Master of Agriculture in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Environment

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Environment (SAFE) degree program is an online degree designed to prepare working professionals for studies in agriculture that focus on sustainable practices. 

This program’s curriculum explores a variety of modern agricultural pursuits framed by sustainable practices that include non-traditional and viable enterprises in agriculture, alternative value-added products, modern farming techniques, food safety, and small business marketing. It is a program ideal for small landowners, urban farmers, value-added and cottage food makers, educators, government agents, or anyone interested in local food production.

Explore about this degree at Department of Agricultural Science's Graduate Degrees.

Students are accepted for fall admission only. Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Environment must submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. Graduate Application
2. Application fee
3. A bachelor's degree from an accredited baccalaureate-granting university in any field (degree need not be in Agriculture). Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
4. A resume of professional work experience
5. A personal essay that addresses your interest in the program, post-graduation intentions, learning expectations, and current involvement in agriculture
6. Three letters of recommendation from professional references
7. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must present a score of at least 550 on the paper version, 213 on the computer version, or 79 on the internet-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.

This program’s thirty-six hour curriculum explores a variety of modern agricultural pursuits framed by sustainable practices that include non-traditional and viable enterprises in agriculture, alternative value-added products, modern farming techniques, food safety, and small business marketing. It is a program ideal for small landowners, urban farmers, value-added and cottage food makers, educators, government agents, or anyone interested in local food production.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The MAg in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Environment is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

• Ability to demonstrate competency in communication skills and professional presentation skills of scientific knowledge.

• Ability to demonstrate a global perspective of agriculture.

• Ability to demonstrate scientific and technical knowledge in sustainable agriculture and related sciences.

• Ability to critically analyze information and make informed decisions.