Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences (AFLS)

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Donna L. Graham
Associate Dean, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
AFLS E-108
479-575-2254
E-mail: dgraham@uark.edu
bumperscollege.uark.edu/544.htm (for program description and information)
uacted.uark.edu/Distance_Education/Graduate_Degree_Programs.html (for off-campus options)

This program is a college-wide, interdisciplinary program directed by a steering committee. Steering Committee members include:

University Professor Morelock
Professors Anthony, Graham, Kellogg, Kirkpatrick, Luttrell, McLeod, Milus, Norman, Troxel
Associate Professors Popp, Scott

All graduate faculty in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences are the faculty of this program.

Degree Conferred:
M.S. (AFLS)

The Master of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences is designed for practitioners of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Graduates are prepared to address complex environmental, social, community and biologically-based problems in agricultural industries, education and agencies. This program provides students desiring advanced training or a broad-based education in agricultural sciences a course of study leading to a master’s degree. The Master of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences program requires a total of 30 hours of graduate-level work with a minimum of 15 semester hours in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Nine hours must be completed in a defined emphasis area of study. Each student will complete one three-hour special problem in which a technical paper will be developed. A student may substitute an approved thesis project in one of the agricultural, food and life sciences departments for the required special problem project. No more than a total of nine hours of thesis, special problems and internships are recognized for degree requirements with no more than a total of six hours of special problems and internships. Each special problem course should be limited to three hours of credit. An oral examination over all course work and the special problem project is required.

The student’s advisory committee will outline the total program of study, including work outside the general fields of agriculture, based upon individual needs. The advisory committee will also determine if any course deficiencies should be addressed. An applicant must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School. The program’s steering committee provides guidelines for student admission and establishes degree requirements. The student and the Program Coordinator, with approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, select a major adviser. The major adviser should be from the department in which the heaviest concentration of agricultural courses (at least nine hours) will be developed. The major adviser, in consultation with the student, will recommend additional faculty members to serve on the student’s advisory committee, including one member from the program steering committee and one from outside of the defined emphasis area.