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Agricultural Sciences M.Agr.

2
Years to Earn Your Masters
95%
CSU Online Grad Students have Plans Related to their Career
93%
Grad Students would choose CSU Online Again
$498M
In research expenditures in FY23
Degree Overview Open Accordion

This online master’s in agriculture gives you the knowledge and skills necessary to operate an agricultural business efficiently and sustainably without sacrificing profits.

Learn the business of agriculture with a focus on sustainability and resource management.

Earn your master’s in agriculture online in a multi-disciplined program that blends animal science, business, range science, ecology, wildlife, policy, and human resources.

Explore how agricultural resource systems work together in a comprehensive way, and how to apply them in an agricultural management setting.

One of the only programs of its kind in the nation, this master’s degree in agriculture caters to working professionals with full-time jobs and busy schedules. Some unique attributes of this program are:

  • Students interact and network with others across the country as well as some international locations.
  • Advisors help students design plans of study that emphasize immediate career applicability.
  • Online education allows working professionals to obtain a degree without putting their careers on hold.

A focus on sustainable agriculture

Learn to be an active problem solver focused on long-term resource sustainability solutions for the agricultural industry, with a focus on creating specific solutions to unique problems agriculture businesses may face.

Complete your master’s online in as little as 24 months or take up to five years, depending on your schedule and goals.

Explore Careers Open Accordion

Highly skilled agriculture and natural resources professionals are needed to meet the demand for sustainable management of land and resources in today's rural and urban communities.

As an interdisciplinary program, the curriculum applies to professionals seeking to advance their careers in a number of diverse fields:

  • Commercial agricultural operations
  • Professional land and ranch management
  • Animal and cattle production management
  • Local, state and regional agencies dealing with land and resource management, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service
  • Wildlife and forest management
  • Management of ranches, dairies, swine production facilities, fisheries and wildlife areas
  • Breeding associations, drug and seed companies, and Homeland Security
  • Community economic development
Hear from Our Students Open Accordion

What do students have to say about our integrated resource management master's degree program? Get a glimpse of their experiences, hear what they think about CSU's faculty and curriculum, and discover how online education is impacting people just like you.

Nancie McCormish

Nancie grew up in rural Colorado and gained hands-on experience working on ranches and with horses. See how reaching for her master’s degree gave Nancie the knowledge and skills to make more informed ranch management decisions and prepared her to teach at a college level, sharing her passion with her students.


Geoffrey Hess

See how Geoff utilized his sustainable agriculture master’s degree and internship to merge his love of farming and craft beer, ultimately allowing him to design and land his dream job with Oskar Blues Brewery.


Faculty Open Accordion
Joe Brummer
Joe Brummer

I grew up in southcentral Kansas near the small town of Zenda on a small dryland wheat and livestock operation. We ran about 40 head of Angus and Angus/Hereford cross cattle. In addition, we also raised a few hogs (when the price was right), chickens for both eggs and butchering, and had a big garden as well as some fruit trees. We were essentially self sufficient except for a few of the staples like sugar and salt. I originally thought I wanted to be a forester, but changed my mind when I got to college (not unusual). I decided to get into something I at least knew a little about, so I changed my major to range management. All three of my degrees are in range with emphasis in grazing management related issues for both my master's and Ph.D.

I have worked in the shortgrass, midgrass, and tallgrass prairies, the Nebraska Sandhills, and high elevation mountain shrub and grasslands. I gained a lot of practical experience working with improved forages in both the subirrigated hay meadows in the Nebraska Sandhills and the mountain hay meadows in western Colorado. Working with improved forages has allowed me to combine my interests in agronomy with pasture and livestock production. I am particularly interested in livestock/plant interactions, selection of forage species for different objectives, seeding methodology, improving forage quality by interseeding of legumes into grass stands, and the use of alternative forages for extending the grazing season. In my free time, I like to hike, backpack, and snowshoe in the mountains. My wife and I also like to travel throughout the West visiting Native American ruins and identifying and photographing plants and birds along the way.

Mark Enns
Mark Enns

Mark Enns, Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences, was born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma. Growing up, Mark worked on the family's wheat and cattle farm. He received dual degrees in Biology and Natural Science - Chemistry from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas (1987). After a year working in private industry, he entered the graduate program in Animal Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. He completed his M.S. in 1991 under the supervision of Dr. Jim Brinks, and in 1995 he completed his Ph.D. with co-advisors Drs. Jim Brinks and Richard Bourdon.

Mark's research focuses on methods to genetically evaluate and select animals that fit their production environment both biologically and economically. These efforts include development of new methods for evaluating and improving cow and heifer fertility, cow maintenance requirements, time to finish in the feedlot; and development of methods to better use economic information in selection decisions for increased profitability of beef production.

Dana Hoag
Dana Hoag

Dana Hoag grew up in the Colorado Mountains. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees at CSU in agricultural economics, specializing in production and farm management. He received his Ph.D. from Washington State University where he worked on soil conservation and the conservation reserve program. He developed an interest in how policies affect land management, especially conflicts and complementarities between conservation and working lands.

He works on farm and ranch management issues where innovation and integration are important, including: farm and ranch management, risk and uncertainty, finding ecosystem services such as hunting and sequestering carbon on private lands, soil and water conservation issues, and policy issues related to managing private lands, including water, price and income supports, taxes and subsidies, and innovations.

Marshall Frasier
Marshall Frasier

Marshall Frasier is a professor in Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University, joining the faculty in 1993. His teaching and research interests focus on the management of agricultural enterprises in the western US and the interplay between those activities and the natural resource base which sustains them. Dr. Frasier grew up on a diversified cropping and livestock operation in southwest Nebraska. He earned his BS (1983) and MS (1990) degrees from the University of Nebraska, focusing on these enterprises. He served as technical coordinator for Nebraska’s IRM demonstration program 1984-1989. Prior to coming to CSU, Dr. Frasier spent three years at Washington State University where he earned his PhD, focusing his research on the allocation and management of water in irrigated enterprises. He now also serves as coordinator of undergraduate programs in his department. Following several extended trips to New Zealand, Dr. Frasier and his wife have developed a strong interest in backpacking and enjoy a host of summer and winter activities that the Colorado mountains have to offer.

Kraig Peel
Kraig Peel

I grew up in Texas farming and raising cattle. I went to San Angelo, Texas for an undergraduate in animal science from Angelo State University. I took my first full time job as a county extension agent in Del Rio, Texas which is on the border with Mexico. I was a county agent for 3 years and then took a job managing a 74,000 acre ranch north of Del Rio. This ranch was very diversified with meat goats, hair goats, sheep, hunting, and cattle.

It was a great experience but my wife and I decided to go to graduate school at Texas A&M. I earned a master's degree in ruminant nutrition and a Ph.D. in meat science. I have been at CSU for 11 years. My research interests are with reproductive strategies to help producers streamline their breeding process, minimize labor, and be profitable. I enjoy working with a variety of people and disciplines. I am married to an amazing lady (23 years) and we have 4 kids (Shayla, Keri, Kace, and Sawyer). I am passionate about my faith, family, and work in that order.

Bob Woodmansee
Bob Woodmansee

My professional/education interests are currently and passionately focused on developing Virtual Field Trips for anyone who is interested and as a support tool for classes, both on-line and face-to-face. Since retiring, for "real-person" enjoyment I like to botanize, hike, play with our dogs, ski, canoe, explore wild places, work on finishing our new house in the mountains, eat good food, drink good beer and wine, and encourage our daughters to figure out what the hell to do with their lives.

Most of all my wife and I enjoy doing all of these things in one of the most beautiful places on earth - southern Routt County. Before retiring, in addition to doing all the professional stuff, my wife and I ran a small farm (started out as 105 ac) north of Fort Collins, raised our girls in a rural environment, and learned how to lose money and repair old, used equipment. Now that we live near Steamboat Springs, I look out on the immense hay fields around here and fantasize about what it must be like to cut hay with one of these fancy, new swathers with air conditioning and an audio system you can hear.

Curriculum Open Accordion

Requirements

This degree requires:

  • 30 credits, selected with the guidance of an academic advisor, including internship credit
  • 24 credits must be earned at Colorado State University, 21 of which must be earned after formal admission.
  • Completion of a professional paper (no thesis is required)
  • Minimum of one, preferably two, internships arranged and approved with your academic advisor
  • Internship requires a minimum of 40-hours of work per internship credit

Curriculum

The integrated resource management specialization in this online agriculture master's degree allows you to take the ten required courses in the order that best suits your educational and professional needs. All online courses combine the same rigorous training as campus courses with directed hands-on, problem-solving experiences that apply to real-life land management scenarios.

This program teaches you to be a capable professional in agriculture, government, and natural resources careers. For example, alumni can:

  • Manage rangeland and animal production for both long-term profitability and sustainability.
  • Apply an integrated approach to successfully manage the needs and interests of multiple stakeholders.

Required Courses

Your capstone course, AGRI 640, is a culmination of the previous ten classes and results in a final project. This course should be taken in your last semester of coursework.

Optional Courses

How to Apply Open Accordion

Application Deadlines

Students can be admitted in fall, spring, and summer. Applications are often accepted after the deadlines below.

Fall semester July 15
Spring semester December 1
Summer semester April 1

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

1Review Admission Requirements

The integrated resource management (M.Agr.) degree requires applicants to have the following:

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework
  • GRE not required

Note that meeting the minimum department standards does not ensure admission to the program. Admission to Colorado State University graduate programs is based on a number of factors, including prior academic and professional experience and the personal statement.

2 Prepare Application Materials

Prepare the materials below and upload when you apply online.

  • Two letters of recommendation
    Two professional recommendations are required. You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.
  • Resume or vita
    Your resume should contain the following:
    • Record of all education and training, including names of institutions, periods of attendance, and degree earned
    • Record of all professional employment including dates of service (including military)
    • List of any special skills or competencies (including certifications and licensures)
    • List of publications, exhibitions, prizes, awards, or other recognition
    • List of service activities (including community and charitable)
  • Statement of purpose
    The statement of purpose is typically 1-2 pages and briefly describes:
    • Your background
    • Your educational goals and leadership potential
    • Your research interests and experience
    • Why you are a good fit in the program
    • Motivation for pursuing graduate work in integrated resource management

3 Complete Online Application

Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.

  • Select "Agricultural Sciences/Integrated Resource Management (M.Agr.) – Distance" when choosing the program of study.

4 Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.

Please Note: Students may be unconditionally admitted and registered in their first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School.

Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.

Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.

Mail (if necessary)
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and promptly notify you of their decision.

For International Applicants

Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about English language proficiency requirements.

Questions?

We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.

Elizabeth Furuiye
Master of Agriculture: IRM Coordinator

Program Details

Courses
Credits
30
Tuition
$624 per credit
Same in-state tuition for all.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance
Degree Awarded
Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Sciences; transcript reflects the integrated resource management specialization
Time Frame
Can be completed in 2 years
Admission Reqs.
  • Minimum 3.00 GPA
  • Math Entrance Exam scores recommended for applicants who have not taken the required prerequisites within the past 10 years

Application Dates

Fall semester
July 15
Spring semester
December 1
Summer semester
April 1

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