2025 - 2026 Graduate Catalog
Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology Concentration, M.S.
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 Return to: College of Agriculture
Program Overview
Mission of the College
The College of Agriculture carries out the Land Grant mandates of the University in teaching, research, and service. The major goal of the College is to satisfy the educational needs and aspirations of both traditional and non-traditional students enrolled in its academic programs.
Department Goals and Objectives
The graduate programs in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering are designed to provide students with a solid and the most relevant up-to-date curriculum that blends 21st-century leadership skills and scientific knowledge to solve problems in agriculture and related areas. Students will develop the necessary set of skills and competency, and expand their knowledge, creativity, and scholastic activities through classroom, experiential hands-on learning, and networking opportunities that prepare them for today’s ever-demanding job market.
Program Description
The Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences is offered with a concentration - Biotechnology. The degree is offered with two options, thesis or non-thesis. This concentration focuses on the application of biotechnological principles to plant and soil sciences.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will be equipped for roles in research and development in agricultural biotechnology, plant breeding, soil science, and related industries or government agencies.
- Develop professionals and research scholars with in-depth knowledge and skills in agriculture.
- Prepare scholars for rewarding careers in government, industry, international organizations, and higher education.
- Develop scholars to take leadership roles in professional food, agricultural, and environmental sciences.
- Equip agricultural professionals to evaluate and define diverse problems and develop solutions.
- Enable experts to analyze data, and develop, implement, and evaluate solutions to real-world problems.
- Foster scholars capable of communicating effectively to diverse audiences.
- Prepare scholars for further doctoral and/or post-doctoral training (primarily through the thesis option).
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year degree granting college or university with a major in one of the Agricultural Sciences or related areas.
- Minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.
- Minimum GRE score of 290 (Verbal + Quantitative).
- A sliding scale for GPA and GRE may be used for minor deficiencies for degrees from U.S. institutions.
- International Students:
- TOEFL minimum score: Internet-based Test (iBT) - 71 (Computer-based Test (CBT) - 197; Paper-based Test (PBT) - 530) OR IELTS minimum score of 6.0. Test scores are valid for five years.
- Non-US transcripts must be evaluated by a foreign educational credential agency (e.g., WES).
- Required Application Materials (submitted via GradCAS): Official transcripts, GRE scores, personal statement of purpose, contact details for three professional/academic references, CV/Resume.
- Important Dates (Refer to the official 2025-2026 Graduate School Calendar when available):
- Fall Admission Application Deadline (Domestic): July 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026)
- Fall Admission Application Deadline (International Students Abroad): April 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026)
- Spring Admission Application Deadline (Domestic): December 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026)
- Spring Admission Application Deadline (International Students Abroad): October 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026)
Program Duration
- M.S. with thesis is typically 2 years.
- M.S. non-thesis is typically 2 years.
- GRA for MS level is standard for 18 months, with a research mode extension for 6 months (total 24 months).
Transfer of Credits
Up to 12 credit hours from another accredited institution may be transferred, subject to approval by the student’s advisory committee, graduate coordinator, department chair, and graduate school dean.
Degree Requirements
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Thesis Option: Successful completion of coursework, appointment of thesis advising committee, advancement to candidacy, submission and successful oral defense of an approved thesis. Must pass AGSC 5110 and AGSC 5060 before enrolling in AGSC 5120.
- Non-Thesis Option: Students choosing the non-thesis option will be required to take a minimum of 35 hours of course work. After successful completion of coursework including AGSC 5350 (Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems), student need to pass comprehensive written and oral examinations administered by the student’s advisory committee and other faculty members representing appropriate subject matter areas. The student’s major advisor will serve as chairperson of the committee conducting the examination. If a student fails the comprehensive examination, one retake will be allowed. Should the student again fail, a third and final examination may be taken upon completion of additional course work (minimum of 6 hours) to be selected by the student’s advisory committee.
- File program of study after completion of 9 to 15 credit hours of coursework.
Accreditation Information
Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Specific programmatic accreditation for this degree is not detailed in the provided documents.
Career Opportunities
Employers in agricultural product processing, marketing organizations, input supply firms, teaching, agricultural extension services, and various state and federal government agencies, with a focus on biotechnology applications.
Faculty
- Addesso, Karla, Ph.D. (Ornamental Entomology and Chemical Ecology)
- Akumu, Clement E., Ph.D. (GIS, Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis)
- Amarasekare, Kaushalya, Ph.D. (Entomology - Field Crops)
- Aziz, Ahmad, Ph.D. (Breeding: Cotton, Sorghum; Plant Molecular Genetics)
- Baysal-Gurel, Fulya, Ph.D. (Fungal Plant Pathology)
- Bhandari, Krishna B., Ph.D. equivalent (Forage Agronomy)
- Blair, Matthew W., Ph.D. (Plant Breeding and Genetics, Legumes, Amaranth)
- Chang, Anjin, Ph.D. (Precision Agriculture, Remote Sensing, UAS & GIS)
- de Koff, Jason P., Ph.D. (Bioenergy Crops, Environmental Science)
- Dumenyo, C. Korsi, Ph.D. (Microbial Plant Pathology, Host-Microbe Interactions)
- Hinson, Philip Osei, Ph.D. equivalent (Cropping Systems, Organic Agriculture)
- Mmbaga, Margaret T., Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
- Molaei, Behnaz, Ph.D. (Irrigation Engineering, Precision Agriculture)
- Nandwani, Dilip, Ph.D. (Organic Agriculture, Horticulture)
- Oliver, Jason, Ph.D. (Integrated Pest Management, Entomology)
- Omondi, Emmanuel C., Ph.D. (Agronomy, Industrial Hemp)
- Ondzighi-Assoume, Christine A., Ph.D. (Plant Physiology, Plant Tissue Culture)
- Pitchay, Dharma S., Ph.D. (Plant Nutrition, Hydroponics, Horticulture)
- Roy, Sonali, Ph.D. (Molecular Genetics, Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes)
- Taheri, Ali, Ph.D. (Plant Molecular Genetics, Molecular Breeding)
- Thapa, Resham, Ph.D. (Climate Smart Agronomy)
- Wallace, Lyle, Ph.D. equivalent (Legume Breeding and Genetics)
- Wiggins, ZaDarreyal, Ph.D. (Biostimulants, Organic Agriculture)
- Witcher, Anthony, Ph.D. (Sustainable Nursery Crop Production)
- Zhou, Suping, Ph.D. (Plant Molecular Biology, Metabolomics, Proteomics, Transcriptomics)
Program Website
Program Coordinator/Contact Information
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Department Chair: Dr. Korsi Dumenyo (Professor, Office:211 D CARP, Phone: (615) 963-5434, Email: cdumenya@tnstate.edu)
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College Dean: Chandra Reddy, Ph.D.(Office: 213 Agricultural Biotechnology Building, (615) 963-7561, creddy@tnstate.edu )
Program of Study and Credit Hours Required
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