Professionals in the turfgrass industry can earn a master’s degree in turfgrass management completely online in the newest distance education degree program available through the College of Agriculture’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.
The non-thesis program, which includes a capstone experience, emphasizes key areas of turf management, including installation methods, breeding and development, insect and disease control and construction of athletic fields, putting greens and other specialty areas.
Auburn is only the second of two universities in the nation to offer the advanced degree 100 percent online.
“Auburn is positioned to be a leader in this area,” says turfgrass professor Beth Guertal, lead faculty member for the program. “It will be the only online program of its kind offered from an institution in this climatic zone. We feel it has great potential for attracting students in the U.S. and from around the world.”
The program requires 32 credit hours of study. Turfgrass faculty with expertise in weed control, turf pathology, turf entomology, turfgrass maintenance and sports field maintenance will serve as student advisers.
Auburn’s Graduate School is accepting applications now for fall semester 2014; applications are due at least 45 days before the first day of class, set for Aug. 18. Guertal says turfgrass management master’s program applicants with three or more years of professional experience will be given priority.
For details on the program, go to http://www.ag.auburn.edu/agrn and click on the Distance Education button or contact Guertal at 334-844-8718 or guertea@auburn.edu.
