Program Overview

Agricultural Sciences, Ph.D.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural Sciences graduate program offers a flexible course of study that provides education and research experience in plant and animal agriculture, food systems, and related fields. Graduate students are engaged in an interdisciplinary department focusing on the farm to fork wellness continuum and an integrated approach to solving problems.

Program Description

The Ph.D. program is thesis-based, with the expectation of generating and publishing substantial new knowledge in the field of interest. Students will develop independent and team research experience and graduate prepared to pursue careers in college teaching and research positions in industry and government. Students may work in plant and animal agriculture, food production and distribution systems, teaching, public service, research in federal, state, nonprofit, private organizations, or related fields.

Program Highlights

• UNH is among the nation's highest-performing research universities, having earned a Carnegie Classification R1.
• Our research portfolio brings in more than $110 million in competitive external funding each year.
• Federal and state funding is available for research on diverse aspects of sustainable agriculture, foods, and agricultural sciences.
• Students will have the opportunity to partner with state and regional growers and producers and collaborate with leading researchers worldwide.
• As a graduate student at UNH, students will have the opportunity to work in several top-notch teaching and research facilities, including the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, one of the university's largest research organizations.

Potential Career Areas

• Agribusiness
• Commercial plant/animal production
• Research
• Private consulting
• Education and Extension
• Farming
• Government/regulatory
• Policy making
• Nonprofit sector

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) graduate students work with their advisor and Doctoral Guidance Committee to plan a program of study including the required core courses, competencies, and develop a research proposal.
• To complete the degree, students must complete a research proposal, pass a qualifying exam, conduct dissertation research, and complete and defend a dissertation.

Guidance and Dissertation Committees

• During the first semester, the student and advisor jointly select members of a guidance committee.
• The Guidance Committee consists of 5 members and is responsible for approving the proposal and oversees the qualifying examination.
• Once the student has advanced to candidacy, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee is formed.
• The Dissertation Committee is responsible for administering the dissertation exam.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

• All Ph.D. students are required to develop a formally approved research proposal typically by the end of the third semester and no later than the fourth semester.
• Proposals are approved by the dissertation committee and the major advisor.
• In addition to the written proposal, students are expected to present a proposal defense presentation.

Candidacy

• Following approval of the research proposal and completion of coursework, doctoral students should advance to candidacy.
• Candidacy is reached after passing a formal qualifying examination that assesses both broad basic knowledge of the student's field, and topics central to the research project.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

• All students must complete a dissertation reporting original research.
• After completion of the research, the candidate must provide a copy of the dissertation to the Doctoral Dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination.
• The final thesis defense consists of two parts: an oral presentation of the research in a public seminar, and an oral defense of the dissertation conducted by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee.

Number of Credits Required

• There is no specific credit requirement for the Ph.D., though students must take the required core courses and fulfill the competences outlined below.
• Up to 8 credits of graduate credit from another institution may be transferred, provided the credits were not counted toward another degree, and the course grade was a B or higher.

Core Course Requirements

Competency Requirements

• In addition to the core required courses, students will be expected to demonstrate competency in areas of experimental design and analysis, and in scientific writing and communication.
• Students must take at least one course from each competency.

Electives

• Each student, in consultation with their graduate committee, will define one or more areas of informal specialization, and will take additional courses appropriate for their area(s) of specialization.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences will meet objectives in the following areas:

• Discipline-specific knowledge
• Research design and analysis
• Scientific method
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Professionalism

Application Requirements & Deadlines

Deadlines

• Fall: Jan. 15 (priority), Aug. 1 (final)
• Spring: Oct. 15 (final)
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A
• Application fee: $65
• Campus: Durham
• New England Regional: MA RI
• Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

Transcripts

• If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally.
• If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form.
• International transcripts must be translated into English.

Letters of Recommendation

• 3 required
• Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

• Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
  1. Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
  2. Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

Important Notes

• Applicants should visit the Agricultural Sciences program website and review the list of faculty in their area of interest.
• The applicant should contact potential faculty advisors to discuss their interests and determine whether the faculty member(s) may be willing and able to serve as the student's advisor before applying to the program.