宾州州立大学帕克分校

Graduate students with research and educational interests in international agriculture may apply to the dual-title degree program in Agronomy and International Agriculture and Development. The goal of the dual-title degree in AGRO and INTAD is to enable graduate students from AGRO to acquire the knowledge and skills of their primary area of specialization in AGRO, while at the same time gaining the perspective and methods needed for work in the international agriculture. Graduate study in this program seeks to prepare students to assume leadership roles in science, engineering, outreach, and project management anywhere in the world. Students acquire a broad perspective on how to apply their research findings in the context of the broader international community. Thus, the dual-title will allow students to master their field of specialization from an international perspective so that they can effectively engage in agricultural development activities within various countries and regions.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DUAL-TITLE M.S.

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the M.S. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title M.S. in INTAD, listed on the INTAD Bulletin page. Up to 6 credits of INTAD approved courses can be applied to fulfilling AGRO program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DUAL-TITLE PH.D.

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the Ph.D. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title Ph.D. in INTAD, listed on the INTAD Bulletin page. Some courses may satisfy both AGRO program requirements and those of the INTAD program. Up to 6 credits of INTAD approved courses can be applied to fulfilling AGRO program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s committee.

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from AGRO and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the INTAD program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may service in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both AGRO and INTAD. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed on semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for dissertation committees, the dissertation committee of an AGRO and INTAD dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the INTAD Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may service in a combined role. If the chair of the dissertation committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in INTAD, the member of the committee representing INTAD must be appointed as co-chair. The INTAD representative on the student’s dissertation committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their dissertation committee and reflects their original research and education in AGRO and INTAD. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the dissertation committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.