Professionals who would like to advance their careers now have access to the world-renowned plant breeding program at Iowa State University without becoming a resident on-campus student. The Master of Science in Plant Breeding program provides the same rigorous curriculum as the resident program, including access to plant breeding faculty within the Department of Agronomy.

Students completing the program will understand not only the fundamentals of plant breeding, but will also gain knowledge of advanced concepts such as genomic selection and the challenges facing plant breeders in our global society.

The curriculum consists of 12 online courses plus a one-credit practicum and a three-credit creative component, for a total of 40 credits. The one-credit practicum is the only course that requires attendance on campus — one week during one summer. Generally, students who have completed a degree from a College of Agriculture will meet the requirements.

Built-in flexibility allows students to complete the program at their own pace relative to their professional, family, and other commitments. This means students can study when and where their schedule permits. The time required to complete the degree is flexible.