David G. White, Interim Dean
John Stier, Associate Dean for Agriculture
Rebekah Wright, Coordinator for Communications and Employer Relations
Brent Lamons, Director of Advising
Sharon Couch, Coordinator, Student Life and Diversity
Cassandra Johnson, Coordinator for Student Recruitment
Herbert College of Agriculture website
The college began in 1869 when the university was designated as Tennessee’s Federal Land-Grant Institution. As such, the university was enabled for the first time to offer instruction in agriculture. Graduate instruction began as early as 1889. The college is not only an academic unit of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, but is (with AgResearch, UT Extension and the College of Veterinary Medicine) one of the four units of the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture.
There are many shared resources and positive interactions between various units of the Institute. Most of the faculty in the Herbert College of Agriculture hold joint appointments in AgResearch and are actively involved in significant basic and applied research in agriculture and the associated natural resources. On campus and field research laboratories are utilized in the instructional programs of the college; extension and research activities provide many students excellent opportunities. AgResearch provides some graduate research assistantships to support graduate students.
The unique association the college has with the University of Tennessee and the other units of the Institute of Agriculture makes it possible for the college to offer comprehensive, high-quality graduate programs.
The graduate student is expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the subject matter in his/her specialized field of study and its relationship to the sociological, economic, and environmental impact on society. The student must demonstrate the ability to plan, conduct, analyze, and report original research. Emphasis is given to intellectual growth and the development of scholarly habits of study, reasoning, and analysis so that the graduate will continue to grow and develop professionally throughout his/her career. The graduate student is also expected to learn about and practice research ethics.
Master of Science Programs
Programs of graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree are offered through all departments in the Herbert College of Agriculture. The graduate program may be entirely in one major subject or may include subject matter areas related to the major.
Available majors are agricultural and resource economics; agricultural leadership, education and communications; animal science; biosystems engineering; biosystems engineering technology; entomology and plant pathology; environmental and soil sciences; food science; forestry; landscape architecture (offered jointly with the College of Architecture and Design); plant sciences; and wildlife and fisheries science. Minors are available in entomology, forestry, plant pathology, plant sciences, wildlife and fisheries science, and wildlife health.
Doctoral Programs
Graduate study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree with majors in animal science; biosystems engineering; entomology, plant pathology, and nematology; food science; natural resources; and plant, soil, and environmental sciences are offered in the college. A minor in entomology and plant pathology is available.
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
Landscape architecture is an intercollegiate program composed of faculty from the College of Architecture and Design, the Herbert College of Agriculture, and related colleges and disciplines. Faculty in the College of Architecture and Design and the Herbert College of Agriculture are responsible for the core curriculum.
For more information on the graduate landscape architecture program see the Landscape Architecture website.
