Educating Students in Agriculture and Life Sciences

Want to make a fundamental contribution to society? Fascinated by issues related to global food systems, plant and animal production, the environment, or human health?

Mississippi State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is the place for you. 

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University educates and inspires undergraduate students across 17 eye-opening majors and 45 concentrations. Want to continue your education as a graduate? Choose from 10 majors and 30 concentrations to lay your foundations for an exciting, rewarding career.

Plus, job opportunities are plentiful. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of agricultural and food scientists is projected to grow five percent in the next 10 years. In fact, employers have 57,900 job openings in agriculture and related fields each year but just 35,400 students graduate annually with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture. Our majors have over a 90 percent placement rate for graduates with several majors at 100 percent placement rate. 

Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have opportunities to work alongside scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station on cutting-edge research to further our mission of feeding and clothing the world. 

And, working farms are all close to campus. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences includes 560 acres of working farmland, 10 greenhouses, 1,650 acres of pastureland, aquaculture ponds, an award-winning dairy and so much more. Hands-on experience in our working landscapes prepare students for rewarding careers in agriculture and the life sciences. Not only do we have the outdoor space to advance student learning, we also have over 15 buildings on campus equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories as well as unique areas for classroom instruction including the University Florist, Custer Dairy Processing Plant, MAFES Sales Store, and the Child Development and Family Studies Center.

The Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ multiple departments educate across diverse learning areas. Each member of our passionate faculty is dedicated to helping you unlock your potential and be your best — driving you to the right results for a successful future. 
 

Departments and Units

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

At the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department of Mississippi State University, students have an impressive selection of programs to choose from based on their individual goals and interests, including the growing field of precision agriculture.

Undergraduate majors:

  • Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business – Natural Resources and Environmental Management
  • Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business – Precision Agriculture
  • Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business – Enterprise Management
  • Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business – Surveying and Geomatics

Graduate majors:

  • M.S. in Engineering Technology
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Engineering Technology
     

Agricultural Economics

The Agricultural Economics department at Mississippi State University caters to undergraduate and graduate students, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees available.

Undergraduate majors:

  • Agribusiness – Policy and law
  • Agribusiness – Production
  • Agribusiness – Management
  • Environmental Economics and Sustainability

Graduate majors:

  • Master of Science in Agriculture – Agricultural Economics
  • Master of Agribusiness Management, available on campus or online
     

Animal and Dairy Sciences

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University offers students a range of programs across animal care and nutrition. 

Undergraduate majors:

  •  Animal and Dairy Sciences – Business and Industry
  •  Animal and Dairy Sciences – Production Management
  •  Animal and Day Sciences - Pre-Vet Med Tech.
  •  Animal and Dairy Sciences – Pre-vet/Science

Graduates majors: 

  • Master of Agriculture in Agriculture - Animal and Dairy Science (available on campus or online)
  • Master of Science in Agriculture – Animal and Dairy Science
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences – Animal Nutrition
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences –  Animal Physiology
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences – Genetics
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Animal and Dairy Science
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Animal Nutrition
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Animal Physiology
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Genetics
     

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology

In the Mississippi State University Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, undergraduates may major in Biochemistry and choose from 11 different concentrations, including several pre-medical professional offerings. 

Undergraduate majors:

  • Biochemistry – Pre-medicine
  • Biochemistry – Pre-dental
  • Biochemistry – Pre-pharmacy
  • Biochemistry – Pre-optometry
  • Biochemistry – Science
  • Biochemistry – Bioinformatics
  • Biochemistry – Pre-MBA
  • Biochemistry – Forensic sciences
  • Biochemistry – Entomology
  • Biochemistry – Plant Pathology
  • Biochemistry – Pre-veterinary Medicine

Graduate majors:

  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences – Animal Physiology
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences – Entomology
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences – Plant Pathology
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences – Biochemistry
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences  – Genetics
  • Master of Science in Agriculture – Animal Nutrition
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Animal Physiology
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Biochemistry
  • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Entomology
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Plant Pathology
  • Ph.D. in Life Sciences – Genetics
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Animal Nutrition
     

Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion

The Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion department at Mississippi State University has undergraduate majors in Culinology, and Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. 

Undergraduate majors:

  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Culinology
  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Food Safety
  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Food Science
  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Nutrition
  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Pre-Health
  • Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Processing and Business

Graduate majors: 

  • Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Food Science
  • Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Nutrition
  • Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Health Promotion (Available online and on campus)
  • Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Food Science
  • Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Functional Foods, Nutrition, and Health
  • Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion – Nutrition
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural and Extension Education – Health Promotion

The Mississippi State University (MSU) Dietetic Internship (DI) program offered in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion is a post-baccalaureate program designed to prepare interns for rewarding careers in traditional and non-traditional roles. Interns complete the requirements for the DI and 9 hours of graduate credit within 11 months. The program provides 1200 hours of supervised practice experience in various clinical, research, food service management, community nutrition, and nutrition education settings. Upon completion of the internship, graduates are prepared for the registration examination of the Commission on Dietetic Registration (cdrnet.org), as well as entry-level practice. Graduates may also apply for provisional state licensure once the program verification statements are issued.
 

Human Sciences

The School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University caters to undergraduates with majors in:

  • Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications – Agricultural Education
  • Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications – Agricultural Leadership
  • Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications – Agricultural Communication
  • Agricultural Science
  • Fashion Design and Merchandising – Design and Product Development
  • Fashion Design and Merchandising – Merchandising
  • Human Development and Family Science – Child Development
  • Human Development and Family Science – Child Life
  • Human Development and Family Science – Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education
  • Human Development and Family Science – Family Science
  • Human Development and Family Science – Youth Development

Graduate studies:

  • Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education – Teaching
  • Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education – Leadership
  • Master of Science in Fashion Design and Merchandising
  • Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies
  • Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Agricultural and Extension Education
     

Landscape Architecture

Students looking to pursue careers in landscape architecture can gain the knowledge and qualifications they need, across undergraduate and graduate majors. Mississippi State offers the only accredited bachelor of landscape architecture program in the three state region of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 

Undergraduate majors:

  • Landscape Architecture
  • Landscape Contracting and Management

Graduate major: 

  • Master of Landscape Architecture

Plant and Soil Sciences

Mississippi State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences educates students at undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Undergraduate majors:

  • Agronomy – Agricultural and Environmental Soil Sciences
  • Agronomy - Golf and Sports Turf Management
  • Agronomy - Integrated Crop Management
  • Agronomy - Integrated Pest Management
  • Horticulture – Floral Management
  • Horticulture - Floricultural and Ornamental Horticulture
  • Horticulture - Fruit and Vegetable Production
  • Environmental Science in Agricultural Systems

 
Graduate majors:

  • Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences - Agronomy
  • Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences - Horticulture
  • Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences - Weed Science
  • Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences - Agronomy
  • Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences - Horticulture
  • Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences - Weed Science
     

Poultry Science

Mississippi State University’s Department of Poultry Science offers only one of six undergraduate degrees in Poultry Science in the nation.  

Undergraduate majors:

  • Poultry Science – Applied Poultry Management
  • Poultry Science – Science and Pre-Veterinary Science

Graduate majors:

  • Master of Science in Agriculture – Poultry Science
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences – Poultry Science
     

Contact the College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  • 2nd Floor Bost
  • P.O. Box 9760
  • Mail Stop 9760

Mississippi State, MS 39762