Best online master's programs in Soil Science and Agronomy - Updated 2022

Advance your career with an Online Master's Degree in Crop Sciences.

It is globally renowned for its excellence in soil research and education. The department mission is to provide instruction, research, and extension leadership in soil chemistry, physics, biology, and pedology to economic and sustainable land use. Programs are designed to improve basic understanding and practical management of soil resources in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems, and to serve local, state, national, and global interests. The department implements the Wisconsin Idea to the extended community and provides all generations with an appreciation of soil as a key natural resource and thorough understanding of the scientific basis of the environment and agriculture.

Over a decade ago, the school began offering soil science courses at an off-campus location to facilitate training of non-soil scientists, enabling them to meet the educational requirements for certification as a Professional Soil Scientist. Eventually this program developed into a 30-credit program that upon completion, grants a Master of Science degree in Plant and Soil Sciences. Although the degree is in Plant and Soil Sciences, our off-campus program is limited to the field of soil science. This program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals who do not have the time or the opportunity to enroll in a traditional, full-time graduate program.

The Master of Soil Science enhances professional skills and expertise essential to evaluating land for a variety of uses. These include wetlands protection and restoration, on-site waste disposal, forest management, horticulture, and agriculture.

WSU’s Master of Science in Agriculture (MSAG) program, offered entirely online, is designed for agricultural professionals, practitioners, and educators who wish to gain knowledge and skills and boost their careers. The program’s flexible, fully-online format is ideal for working professionals who want to achieve their academic and career goals with continuing with their careers. The MSAG Plant Health and Management option combines WSU’s world-renowned plant science graduate programs with business courses in executive management.

The Crop Sciences online M.S. degree program is for students with a Bachelor's degree in crop sciences or related biological, physical, or agricultural fields. Through this program, match the specific career needs and interests with courses spanning plant physiology to integrated pest management (IPM).