Professional graduate studies in crops and soils

ABSTRACT A program in professional graduate studies leading to the Master of Agriculture degree was initiated in 1969 at the College of Agriculture, Texas A&M University. The program, which requires an internship experience, is designed to prepare professional people for managerial roles in modern, capital‐intensive, high technology agricultural enterprises. Students who enter the program have academic records and aptitude scores similar to those of students entering the Master of Science program. Plans of study emphasize the culture and management of crops, plant protection, capital management, and soil properties rather than basic sciences. The program in professional graduate studies has given an important new dimension to graduate education for agronomists with little or no adverse effect on traditional research‐oriented programs.