Worldwide, the growing complexity and diversity of systems and issues in the agricultural, life, social, and environmental sciences offer challenging opportunities for persons with appropriate skills, experience, and educational backgrounds.

The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) program is designed especially for persons who want to prepare for these opportunities but are not interested in research careers. Persons already embarked on professional careers, those who plan to continue in their current fields or related ones, or those who will be working primarily as educators often select this program.

The M.P.S. program emphasizes breadth of training via course work rather than research experience. M.P.S. degree candidates take the same courses as other graduate students and then complete a problem-solving or applied project.