Graduate Handbook
The NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics offers the following graduate degree programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Agribusiness and Applied Economics: Provides advanced training in the application of economic principles to agribusiness and related fields.
- Master of Science (M.S.) in International Agribusiness: Focuses on the global dimensions of agribusiness, preparing students for careers in international trade, development, and policy.
- Accelerated M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics: A fast-track option for qualified undergraduate students to earn their master's degree efficiently.
For the M.S. degree, two distinct plans of study are offered: a thesis option and a comprehensive study option. Both plans conclude with an oral examination. Both plans require an oral examination:
- Plan A: The thesis option requires completion of 30 credits, including a six to ten‐credit thesis.
- Plan B: The comprehensive study option requires a minimum of 30 semester credits, including a two to four‐credit comprehensive study paper in place of a thesis.
M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics
The M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics provides a rigorous foundation in economic theory, research methods, and quantitative analysis. Students in the program have the opportunity to engage in coursework and thesis research within the fields of applied economics and agribusiness.
- Applied Economics focuses on economic theory, research methods, and quantitative techniques. It is well‐suited for students interested in careers in applied economics research in the private and public sectors, as well as students interested in pursuing a Ph.D.
- Agribusiness focuses on agribusiness management, economic analysis, and agricultural sciences, including biotechnology, processing, and food and environmental safety. A rigorous background in economic theory and research prepares students for various careers in Agribusiness.
M.S. in International Agribusiness
The M.S. in International Agribusiness program offers an applied, global perspective on the intricate dynamics of food systems, encompassing agribusiness, agricultural and food production, consumption, trade, and risk management. Because of the applied nature of the program, students complete a master’s comprehensive study paper in place of a research thesis.
Accelerated M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics
The accelerated M.S. program offers a streamlined path for current NDSU undergraduate majors in economics, agricultural economics, and agribusiness to earn their master's degree. At the time of application, students must have completed at least 60 credits towards their B.S. degree and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at NDSU.
To be considered, applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria mentioned above and fulfill all standard admission requirements for the M.S. program (detailed in the following section). We strongly advise that prospective students contact the graduate program coordinator before applying to discuss their individual eligibility and to gain a clearer understanding of how specific courses can simultaneously fulfill requirements for both their undergraduate and graduate programs. A maximum of 15 didactic graduate credits can be used to meet the requirement for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in economics, agricultural economics and agribusiness, and at least 9 of the 15 graduate credits must be 700-level AGEC/ECON courses.
Additional admission criteria and program information are available at the Accelerated M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics page in the NDSU University Catalog.
Admission
The applicant must meet Graduate College and Department admission requirements to be admitted to the program with full standing. Applications must be received by March 1 for full consideration of admission and funding for a Fall start and by October 1 for a Spring start.
Applicants are considered for admission based on their perceived potential for completing the program. Students admitted with full standing have completed all entrance requirements for the program. An applicant accepted in any category other than full standing must meet conditions specified by the Department and the Graduate School before a change in standing may be requested. Furthermore, the department would not recommend upgrading a student's standing if their grade point average (GPA) is below 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). A student must have full graduate standing to have a Plan of Study approved, to receive a departmental graduate assistantship, or to be a candidate for graduation.
Admission is competitive. Meeting the minimum admission criteria listed below does not imply a student will be admitted. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a higher education institution of recognized standing, a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent at the baccalaureate level, an earned grade of B or higher in intermediate microeconomics and statistics including linear regression, and a grade of C or better in calculus.
Furthermore, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a mandatory component of the application. An application submitted without official GRE scores will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Please note that the GRE requirement is non-waivable, and no exceptions will be granted.
All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship or residency, must demonstrate proficiency with the English language before they will be considered for admission to a graduate program. The official TOEFL must be submitted to the Graduate College at the time of application. Prospective students may contact the Graduate College to determine if the TOEFL requirement may be waived if they have been raised in a recognized country where English is the only official language, or have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized institution in a recognized country where English is the only official language
More information on the English proficiency requirement may be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/apply/international.
In rare circumstances, students who do not meet all admissions requirements or have deficiencies in prerequisite coursework may be conditionally admitted if they demonstrate potential to succeed in graduate studies. Evidence must show that the applicant's potential is not adequately reflected by their record. In making this recommendation, the program must specify standards of performance that must be satisfied for a change in status to full graduate standing.
Any student admitted in CONDITIONAL status is automatically placed on academic WARNING until the conditions of admission are met. If a student on academic warning fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in the subsequent semester of attendance, the student will be placed on academic PROBATION. The student may not earn more than 12 graduate credits while in conditional status. However, an exception to this policy allows students admitted to the accelerated M.S. degree program to earn up to 15 graduate credits while in conditional standing. The program will determine eligibility for graduate assistantships. Students with conditional status cannot become candidates for a degree; they must achieve full graduate standing.
Core Course Requirements
1) M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics
Required Courses
• AGEC 701 - Research Methods (3 crs)
• ECON 710 - Advanced Econometrics (3 crs)
• AGEC 739 - Analytical Methods for Applied Economics (3 crs)
• AGEC 741 - Advanced Microeconomics (3 crs)
• AGEC 797/798 - Master's Comprehensive Paper (2-4 crs) or Thesis (6-10 crs)
All required courses must be included in the student’s Plan of Study and passed with a “C” or higher grade. Required courses cannot be waived nor substituted. All courses on the student’s Plan of Study require a “C” or higher grade.
Suggested Courses for Particular Focus Areas
These elective courses must be approved by the student’s adviser and supervisory committee members and specified in the student’s approved Plan of Study required by the Graduate School.
Applied Economics
• 600 and 700 level AGEC and ECON courses
• 700 level STAT courses
Agribusiness
• AGEC 711 ‐ Applied Risk Analysis I (3 crs)
• AGEC 712 - Applied Risk Analysis II (3 crs)
• AGEC 744 ‐ Agribusiness I: Agricultural Product Marketing and Agribusiness Strategy (3 crs)
2) M.S. in International Agribusiness
Required Courses
• AGEC 701 - Research Methods (3 crs)
• AGEC 741 - Advanced Microeconomics (3 crs)
• AGEC 744 - Agribusiness I: Agricultural Product Marketing and Agribusiness Strategy (3 crs)
• AGEC 711 ‐ Applied Risk Analysis I (3 crs)
• AGEC 712 - Applied Risk Analysis II (3 crs)
• AGEC 797 - Comprehensive Study (Plan B, 2-4 crs)
Minimum of 6 credits from:
• ECON 610 ‐ Econometrics (3 crs)
• ECON 710 ‐ Advanced Econometrics (3 crs)
• AGEC 739 - Analytical Methods for Applied Economics (3 crs)
Approved Electives
To complete the M.S. degree, a minimum of 30 graduate credits is necessary. The student's supervisory committee must approve credits beyond those required courses listed above.
Financial Assistance
The Department offers assistantships on a competitive basis. Information about other forms of financial assistance may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Services in the Memorial Union. Website: https://www.ndsu.edu/onestop/finaid/.
Graduate Assistantship
Students with an assistantship perform research, teaching, or service duties in the Department and are paid a monthly stipend. Upon receiving a graduate assistantship, each student will be contacted directly by either their Assistantship Supervisor or the Department Chair to review and clarify their specific responsibilities and expectations.
Graduate students holding full-time (20 hours/week) or part-time (10 hours/week) assistantships/fellowships are eligible for graduate tuition waivers from the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources (CAFSNR). Full-time graduate assistants (GAs) will receive full (100%) tuition waivers, while part-time GAs are only eligible to receive half (50%) tuition waivers.
• Students not employed as a GA or employed as a GA for less than 10 hours per week are ineligible for a tuition waiver.
• Students on Academic Probation/Suspension are ineligible to receive tuition waivers.
Although graduate tuition is waived, students must pay a minimal activity fee each semester. An assistantship typically does not begin until the first semester of full graduate standing, during which students take courses that apply toward the Master of Science degree.
The expected workload for GAs is an average of 20 hours per week for full-time appointments and 10 hours per week for part-time appointments. These hours should be dedicated to fulfilling the GA's assigned duties, which may encompass research, teaching, and/or service activities as determined by the Department and/or Assistantship Supervisor.
Graduate assistants are considered full-time students if they register for 6 or more graduate credits per semester. The department's research program has an applied problem-solving orientation. Graduate research assistantship stipends represent a significant commitment of public dollars to conduct applied research. Assistantships allow students to work with faculty members and gain exposure to various aspects of research.
While we are firmly committed to addressing issues important to North Dakotans, our research also has national and international dimensions. A limited number of teaching or service assistantships may be available. Duties performed by teaching assistants are essential to meeting the department's teaching goals. A teaching assistantship is an excellent option if a student is interested in pursuing a career in education, including university‐level teaching, or would like to strengthen their general understanding of economics.
Applicants accepted in less than full standing will not be eligible for an assistantship until their status changes to full standing. Granting assistantships depends on academic performance, departmental needs, and availability of assistantships.
In addition, your Assistantship Supervisor will conduct a performance evaluation each semester. The continuation of your graduate assistantship into the following semester is contingent upon a satisfactory performance evaluation, meeting all academic expectations, and demonstrating satisfactory progress towards degree completion and research goals.
All admitted graduate students will automatically be considered for funding unless they indicate otherwise. We cannot respond to unofficial inquiries about the likelihood of receiving an assistantship. Our review process requires a complete application, which includes official transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. The Department can only decide about assistantships after the Graduate College forwards completed applications and the Graduate Program Committee formally reviews them.
For more information on NDSU graduate assistantship policy, please refer to the University Catalog at https://catalog.ndsu.edu/graduate/graduate-school-policies/graduate-assistantship-policy/.
Tuition Waiver Credit Limits
The graduate tuition waiver is limited to 33 credits for M.S. graduate assistants. Transfer graduate credits from other institutions are included in the total maximum limit for the tuition waiver credits at NDSU.
Beyond Maximum Limit: Graduate students can enroll for more credits beyond the maximum tuition waiver limit, but the tuition waivers will not cover these extra credits. The additional credits will be charged at the in-state rate and can be funded by the student or other sources.
Credit Enrollment Requirements
Minimum Enrolled Credits Per Semester: Full- and part-time GAs must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits during the fall and spring semesters unless they are graduating in that semester, in which case fewer than 6 credits are acceptable. The maximum limit is 15 credits per semester. GAs registering for only 6 credits during the fall or spring semester cannot drop below the 6-credit minimum. This will be strictly enforced.
Summer Semester Requirements: Enrollment in summer credits is not required. For students who choose to enroll in summer semester courses, tuition waivers will cover up to 3 credits.
• While students may enroll for more than 3 credits during the summer semester, tuition waivers will not cover these additional credits, which will be charged at the in-state rate.
• An exception to the 3-credit waiver limit in the summer semester applies to international students required to enroll in 6 credits. These students may be eligible for up to 6 credits of summer tuition waivers.
• Continuing enrollment: After reaching the maximum tuition waiver credit limit, an assistantship may be held with registration for fewer than 6 credits, but no tuition waiver will be provided. Tuition will be assessed at in-state rates.
Expectations and Time Limits for Assistantship
The Department's goal is to offer a graduate program leading to the M.S. degree, which, for students with a proper undergraduate background, can be earned in three semesters and one summer of productive effort by the student. It is the policy of the Department to limit the duration of any student's graduate assistantship to three semesters and one summer (16 months).
Departmental Graduate Assistantship Funding Duration
1. For Accelerated M.S. (4+1) students:
• Departmental funding is limited to 2 semesters at 10 hours/week each while the student works on the B.S. degree.
• Upon completing their B.S. degree, the student will be on a 20 hours/week assistantship for a maximum of 2 semesters.
2. For Regular M.S. Students:
• Students entering in the Fall have the option to decline Summer Year 1 funding and receive Spring Year 2 funding instead.
• Students entering in the Spring have the option to decline Summer Year 1 funding in receive Summer Year 2 funding instead.
The tables below show the lengths of graduate assistantships for students entering in the fall and spring semesters.
Fall Admission:
| M.S. (hours/week) | 4+1 (hours/week) | |
| Entering Fall Year 1 | 20 hours | 10 hours (B.S. + M.S.) |
| Spring Year 1 | 20 hours | 10 hours (B.S. + M.S.) |
| Summer Year 1 | 20 hours** | Undergraduate Degree Completion |
| Fall Year 2 | 20 hours | 20 hours (M.S.) |
| End of Assistantship | ||
| Spring Year 2 | ** 20 hours (if an assistantship had not been taken in Summer Year 1) | 20 hours (M.S.) |
Spring Admission:
| M.S. (hours/week) | 4+1 (hours/week) | |
| Entering Spring Year 1 | 20 hours | 10 hours (B.S. + M.S.) |
| Summer Year 1 | 20 hours** | |
| Fall Year 1 | 20 hours | 10 hours (B.S. + M.S.) Undergraduate Degree Completion |
| Spring Year 2 | 20 hours | 20 hours (M.S.) |
| End of Assistantship | ||
| Summer Year 2 | **20 hours (if an assistantship had not been taken in Summer Year 1) | 20 hours (M.S.) |
Additional time may be approved case-by-case if sufficient extramural funds are available. The student should write to the Project Principal Investigator and the Department Chair requesting such extensions, who will confer with the adviser and those on the student's supervisory committee regarding the request. The student works with the adviser to monitor their timely program completion.
The assistantship may be interrupted at the student's request or at the Department or Supervisor's initiative. Requests for leave from the position of Research, Teaching, or Service Assistant are considered on a case‐by‐case basis. Unless specified in writing, there is no guarantee that an assistantship will be available after a leave period.
Internships and Leave of Absence
Students may pursue internships. The Department will generally accommodate them to the best of its ability. It would be incumbent on the student, working with their adviser and assistantship supervisor, to identify and make the appropriate arrangements. In so doing, the time limit may be extended to accommodate time spent on the internship (essentially, the student would take a leave of absence from their assistantship during the internship).
Finally, the internship must be compatible with the funding source and mechanism used to support the assistantship. Some funding mechanisms may have restrictions or requirements that preclude pursuing internships, while others would readily accommodate them. Unless specified in writing, there is no guarantee that an assistantship will be available after a leave period.
Loss of Assistantship
Academic Warning
Any student in GOOD STANDING whose cumulative GPA drops to under 3.0 at any time of attendance is automatically placed on academic WARNING. Any student admitted in CONDITIONAL status because of grade deficiency is automatically placed on academic WARNING. A student on academic WARNING cannot register for the following semester until the grades for the current semester are posted.
If a student on academic WARNING fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the subsequent semester of attendance, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation is not eligible for a graduate assistantship or tuition waiver.
Refer to the University Catalog for more information: https://catalog.ndsu.edu/graduate/.
Transfer of Credits
Transfer of credit is requested at the time a Plan of Study or Change to Plan of Study is filed in the Graduate College. A maximum of 10 credits of graduate-level course work from regionally accredited colleges or universities (or equivalent for international institutions) may be eligible to be used in completing the student’s degree program. Refer the Graduate Policy on Transfer of Credit for more information: https://catalog.ndsu.edu/graduate/graduate-school-policies/masters-program-policies/#planofstudytext
Dual Enrollment & Accelerated M.S. Program
An undergraduate student enrolled at NDSU who has been accepted for admission as a non-degree student in the Graduate College may enroll as both an undergraduate and graduate student in their final year as a graduating undergraduate student.
Credits earned towards the graduate program cannot be counted as fulfilling the requirements for an undergraduate degree. To dual enroll, the student must be accepted as a non-degree graduate student.
Non-degree students who wish to become degree-seeking students must complete the admission process through the Graduate College (including a new application and fee). No more than 10 credits earned as a non-degree student may be used toward a graduate degree. The student’s adviser, the supervisory committee (if applicable), and the graduate program coordinator must approve them. However, an undergraduate student in the agribusiness, agricultural economics, or economics program with an excellent academic record may apply to enroll in the Accelerated M.S. Program. A maximum of 15 didactic graduate credits can be used to meet the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree requirement, and at least 9 of the 15 graduate credits must be 700-level AGEC/ECON courses. The Department Chairperson must approve course substitution. For admission eligibility and additional program information, please refer to the current University Catalog.
Suggested Time Frame for Student Achievements
To guide students and advisers on program progress, the Graduate Program Committee has identified milestones for specific tasks essential to the timely completion of their M.S. degree. These include:
By the End of the First Semester:
- Select an adviser and form a thesis committee
- Submit a draft thesis proposal to the thesis committee
- Submit a plan of study to both the Department and the Graduate College
- Receive a recommendation for assistantship continuation from their adviser
- Maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in graduate coursework
- Maintain the minimum number of credits required to complete coursework requirements for the degree within three semesters (subject to course availability)
By the End of the Second Semester:
- Prepare and submit a draft literature review to the supervisory committee
- Identify methods and data for the thesis and prepare a draft methods and procedures thesis chapter for review by the thesis committee
- Submit a thesis proposal to the thesis committee
- Receive a recommendation for assistantship continuation from their adviser
- Maintain at least a 3.0 average in graduate coursework
- Maintain the minimum number of credits required to complete coursework requirements for the degree within three semesters (subject to course availability)
By the End of the Summer:
- Complete international internship requirement or study abroad program (International Agribusiness students only)
- Finalize and submit a draft literature review to the supervisory committee
- Using data and methods approved by the supervisory committee, conduct preliminary data analysis and report draft results for review by the supervisory committee
- Receive a recommendation for assistantship continuation from their adviser
- Maintain at least a 3.0 average in graduate coursework
- Maintain the minimum number of credits required to complete coursework requirements for the degree within three semesters (subject to course availability)
By the End of the Third Semester:
- Using data and methods approved by the supervisory committee, conduct final data analysis and report results for review by the supervisory committee
- Prepare results and conclusion sections for the thesis
- In cooperation with the supervisory committee, schedule a thesis defense
- Conduct defense
- In cooperation with the Graduate School, prepare and deposit the final draft of the thesis
- Maintain at least a 3.0 average in graduate coursework
Academic Plan
While your academic adviser and assistantship supervisor can be different people, the faculty member who supervises your thesis or comprehensive study paper (i.e., your academic adviser) must be a graduate faculty member within the NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
Students must propose their thesis topic, write a prospectus, and set up individual faculty meetings to find an adviser. Faculty members generally do not supervise more than three students at once. This limit does not apply to memberships on thesis committees.
Thesis/Paper Adviser Identification Deadlines:
- Fall semester new students must identify a thesis/paper adviser by November 1*.
- Spring semester new students must identify a thesis/paper adviser by April 1*.
*Second semester registration will be on hold until an adviser has been identified.
Registration for AGEC 797 Comprehensive Paper or AGEC 798 Thesis
Before registering for AGEC 797 or AGEC 798, you must obtain a course permit from your adviser. Your adviser will determine the appropriate number of credits based on the research work planned for the semester.
The student and adviser should select a supervisory committee to advise them on a Plan of Study and research objectives and methods. The adviser is the supervisory committee chair and must be a graduate faculty of the NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics. The committee may initially operate without formal recognition by the Graduate College. The supervisory committee will consist of three or more people (including the adviser and a member from outside the Department approved by the Graduate College). At least two supervisory committee members must be listed as Department graduate faculty.
To add an external member (who is not full or affiliate graduate faculty of NDSU) to a supervisory committee, the Plan of Study or Supervisory Committee Change form (if the Plan of Study is already filed) must include a letter of support from the Department Chair and a copy of the external member’s curriculum vitae (CV). The Chair’s letter should indicate the Chair and Department’s support for this person to be on the committee and list the expertise this person brings to the committee.
The letter must come from the Department Chair only, not the adviser. An adviser may add a letter of support, though this letter alone is not sufficient. The external member cannot be an affiliate graduate faculty member of the adviser’s home department/program.
The Graduate School officially approves the supervisory committee after it receives the "Master's Degree Plan of Study " form from the student. The Plan of Study must include all required courses and be filed in the Graduate College no later than the semester prior to graduation. However, it is recommended that, as soon as an adviser has been identified, the student and the adviser agree on the composition of the full committee and that the student confirms potential members are willing to serve.
The Plan of Study should indicate any transfer credits that the student wishes to include in their Plan of Study. Changes in the Plan of Study (addition/deletion of course work) or the composition of the Advisory/Supervisory Committee after the plan has been filed must be formally requested using the Request for Change form. The supervisory committee will work closely with the student to review the thesis or drafts of the comprehensive study paper. The adviser will decide when review drafts of the thesis or comprehensive study paper are ready to distribute to the supervisory committee.
Thesis and Comprehensive Study Paper
The thesis and comprehensive study paper should each represent a scholarly endeavor consistent with disciplined inquiry and creative activity standards in the student's field of study. The following is a guide to differentiate the required levels and degree of effort.
Theses and comprehensive study papers must conform to Graduate School guidelines. Writing formats are specified in the NDSU Graduate Guidelines for the Preparation of Dissertations, Theses, and Papers, available on the Graduate College’s website.[1] For further information about appropriate writing formats, students are encouraged to review theses available at the Department’s website or visit staff in the NDSU Center for Writers.[2]
The purpose of the thesis should be clear, the development should be logical and coherent, and the conclusions should be convincing. The thesis should reflect a rigorous research effort that contributes to the discipline.
The thesis typically includes a problem statement, a review of existing literature relevant to that problem, and the creation and presentation of new knowledge in providing a solution to the problem. Each student assembles a supervisory committee, as described in the following tab, and must pass a final oral examination in which the supervisory committee serves as the examining committee. Following a successful final examination, the student will submit an electronic copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format review.
Plan B: Master's Paper/Comprehensive Study-based Master's
The paper's purpose should be clear, the development logical and coherent, and the conclusions convincing. It should also reflect an insightful analysis that is enlightening for the reader, relevant, and intellectually stimulating.
The student will develop a thorough understanding of existing knowledge and the ability to apply that existing knowledge to a problem of interest. The individual creative component is defined by the program and could include a portfolio or integrated field experience.
Each student must pass a final oral examination in which the supervisory committee serves as the examining committee. Following a successful final examination, the student will submit an electronic copy of their master’s paper to the Graduate College for format review.
NDSU Graduate College Enrollment Policy
Students must maintain continuous enrollment by registering for at least one graduate credit during the fall and spring semesters until all degree requirements are completed. Additionally, students who do not maintain continuous enrollment and fail to file for a leave of absence with the Graduate College must submit the Request for Reactivation form and enroll in at least one credit per missed semester (fall and spring) up to four credits. It is important to note that graduate students must register for the subsequent semester if their disquisition is not approved until after the graduation deadline of the current semester (i.e., they will be graduating the following semester).
Graduate College Policies
For any graduate college policies not detailed in this handbook, please consult the latest University Catalog: https://catalog.ndsu.edu/graduate/policies/.
