Agriculture PHD Program Information

Agriculture is the means by which foods and other products are created. It involves farming and cultivating land and livestock. A Ph.D. in agriculture can prepare individuals for academic and research positions.

View 1 Popular Schools »

Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture

A Ph.D. in agriculture program is a postgraduate degree program that takes about three years to complete. Agriculture is a broad area of study, and students enrolled in a program at the doctoral level need a firm understanding of the different types of food, goods and animal production techniques used in the field. While enrolled in a doctoral program, students are typically expected to focus on one particular area of study, such as humane advancements in animal husbandry, sustainable cropping methods or biotechnology in agriculture.

Students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in agriculture are generally expected to complete a dissertation that furthers research in a particular area of agriculture. This dissertation is researched and written under the direction of a faculty advisor and submitted to an academic committee for possible publication.

Education Prerequisites

The most common prerequisites for entrance into a Ph.D. in agriculture program are a baccalaureate degree and at least one Master of Science degree. Degrees need to be in a field related to agriculture, such as biological sciences, animal husbandry or agricultural science. Students should also submit a proposed plan of study and a topic for dissertation before gaining acceptance.

Program Coursework

Although much of the coursework completed in a Ph.D. program in agriculture is done on an individual basis, some seminars are taken by all.

  • Agriculture and environmental risks
  • Agricultural biotechnology
  • Systems agriculture
  • Agribusiness management
  • Integrated animal management
  • Policy and trade in agribusiness
  • Plant and soil relationships
  • Statistics in agriculture
  • Leadership and teaching

Popular Career Options

Graduates of a doctoral program in agriculture often find themselves working in teaching and research positions in the field of academia. However, other career options available are:

  • Agriculture engineer
  • Agriculture research scientist
  • Foodstuffs marketing director
  • Animal husbandry scientist
  • CEO of a food company
  • Agriculture communication specialist
  • Agriculture production specialist
  • Food scientist
  • Foodstuffs commodity broker
Show me popular schools

Related to Agriculture PHD

  • Related
  • Recently Updated
  • Popular
Sustainable Agriculture MBA Program Information

Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs focusing specifically on sustainable agriculture are rare, but...

Agriculture MBA Programs: Overview of Programs

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) student in the field of agriculture learns the production and distribution...

Career Information for a Degree in Agriculture

A degree in agriculture, sometimes called agricultural science, can lead to many diverse careers, depending on what...

Bachelor's Degree in General Agriculture: Program Information

The agricultural industry offers a diverse range of career options, including in the areas of production agriculture,...

Industrial Agriculture Career Options and Requirements

1 Popular School

Other Schools:

  • School locations:
    • Florida (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Florida include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
  • School locations:
    • Tennessee (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at The University of Tennessee include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
  • School locations:
    • Oklahoma (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Oklahoma State University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Diploma
      • Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Horticulture
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
  • School locations:
    • Kentucky (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Kentucky include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
  • School locations:
    • Minnesota (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Minnesota include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework, Diploma
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Agriculture Production
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
  • School locations:
    • North Carolina (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at North Carolina State University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Business
      • Agriculture Production
      • Animal Science
      • Food Sciences and Technologies
      • Horticulture
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science

Other Popular Schools:

  • Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Agriculture
    • Architecture
    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
    • Business
    • Communications and Journalism
    • Computer Sciences
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
    • Medical and Health Professions
    • Physical Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
    • Business
    • Communications and Journalism
    • Computer Sciences
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Legal
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    • Medical and Health Professions
    • Physical Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Areas of study you may find at New England Institute of Technology include:
      • Non-Degree: Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Business
    • Communications and Journalism
    • Computer Sciences
    • Engineering
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
    • Medical and Health Professions
    • Visual and Performing Arts

Popular Schools

Avg. Wages For Related Jobs

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics