School of Food and Agriculture

Student Learning Outcomes and Degree Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes and Program Requirements for School of Food and Agriculture Graduate Programs.

Animal Science (AVS)

Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSN)

Plant, Soil, & Environmental Sciences and Horticulture (PSE/ENH)

Plant Science Ph.D. Requirements (Interdisciplinary)

Ecology & Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Requirements (Interdisciplinary)

M.S. in Animal Science

The M.S. degree in Animal Sciences may be earned for a program of study comprising at least 30 hours of work (including credit for the thesis work) in reproductive physiology, animal health, nutrition or management. Thesis research constitutes a major portion of the degree program.  Graduate students will take many of their formal graduate courses in supporting departments, depending upon their specific interests and fields of study.  Research and service laboratories, including the University of Maine Animal Health Lab, support graduate student research.  Graduate research is also conducted using animals and facilities at the J. Franklin Witter Teaching & Research Center in Orono.

We accept applications throughout the year.  Prior to applying, please directly contact Animal Science faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework.

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: AVS Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Juan Romero [avs.graduate@maine.edu; 207.581.2925]

M.S. and Ph.D. in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources

The program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources is an interdisciplinary program with core faculty drawn from the School of Food and Agriculture, the School of Marine Sciences, the School of Biology and Ecology, the School of Economics, and the College of Engineering. The graduate program in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources is designed to train professionals for a career in aquaculture and related industries or for further academic training. The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are intended to have a strong basis in the biological and/or physical sciences with additional training and research opportunities in areas such as aquatic health, physiology and nutrition, aquaculture production, engineering, food science & technology, social sciences, policy and economics.

The Program Faculty come from multiple disciplinary areas including engineering, pathology, physiology, nutrition, seafood processing and population and habitat modeling. Faculty work with a variety of aquatic species including, but not limited to: cod, halibut, salmon, trout, oysters, clams, mussels, sea urchins, sea horses, abalone, seaweed, and lobsters.

Consideration for admission to the M.S. program will be given to applicants holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent in one of the general areas of biology, animal science, food science, nutrition or engineering. Admission to the Ph.D. program requires a master’s degree or equivalent in a science-related discipline with prior research experience. Applicants are expected to have at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination aptitude test (GRE) will be evaluated along with undergraduate transcripts and references from persons knowledgeable of the student’s academic potential and work ethic. Since admission into the program depends on obtaining a suitable faculty advisor, interested students should begin the application process by first contacting potential faculty advisors to find out if they anticipate accepting new students. If an Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources faculty member encourages you to apply, indicate the faculty member’s name and your proposed research area in your application’s Statement of Purpose. Once submitted, the completed application will be considered by a five-member Program Committee representing at least three of the participating units.

Upon admission, a program of study is planned by the student in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Courses are selected from the graduate offerings of all University of Maine Departments. The interests, background courses, and future needs of the student will be considered in course selection. The student will participate in a research project developed in consultation with the advisory committee.

We accept applications throughout the year.  Prior to applying, please directly contact faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework. Be sure to contact the program coordinator prior to submitting an application.

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

Program Learning Outcomes

For more information contact:
AAR Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Timothy Bowden
timothy.bowden@maine.edu
207.581.2772

Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition Sciences

The Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition Sciences program has variable credit hour requirements, but usually requires an additional 60 hours and an additional 3-4 years beyond the Master’s to complete. An individualized program of study is developed by the student and Graduate Committee.  Course requirements are flexible but include 4 credits of seminar with formal courses in nutrition sciences and related areas chosen to prepare the student for comprehensive examinations and research expertise.  Both written and oral comprehensive examinations are required at the end of formal course work, but may be taken no earlier than one year into the program.

Students who have not completed a Master’s degree with thesis may not enter the doctoral program. Courses in statistics are required as part of the program of study. Doctoral students must document a professional competency unrelated to their dissertation research; this competency may be demonstrated via course work or other practical activities. Competencies may include languages, electron microscopy, innovation engineering, marketing, and distance education. Although Ph.D. students are encouraged to publish manuscripts with their advisors, there is no minimum number of publications required for graduation.

We accept applications throughout the year, however, if you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship, please submit your application and all accompanying materials by January 15. Students most competitive for acceptance and assistantship funding have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0; combined (verbal and quantitative) GRE score of at least 300; analytical writing score of at least 4; and TOEFL score of at least 88. Prior to applying, please directly contact Food Science and Human Nutrition faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework. Degree Program Requirements.

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: FSN Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Mary Ellen Camire [camire@maine.edu; 207.581.1627].

M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition

The M.S. degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition may be earned for a program of study comprising at least 30 hours of work (including credit for the thesis work) in the areas of human nutrition and food science.  Our Human Nutrition faculty conduct research in the areas of nutrition education and behavioral interventions, community nutrition, human nutrient requirements over the lifespan, the effects of micronutrients, trace minerals and lipids on human health and other nutritional issues. Food science faculty conduct research the areas of food safety and quality, food chemistry, food microbiology and food processing, and the development of healthy foods and novel value-added food products.  Students may opt to focus their coursework in food science, human nutrition, or a combination of the disciplines. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.

The M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition features two additional sub-plans.

1. Combined with a Dietetic Internship. This sub-plan is only available to students who have obtained a verification statement from an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited undergraduate program and who have matched into the University of Maine Dietetic Internship Program. The UMaine internship program (IP) is a two-year program that leads to a graduate degree. Both master’s and doctoral programs are available. Graduates are prepared to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and are eligible to sit for the National Registration Examination.  Our graduates have a high passage rate for the National Registration Exam and are employed readily within the field of dietetics. See dietetic interns discuss their work in the community. For more information contact the Director of the Dietetic Internship Program: Mona Therrien, DCN, RD, LD  (mona.therrien@maine.edu; 207.581.3130).
2. UMaine Online Combined Human Nutrition and Food Technology. This sub-plan is completely delivered through UMaine Online and has only a non-thesis option. Students in this sub-plan are not eligible for assistantships or fellowships and cannot apply to the doctoral program upon completion of the online M.S. Applicants selecting the combined Human Nutrition and Food Technology UMaineOnline program should have had one year of college-level chemistry, one year of college-level biology (with one semester being Anatomy & Physiology), and an entry-level nutrition course.  See online graduate class schedule for course options.  FSN Online Graduate Class Schedule.

We accept applications throughout the year, however, if you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship, please submit your application and all accompanying materials by January 15. Students most competitive for acceptance and assistantship funding have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0; combined (verbal and quantitative) GRE score of at least 300; analytical writing score of at least 4; and TOEFL score of at least 88 (GRE is no longer required for non-thesis MS applicants). Prior to applying, please directly contact Food Science and Human Nutrition faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework. Degree Program Requirements.

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: FSN Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Mary Ellen Camire [camire@maine.edu; 207.581.1627].

Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificate in Food Technology

• This Graduate Certificate integrates the latest in food science with the core concepts of the food production industry. Our curriculum hits the “hot topics” of current food technology trends while providing foundational knowledge to understand the food industry. Students need to complete four courses (12 credits) and can choose from courses such as FSN 502: Food Preservation, FSN 524: Responsible Design, Conduct and Analysis of Research, FSN 538: Fermented Foods & Probiotics, FSN 545: Utilization of Aquatic Food Resources, FSN 555: Organic & Natural Foods, FSN 585: Principles of Sensory Analysis, and FSN 603: Nutrient Changes in the Food System.

Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition

• This Graduate Certificate uses the latest evidence on nutrition and health to meet the needs of professionals working in health-related fields. Courses help you expand your understanding of the science behind nutrition and its effect on health across lifespans. Students need to complete four courses (12 credits) and can choose from courses such as FSN 501: Advanced Human Nutrition, FSN 506: Nutritional Assessment, FSN 508: Nutrition & Aging, FSN 524: Responsible Design, Conduct and Analysis of Research, FSN 530: Integrative and Functional Nutrition, FSN 538: Fermented Foods & Probiotics, FSN 545: Utilization of Aquatic Food Resources, FSN 555: Organic & Natural Foods, and FSN 603: Nutrient Changes in the Food System.

Both Certificates help you create a pathway to earning a Masters of Science.

Requirements for Graduate Certificates

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Two college-level courses in Chemistry (1 year)
• Two college-level courses in Biology (1 year)
• 1 college-level introductory nutrition course (recommended but not required)

For more information contact: FSN Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Mary Ellen Camire [camire@maine.edu; 207.581.1627].

New Regional Graduate Scholarship

Ph.D. in Plant Science

The Ph.D. in Plant Science is offered jointly by the School of Biology and Ecology, the School of Food and Agriculture, and the School of Forest Resources. The Plant Science Ph.D. program gives students interested in plants an opportunity to focus on the ecology, physiology, or molecular biology of plants and their pathogens.

M.S. in Horticulture

The M.S. degree in Horticulture may be earned for a program of study comprising at least 30 hours of work including credit for graduate thesis work, which constitutes a major portion of the degree program.  Opportunities to develop research projects exist in a broad range of horticultural topics such as: ornamental plant selection and evaluation, low-temperature tolerance, landscape plant production, blueberry physiology and hardiness, pomology, and greenhouse management. 

We accept applications throughout the year.  Prior to applying, please directly contact Horticulture faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework.  Read the Guidelines for the M.S. in Horticulture for more information.  

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: Horticulture Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Bryan Peterson [bryan.j.peterson@maine.edu]

Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences

The Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences is an interdisciplinary program; cooperating faculty include a number with the School of Food and Agriculture.  For the Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, the student must complete a minimum of 30 credits, a minimum of 18 course credits (12 credits 500 level or above), and a minimum of 6 credits thesis research. An individualized program of study is developed by the student and graduate committee.   The student’s graduate advisory committee is composed of a minimum of five faculty from at least two different home schools or departments.  Program requirements include successfully completing a comprehensive examination consisting of written and oral questions prepared by the graduate advisory committee.

We accept applications throughout the year.  Prior to applying, please directly contact faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework.    

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: EES Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Hamish Greig [hamish.greig@maine.edu; 207.581.2648].

M.S. in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences

The M.S. degree in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science may be earned for a program of study comprising at least 30 hours of work including credit for graduate thesis work, which constitutes a major portion of the degree program.  Areas of emphasis for graduate work include nutrient dynamics in agricultural and forest ecosystems, soil chemistry and plant nutrition, crop physiology and management, diversified cropping systems, weed ecology and management, and plant pathology.  Graduate training programs emphasize agricultural sustainability and are built from foundations in soil science, agronomy, plant physiology, ecology, microbiology, plant pathology, and statistics. Prospective graduate students should have completed course work in chemistry, mathematics, and biology, and in subject matter areas closely related to interests of the student and her/his advisor.

We accept applications throughout the year.  Prior to applying, please directly contact faculty whose interests are similar to yours to discuss possible research and coursework.   Read the Guidelines for the M.S. in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences for more information.

Apply to UMaine Graduate School.

For a listing of current graduate courses see the Graduate Catalog.

For more information contact: PSE Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Bryan Peterson [bryan.j.peterson@maine.edu]