All students must meet the Requirements for the Accelerated Master's Degree Pathways
Overview
Qualified University of Vermont undergraduate students who plan to earn a Master's degree in Food Systems may enroll in the Accelerated Master's Pathway (AMP), which enables students to begin working on a master's degree while still an undergraduate. Students apply to the program in the second semester of their Junior year or the first semester of their Senior year. After admission to the graduate program by the Graduate College, students will choose up to 9 credits of graduate level courses from the list of approved electives below that can be taken while still an undergraduate. The student should also take whichever required course(s) are offered in the semester of their admission. These credits will also count towards the Master's Degree.
APPROVED ELECTIVES - FOR AMP STUDENTS PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
CDAE 6260 - Community Economic Development
CDAE 6540 - Advanced Microeconomics
PA 6060 - Policy Systems
PA 6170 - Systems Analysis & Strategic Management
PH 6120 - Food Systems & Public Health
CDAE 6210- Economics of Sustainable Food Systems
NFS 5254 - Global Food Safety
Specific Requirements
Must be a UVM student with a declared Major or Minor in Food Systems. Please visit the Food Systems Graduate program website for application information and deadlines.
Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science for Accelerated Master's Students
- A declared Food Systems Major or Minor
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Completion of a college-level statistics course
- Completion of the Graduate College application form and 3 letters of recommendation, including a faculty letter of support from a current Food Systems Graduate Faculty member
Minimum Degree Requirements
| 31 credits, including: | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| FS 6400 | Food Systems & Society | 3 |
| FS 6450 | Food Systems & Science | 3 |
| FS 6475 | Food Systems & Policy | 3 |
| FS 6510 | Professional Development Sem. | 1 |
| FS 6520 | Research Design Seminar | 3 |
| FS 6392 | Master's Project Research (Project Students) | 3-4 |
| FS 6391 | Master's Thesis Research (Thesis students) | 6 |
| At least 1 methods class | 3 | |
| The remainder of required credit hours must be satisfied through graded electives. This is 11-12 credits for students completing a project and 9 credits for students completing a thesis. | ||
| Students taking FS 6391 must complete and defend a thesis in order to graduate. Students taking FS 6392 must complete and defend a project in order to graduate. | ||
Comprehensive Examination
There is a required comprehensive exam that involves a written component and oral defense of the Master’s Project or Thesis Proposal.
Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science
Satisfactory completion of the Comprehensive Exam.