Graduate degrees from the College of ACES allow students to develop depth and breadth in their expertise to take their careers to the next level. Personalized mentoring from award-winning faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and cutting-edge research methods prepare them to exercise creative problem solving as they tackle critical real-world challenges.
Graduate programs include online and Professional Science Master’s programs in addition to our more traditional master’s and Ph.D. programs.
View our graduate degrees below or consider a certificate program. If you're interested in learning more about getting a degree in ACES, fill out our request form.
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We offer two master's degrees: the Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics and the (nonthesis) Master of Agricultural and Applied Economics (MAAE). The degrees offer students support and flexibility in tailoring their experience to best fit their goals with personalized mentoring from faculty and fellow students, as well as the opportunity to expand their knowledge by attending courses and seminars outside of ACE.
Our program helps set our students up for success by offering weekly seminars, networking opportunities, and funding for conference and publication expenses. The Department of ACE also helps students find funding opportunities, with over 90% of our graduate students having enough funding to cover the cost of tuition.
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Learn more about the (non-thesis) MAAE
Our master's of science degree is ideal for enhancing leadership and communication skills to take your career to the next level, or for people who are interested in becoming a teacher in Illinois. A master's of science degree can advance your career as a professional educator in the classroom, an extension education professional, or in related agriculture and natural science careers where public education, leadership, and communication skills are required.
Learn more about Agricultural Education
Graduates from the bioinformatics program will be able to integrate basic and applied concepts in the three areas of biological and agricultural sciences; statistical, mathematical and computer sciences; and informatics and engineering sciences. Graduates will be able to apply them to biotechnology and medical research.
Learn more about Bioinformatics in Animal Sciences
The University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences educates future leaders to make a difference in the world through science and technology. Join our team of award-winning researchers on a mission to feed and fuel the world.
Scientific experiences are endless when you opt for advanced education in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois. We offer advanced degree programs tailored to your specific interests that will prepare you for enriching and stimulating careers with a spectrum of public and private organizations in a global agricultural industry.
Our graduate degree recipients hold positions of leadership throughout the world. Our degree programs provide relevant education to match nearly every interest and career aspiration in crop sciences.
Conduct research alongside world-renowned faculty committed to providing you with an exceptional and nurturing environment for personal and professional growth.
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FSHN faculty address a wide variety of research areas related to human nutrition. Clinical nutrition, community nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, nutrigenomics, and nutritional toxicology are the general areas of strength for the FSHN human nutrition faculty.
Students focusing on human nutrition will learn from interactions with faculty members whose laboratories focus on research in the following areas:
Other research topics are related to nutrition education, dietetics, disease prevention and treatment, and general health and wellness practices.
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The Division of Nutritional Sciences is the interdisciplinary program for graduate education in nutrition. Extensive research opportunities are available that address the spectrum from research at the level of the genome and proteome to clinical and population-based intervention studies.
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We seek graduate students with the highest credentials. We expect much of the students we accept. All students must be able to communicate effectively and contribute meaningfully to teaching. We seek to treat our graduate students as professionals and are ever mindful that our graduate students of today are our peers of tomorrow. Ethics and professionalism are extremely important aspects of our graduate education and training. Our department’s legacy lies in the hands of those we graduate.
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We offer two master's programs: Master of Science in Animal Sciences and the (non-thesis) Master of Animal Sciences. Our nationally ranked graduate programs provide you with multidisciplinary training and hands-on research experience in basic and applied animal, biomedical, and bioenergy sciences. Together with your faculty mentor, you’ll tailor your experience and independent research project to one of the following areas of specialization:
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Learn more about the (non-thesis) MANSC
Learn more about Bioinformatics in Crop Sciences
FSHN faculty address a wide variety of research areas related to food science, including these general focal areas of strength:
Within the areas of food chemistry and sensory science, our researchers are studying flavor chemistry, manipulation of storage components, food safety and toxicology, structure-function behavior, and chemical stability of foods.
Students interested in food microbiology may desire to study with faculty members whose research addresses genetic and physiological manipulation of bacteria, growth conditions and their effects on microbes, and fermentation.
Chemical/microbial food safety researchers look into safety, production, and preservation and relations to human health.
Food science students interested in food processing and engineering can benefit from studying with faculty members researching topics including the effects of thermal processing on fats and oils, bioprocessing, state-of-the-art novel processing technologies, heat and mass transfer analysis, rheology, the use of acoustic ultrasound in processing, production systems modeling and optimization, and development of bio-based, biodegradable resins, and plastics.
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In NRES, graduate students develop both depth and breadth in their expertise. They work with expert faculty and researchers who train them in the specialized knowledge and skills needed for their research areas, while also participating in NRES seminar and activities that help them see their work within the bigger picture and learn to communicate their expertise to others effectively.
Because of its interdisciplinary nature, NRES research and educational programs are tailored to suit your interests, and each student, with their advisor, develops their own plan of study. Our faculty and graduate students are active in interdisciplinary programs and activities on a variety of subjects.
Learn more about Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
We seek graduate students with the highest credentials. We expect much of the students we accept. All students must be able to communicate effectively and contribute meaningfully to teaching. We seek to treat our graduate students as professionals and are ever mindful that our graduate students of today are our peers of tomorrow. Ethics and professionalism are extremely important aspects of our graduate education and training. Our department’s legacy lies in the hands of those we graduate./
Learn more about Technical Systems Management
Study and research for the Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics typically requires four years beyond the master's degree.
Our program is designed to provide fundamental training in basic and applied animal sciences. Students usually prepare for careers in basic or applied animal sciences in universities, government agencies, private industry, college teaching, industry, community, public health education programs, or animal industries.
Our department offers one Ph.D. doctoral concentration in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). This degree prepares students to rigorously analyze and constructively address contemporary social issues faced by diverse children, youth, families, and communities.
This degree is designed for students who aspire to careers as researchers, educators, policy developers, or professionals who develop, evaluate, and implement programs for children, families, and communities. Many of the graduates from our HDFS program pursue careers in higher education, and some pursue research or policy careers outside of academia.
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The department is a leader in the application of engineering principles to solve problems of agricultural production and utilization and to improve the quality of life. Specific research projects are continually changing to meet new challenges and opportunities. Faculty are conducting research in all major areas of agricultural engineering and technical systems management.
The Crop Science Ph.D. program offers research disciplines in Bioinformatics, Crop Production, Environmental Sciences, Horticultural Food Systems, Integrated Pest Management, Plant Breading, Genetics, Plant Molecular Biology and Physiology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science.
The online Agricultural Education Master of Science degree enables students to take a series of synchronous web-based courses to meet the same requirements as the traditional on-campus degree program. Our online students log into an online portal simultaneously with other students and the course instructor. All courses happen during the evenings (Central Standard Time) at times convenient to students with daytime responsibilities.
The University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is proud to offer an online non-thesis master's of science degree. Many of the students in this program are working professionals. The online delivery option makes the program accessible to students in various locations who may also be balancing a travel schedule for their careers.
The off-campus MS degree program was created in 1973, and hundreds of students have obtained their MS degrees through the program. The live online delivery system, initiated in 2010, maintains the high-quality non-thesis MS program for which this respected university is known.
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Advance your career with an online master's degree in Crop Sciences. Our program focuses on relevant agricultural issues backed by the academic reputation of a world-class research institution.
The online graduate program in NRES enables students to continue their education in disciplines related to natural resources and environmental sciences through part-time study at locations away from the University of Illinois Campus at Urbana-Champaign.
Agribusiness needs people like you who know and understand the science of agriculture. Companies demand you not only know the science but can transform that knowledge into meaningful products and services. When you graduate from the Agricultural Production PSM program, you will leave with advanced knowledge in agricultural science and relevant real-world business knowledge and skills.
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Illinois PSM students work closely with faculty and other students, including those in the research-based M.S. programs. Student events provide opportunities to meet people from business, industry, government, and other institutions to learn more about opportunities and challenges in the food science and human nutrition field.
You will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned scientists and researchers working to develop new technologies inside the state-of-the-art Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL). The IBRL leads the way in bioenergy and bioprocessing research and education. The facility provides students with hands-on experience in pilot plant processing, analytical lab work, while working side by side with industry clients and partners.
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You will focus on the application of engineering principles, study the technology used in agriculture and other industries, and the integration of business concepts in the food and agricultural industries. These guiding principles will prepare you for both technical and leadership careers involving agriculture, food, energy, water, and the environment.
Joint degree programs allow students to earn two degrees in less time by engaging in them concurrently.
ITOPP allows students to earn a Master's of Public Health in addition to a Ph.D. in one of the ACES departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Human Development and Family Studies, or the Division of Nutritional Sciences.
Learn more about the Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program
This program allows students to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a Ph.D. in a related field such as Animal Sciences, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, or Nutritional Sciences.
Learn more about the Veterinary Scholars Program
Prospective students with an interest in specializing in environmental or natural resource law are invited to explore a new joint degree program at the University of Illinois. Students in this program earn a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and a J.D.in Law.
Learn more about M.S. NRES/J.D. Law
The non-thesis Master of Agricultural and Applied Economics (MAAE) is a professionally oriented degree designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers in the private sector, including as economic consultants, commodity traders, analysts, or in the public sector with government agencies and international organizations. Students will choose one of four specialty training areas that fit their interests and career goals:
Learn more about BS in ACE / MAAE