual seeking an MS degree in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, or Soil Science who does not have access to research facilities, the university offers the MS-non-thesis option that does not require original research but only the completion of online coursework.
Texas A&M has one of the largest agricultural colleges in the US, which means it offers a broader array of coursework than many similar institutions globally. Online students in the Plant Breeding programme choose from courses that focus on phenotypic, quantitative, and molecular plant breeding, genetics, genomics, statistics, and molecular biology. Students in Agronomy have available courses in plant physiology, weed science, digital agriculture, crop production, soil fertility, precision agriculture, plus other courses pertinent to specific interests.
Students in the Soil Science online degree programme (spring 2026) may choose to concentrate in soil chemistry, soil physics, soil and water microbiology, soil pedology, soil biogeochemistry, soil mineralogy, fertility and management, or environmental physics. All online graduate degree participants may choose to add courses in entomology, plant pathology, ecology, biochemistry, business, leadership, etc. Each student in the online degree programme is guided by a Graduate Advisory Committee knowledgeable in courses that will tailor the student’s programme to their individual career goals.
The Graduate Advisory Committee consists of a distance co-chair, an on-campus co-chair and two additional members. Online students engaged in an MS-non-thesis option are not required to have a distance co-chair since they will not be conducting original research.
Dr. Vishal Madhukar Saitwal Source: Texas A&M
Dr. Vishal Madhukar Saitwal was one of the earliest students in the online plant breeding programme, matriculating in 2014 and graduating with his PhD in 2017. Dr. Saitwal noted recently, “Achieving my PhD at Texas A&M was a dream come true, significantly impacting my career evolution. It expanded my knowledge in plant breeding principles, quantitative genetics, and molecular breeding. Starting as a research associate, I now lead the Line Breeding team for Maize, Rice, and Millet in India and Thailand at Limagrain Thailand Co Ltd in Bangkok, driving technology adoption to ensure better genetic gains.”
Dr. Rob Arnold began his online distance PhD programme in 2016 and graduated in 2021. Dr. Arnold completed a unique research programme with his company that involved evaluation of different maize phenotypes on their distilled taste quality.
“The Texas A&M distance PhD programme in Plant Breeding was a perfect fit for my professional goals and schedule. I was able to complete the coursework and research while maintaining my role as Master Distiller for TX Whiskey (Pernod Ricard). I now work on the investment side of the spirits industry with a Houston-based family office. This opportunity — and the company’s success — would not have been possible without my PhD. Even if you are not an active researcher, the PhD offered by the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences will open doors for the entirety of your career,” stated Rob Arnold, President, Advanced Spirits and Barrel Hub.
Anil Konan Source: Texas A&M
Meanwhile, Anil Konan credits the Plant Breeding Distance MS-thesis option programme for providing a deep understanding of theoretical applications that he effectively applied in his role as a cotton breeder in Türkiye.
“One of the key advantages of this program was its alignment with the on-campus curriculum while allowing me to conduct essential projects remotely from my location in Turkey,” he says.
“The academic staff was highly supportive, promptly assisting me whenever needed and ensuring that I could resolve challenges efficiently. Their dedication fostered a sense of belonging, making my campus visits (optional component of my programme) feel that I was part of an on-campus learning experience. This program has significantly enhanced my professional development, equipping me with international-level expertise and invaluable experience that will support me in meeting key milestones throughout my career.”
Learn more about Texas A&M’s online MS and PhD degrees in Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Soil Science.
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