Purpose and Goals

Graduate programs in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources shall reinforce and strengthen the University's land grant mission by implementing nutrition, dietetics, and natural resource sciences programs. The programs highlight learning, discovery, and student engagement, focusing on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

Programs

Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences 

Promote and protect our natural resources, advance your profession, and follow your passion. Prairie View A&M University's Master of Science program in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences makes your career goals possible. The professional program provides a pathway for manifesting academic teaching and research careers or applied research and extension in educational and governmental institutions, international, national, and state technical assistance and policy agencies, agricultural and forestry industries, consulting firms, and private nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.

The curriculum provides a thorough background and research opportunities in:

• Climate Change and Climate Extremes (drought/flood)
• Water-energy-food Nexus
• Soil Health
• Watershed Management and Hydrology
• GIS and Remote Sensing
• Natural Resources, Economics and Environmental Planning, and
• Other natural resources-related fields

The 36 SCH program offers both thesis and non-thesis options in a face-to-face format on the PVAMU main campus. Students are given opportunities to work on projects related to the above topics and other issues on natural resources, environmental sustainability, and resiliency. 

Master of Science in Nutrition

The Master of Science in Nutrition provides opportunities for students to study in a multidisciplinary program that prepares them to address global nutritional issues such as hunger and food insecurity and prevent diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The MS Nutrition is designed for Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN), students from nutrition and dietetics, and students with non-nutrition and dietetics backgrounds who hold a BS degree desiring to advance their nutrition, health, wellness, and fitness knowledge. The program offers three tracks for completion:  Dietetics, Thesis, and Non-thesis.    The primary objectives of MS Nutrition are to: 

• Prepare graduates to recognize the spectrum of global nutrition challenges affecting various population subgroups.
• Provide a graduate nutrition program of excellence focused on studying human nutritional issues, emphasizing the needs of disadvantaged and rural populations and ethnic minorities at the local, national, and global levels.
• Prepare competent graduates in human nutrition with the expertise and skills to improve nutrition, health, wellness, and the quality of life for individuals and families.
• Conduct intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to improve the nutrition, health, wellness, and quality of life of disadvantaged and rural populations, ethnic minorities, and various communities.

Instructional Organization

The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources offers the following graduate degree programs:

Instructional Organization

Program	Degree Offered
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences	MS
Nutrition	MS

Graduate courses offered by the department may be utilized to support graduate majors in counseling, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, education, and related disciplines. Students seeking specialization in these areas should consult the Advisor in the major field of study for appropriate coursework application.

Admission Requirements

Students desiring to major in the graduate program in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources must:

1. Present undergraduate subject matter credits consistent with or closely aligned with the academic specialties offered by an accredited college or University.
2. Meet all requirements as outlined by the Office of Graduate Studies.