. Set against the backdrop of an intensifying climate crisis and many other worrying stats, this shift poses unprecedented challenges and opportunities to the agricultural sector, including a growing demand for experts with advanced knowledge and skills to forge sustainable solutions.
From pollution and biodiversity loss to soil degradation and water scarcity, the best graduate programmes cover them all. More importantly, they arm you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to become the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and innovators who can and will shape a more sustainable future for all. Below is a selection of three US universities transforming master’s graduates into impact makers.
The University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences is ranked #3 for agricultural sciences in the US. Source: University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia‘s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) is all about caring for global ecosystems, enriching communities, and equipping the next generation of leaders. 5 for agricultural sciences among public universities in the US, CAES is dedicated to discovering, teaching, and delivering the science required for healthy living.
At CAES, classes take place both in and out of the classroom at three campuses across the state of Georgia. With state-of-the-art facilities, research institutes, and laboratories, there is no shortage of experiential learning waiting for students who are ready to see complex concepts come to life and hone crucial skills that make them career-ready. Whether you’re pursuing regenerative bioscience (BA and PhD), food science and technology (BA, MS, MFT, and PhD), or agricultural and applied economics (BA, MS and PhD), you’ll be in the labs, fields, and more.
CAES graduate programmes allow a deep dive into one focus area yet still often span across multiple departments and disciplines. There are even programmes that, by design, cover several fields, such as animal & dairy science (MS and PhD), plant protection and pest management (MPPPM), plant breeding, genetics & genomics (MS), and more. CAES even offers a wide selection of Double Dawgs programs, unique five-year programmes that allow students to graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or less.
At the PhD level, CAES has an integrated plant sciences (PhD) programme that is ideal for those who are interested in studying plant sciences but aren’t sure which PhD programme is right for them yet. With this programme, students get to experience different aspects of plant sciences at CAES before making their final programme choice.
Whichever undergraduate or graduate programme you pursue, choosing CAES means joining a robust network of agricultural leaders revolutionising not only Georgia’s agricultural industry but the entire global agricultural and environmental ecosystem.
CAES graduates are thriving in top companies, nonprofits, academic institutions and all levels of the government, reporting a median salary of US$60,000. Want a shorter but just as impactful CAES qualification and experience? Consider signing up for a graduate certificate. Spanning 15 to 20 hours, these let students take a variety of courses that provide a general knowledge overview of the certificate programme area without having to change their majors. CAES has graduate certificates in agricultural data science, international agriculture, and sustainable food systems, and more available here.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences covers non-agricultural fields too like engineering, finance, law, and communications. Source: University of Illinois College of ACES/Facebook
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign‘s College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES) is considered among the top agricultural schools in the world because of its line of academic programmes that does not just focus on that one field. It covers engineering, finance, economics, law, nutritional science, and communications too, which attracts students with different specialties, giving the college a diverse environment to learn in.
Take the Master of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, for example. Here, you will find solutions to real-world problems stemming from agricultural production, utilisation, environmental control, and biological systems, but with subjects like mathematics, computer science, statistics, and engineering mechanics thrown into the mix. Another is the Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics, where you will study the concepts and analytical techniques used by analysts and managers in the industry.
Researches here also know no boundaries. There are four research areas that ACES focuses on: Agriculture & Environment, Data & Technology, Family & Communities, and Health & Wellness. All these have one common goal, and that is to help families and communities thrive while ensuring the sustainability and viability of Earth’s natural resources and environments. With research facilities on campus and across Illinois, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with professionals to ensure that your work serves a bigger purpose.
The University of California, Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is the #1 agriculture school in the US. Source: UC Davis/Facebook
University of California, Davis
If you are looking for the #1 agriculture school in the US, it is at the University of California, Davis. Its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) is where majoring in one of its graduate programmes.
The CA&ES offers a wide variety of master’s and PhD programmes. From Entomology to Geography, Food Science to Nutritional Biology, you will cross academic departments and disciplines and draw from the best students in those fields, thus enhancing your learning experience. Your studies do not just happen in the classroom. It may take you to work in high-tech laboratories, crop fields, community shelters, animal barns – all of which allow you to deal with issues hands-on to prepare you for professional work.
Depending on where your studies take place, you will address critical issues related to agriculture, food systems, the environment, and human and social sciences. The same can be said about conducting research here, where improving the standard of living for everyone is the top priority. Your research will have you collaborate with different departments, thus allowing you to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to today’s agricultural problems.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
