The Texas A&M Poultry Science Department currently offers a number of courses online. However, to enroll in any of these courses, you must first be enrolled at Texas A&M as an undergraduate or graduate student.
Master of Agriculture in Poultry Science
The Master of Agriculture (“MAG”) program in the Poultry Science Department is intended to prepare individuals for leadership roles in professional careers in agriculture and life sciences. This is a non-thesis, professional degree program that emphasizes the development of problem-solving skills and the practical aspects of academic coursework. Because of the diverse nature of the careers selected by MAG graduates, degree plans will vary considerably and are generally unique for each individual.
How do you get the class content?
The primary delivery system for course materials and student-teacher communication is the internet. Using the Blackboard Vista platform as the interface for the course, students can view streaming videos of lectures, and access supplemental notes, slide presentations, and resource materials through the TAMU Library. Required textbooks may be purchased online as well. The streaming video gives the student the sense of being in the actual classroom. These are not just “canned” courses. All lectures are presented in an asynchronous format, in other words, you do not have to be logged into the course website at the same time as the class here on campus. You may view the lectures online at any time of the day or night
What courses will I need to take?
The Poultry Science MAG degree plan offered through the Poultry Science Department consists of 36 hours of coursework, and a comprehensive final oral examination to be administered by the advisory committee. The courses are selected by the students and his/her advisory committee to develop skills and expertise in specific academic areas to meet the student’s career objectives. These areas may include but are not limited to:
- Live Production (nutrition, physiology, diseases, waste management, etc.)
- Nutrition (nutrition, feed formulation, vitamins, minerals, etc)
- Processing/Safety (poultry meat processing, microbiology, HACCP, etc).
It will take approximately 3-4 years to complete this degree online if the student takes only one or two courses a semester. For a time-frame reference, students attending those same courses here on campus at a full course load of 9 hours a semester would complete those same 36 hours in about 1.5 – 2 years.
Master of Agriculture Curriculum
Total of 36 Hours
(For all students with POSC as a home department)
- A maximum of 9 credit hours of upper-level (300 or 400) undergraduate courses
- Approximately 12 credit hours may be taken outside of the POSC coursework and should support the individual’s degree program
- Recommend at least 50% of the courses come from the POSC curriculum unless otherwise approved by the graduate student’s committee.
True distance education courses are listed as follows. Please note that course availability is subject to change.
| Fall | Spring | |
| Undergraduate | POSC 333, 411, 427 | POSC 313, 326, 412 |
| Others: AGEC 330, FSTC 300 | Others: AGEC 314, ALED 424, FSTC 300 | |
| Graduate | POSC 611, 649 | POSC 609, 615, 625, 628, 634, 645, 654, 685 |
| Others: ANSC 652, GENE 603 |
Course Titles
Others:
- AGEC 314 – Marketing Agricultural and Food Products
- AGEC 330 – Financial Management in Agriculture
- ALED 424 – Applied Ethics in Leadership
- ANSC 652 – Animal Welfare Assessment
- FSTC 300 – Religious and Ethnic Foods
- GENE 603 – Genetics
POSC:
- POSC 313 – Game Birds and Ornamental Fowl
- POSC 326 – Commercial Egg Industry
- POSC 333 – Instincts and Behavior
- POSC 427 – Animal Waste Management
- POSC 411 – Poultry Nutrition
- POSC 412 – Poultry Feed Formulation
- POSC 609 – Avian Physiology
- POSC 611 – Advanced Egg & Poultry Meat Processing
- POSC 615 – Avian Nutrition
- POSC 625 – Precision Diet Formula
- POSC 628 – Advanced Poultry Meat Further Processing
- POSC 634 – Diseases of Poultry
- POSC 645 – Nutrition and Metabolism of Vitamins
- POSC 649 – Immunology
- POSC 654 – Animal Welfare
- POSC 685 – Directed Studies
Plus several other courses in development.
Additional courses from other Texas A&M departments can also be used (eg. statistics, food plant sanitation, food law, feed milling, etc.) Courses completed through other universities can be credited toward your degree at Texas A&M.
Is there technical support available?
The Poultry Science Department maintains a full-time support person to assist online students with computer and procedural questions. Additionally, Computing and Information Services maintains Help Desk Central that is manned 24 hours a day to assist the students, faculty, and staff of Texas A&M University with your information technology questions.
How much will it cost?
Tuition and fees for distance education programs can vary significantly depending on factors such as Texas residency, and other costs necessary to deliver a course. The following figures are general estimates of tuition and fees for a 3-credit hour course and are based on the latest rate structure. The university does the exact determinations at the time of registration each semester.
In-State Students — $1700
Out-of-State Students — $3300
Most distance education students qualify for the Federal Stafford Loan. Additionally, many companies provide financial assistance to their employees for educational expenses so students should check all potential assistance sources.
How do I apply?
For admission to Graduate Studies as a degree-seeking student, applicants must meet minimum entrance requirements as set by the Texas A&M University Office of Admissions and Records and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Satisfying the minimum criteria qualifies an applicant for consideration but does not guarantee admission to the program.
Acceptance criteria:
1. Undergraduate academic record
2. Recommendation forms
3. Applicant’s statement of desire/purpose
4. International students whose native language is not English must fulfill an English proficiency requirement, through either English Proficiency Verification or English Language Certification.
It is recommended that you contact the Poultry Science Department Distance Education Coordinator and discuss your background with a faculty advisor before you apply.
Admission to Graduate Studies as a non-degree-seeking student (NDS) requires all of the items listed above. NDS students may reapply for degree-seeking at a later date but there are limitations as to the number of courses taken as NDS that can be used towards a degree. International students are not eligible for NDS status.
Helpful Websites:
- Texas A&M University
- TAMU Office of Graduate Studies
- TAMU Admissions
- TAMU Catalogs
- TAMU Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Graduate Record Examination
Need more information?
For specific questions about the Online Masters of Agriculture in Poultry Science, please contact
Jill Nelson, Ph.D.
Instructional Assistant Professor
Distance Education Coordinator
Phone: 979.847.7342
email: jill.nelson@ag.tamu.edu
Our mailing address is:
Texas A&M University
Department of Poultry Science
Kleberg Center, Rm 101
2472-TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-2472