Sorghum breeder Heber Aquino has been in the field of agronomy — the science of soil management and crop production — for almost three decades. First, he earned a degree in agronomy engineering in 2001. Then, a master’s degree in plant breeding in 2005.
Ever since, he has been deeply involved in developing improved crop varieties and advancing innovation within the local seed industry. With more than 20 years of industry experience, he realised that there was still more to explore.
But finding a programme that would let him continue to stay and work in Argentina was challenging. That is, until he found Texas A&M University‘s Soil and Crop Science Distance Education (DE).
“The DE programme at Texas A&M University proved to be the ideal solution,” he says. “It offered me the opportunity to study at a renowned institution without stepping away from my ongoing work. This programme’s flexibility allowed me to integrate advanced academic learning with my day-to-day professional practice.”
The Soil and Crop Science Distance Education offers 100% online degrees that are identical to the on-campus curriculum. Source: Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is the #1 public university in Texas, #1 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and #12 nationally among public institutions, according to the latest Wall Street Journal rankings. A leader in agricultural and environmental research, it drives innovation in sustainability of food, fibre, bioenergy, soil and water conservation, and much more. These breakthroughs shape its master’s and PhD degrees in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, and Soil Science.
Although these traditionally are in-person programmes, working professionals like Aquino, who need to juggle their full-time job, family, and education, can opt for the 100% online programmes, either in Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding or Regulatory Science in Food Systems.
The MS and PhD distance education programs in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, and Soil Science trains future professionals to meet the growing demands of food, fibre, biofuel, greenspace for a growing global population, as well as environmental issues dealing with soil and water. The Master of Science has thesis and non-thesis options; the latter requires only the completion of academic coursework without any research.
The PhD degree program requires a dissertation with original research in addition to completing 64 credit hours of study. The research component can take place anywhere, as long as an on-site PhD scientist, educator, or supervisor who qualifies as an adjunct member of the Texas A&M graduate faculty is available to serve as co-chair of the student’s graduate advisory committee and be able to direct dissertation research locally.
“The plant breeding and genetics courses have been most impactful. They’ve given me tools to understand everything from classical breeding to Genome-Wide Sequencing (GWS),” says student Wayne Swink, a USDA researcher focusing on hemp fibre and sustainable agriculture based in New Orleans. “That knowledge translates directly into my hemp research, helping me explore how to create stronger, more sustainable crops.”
The Regulatory Science in Food Systems DE graduate programme aims to improve the protection and compliance of food systems by creating new and advanced tools, standards, and practices. The programme collaborates with departments such as Agricultural Economics, Veterinary Pathobiology, and Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, to provide you a fuller spectrum of knowledge and skills to address today’s challenges affecting the food and feed supply chain.
As an MS (thesis option) and PhD student, you will partner with a local research entity that will guide you on your thesis and dissertation. Source: Texas A&M University
Although these DE programmes are completely online, courses mirror those on campus and are taught by the same lecturers. Instruction takes place via platforms like Canvas, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Although based in Rochester, New York, MS in Plant Breeding student Nicholas Shepard makes it a point to stay engaged with faculty even from a distance.
“Regular virtual meetings with my advisors and professors — whether about coursework or my thesis — helped build real mentorship connections,” he says. “I also joined online seminar series and journal clubs, which gave me the chance to interact with both faculty and peers and stay plugged into the department’s research community.”
For PhD in Plant Breeding graduate Ellen Melson, faculty members were key to elevating her experience and expertise. “I had professors whom I spoke with on the phone about specific plant breeding topics, and many others who answered questions I had ranging from exams to how to review articles for a journal,” says Melson, who lives in her family farm in rural Texas. “The most significant impact on my career direction was the time I spent learning plant breeding hands-on with an associate research scientist. I would not be pursuing the career I am now without that opportunity that was made possible through the connections I made in the programme.”
Postdoctoral work is often limited to those who are location bound. But thanks to Melson’s DE links, Melson successfully found a position at a nearby plant breeding programme she had worked at as a student. “My coursework and the hands-on breeding and research education I received in the DE programme provided the knowledge and expertise I needed to be successful in my postdoc work,” she says.
Ask other students and graduates and they’ll agree that the programmes stand out for being 100% online just as much as for their impact.
“The flexibility of remote courses has been life-changing,” says Swink. “I can work full-time, support my family, and still pursue a PhD. I often study at night and on weekends, and what I learn in class, I can apply to my research almost at once. That balance is what makes this programme so powerful for me.”
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