Graduate Degree

The Master of Science Degree in Global Plant Breeding provides opportunities for working professionals to obtain new knowledge in laws and regulations, design thinking and leadership, and global seed systems.
 
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.
 
Admission
 
The student must:

1. have earned a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average of 3.0;
2. provide all undergraduate transcripts;
3. provide three letters of recommendation;
4. provide a personal statement describing the applicants interest and experience in plant breeding and their personal career goals;
5. provide a resume or test scores from a standardized graduate or professional school test such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, DAT, or LSAT, which may be waived if the applicant has a previously conferred graduate or professional degree;
6. provide test scores from an English proficiency examination if from non-English speaking country;
7. have completed at least one college level introductory course in Advanced Mathematics, Biology, and Genetics;
8. have completed 15 undergraduate credit hours in plant science course work.

Guidance Committee
 
The Global Plant Breeding Committee is composed of the director of the Global Plant Breeding program and two additional regular MSU faculty members.
 
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Global Plant Breeding
 
A minimum of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan B (without thesis). The program is available only online.

1.          Complete all of the following courses (24 credits):
	CSS	441	Plant Breeding and Biotechnology						3
	CSS	451	Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics						3
	CSS	815	Statistics for Plant Breeders						3
	CSS	816	R Modules for Plant Breeders						2
	CSS	817	Global Plant Breeding Regulations						2
	CSS	818	Design Thinking and Leadership for Plant Breeders						2
	CSS	830	Breeding for Quantitative Traits						3
	CSS	831	Breeding for Biotic and Abiotic Stresses						3
	CSS	832	Global Seed Systems						3
2.          Complete both of the following courses (6 credits):
	CSS	870	Capstone in Global Plant Breeding						3
	CSS	890	Independent Study						3
3.          Complete training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
4.          Successfully pass a final oral evaluation in defense of a final professional breeding project.