Minors and Certificates

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers a number of minors and certificate programs that can help you specialize in your field of study and gain a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Browse the options below, and discover which program will serve your educational and career goals.

Please complete this form to declare intent to complete requirements for a minor when completing the graduation application. Please complete this form to declare intent to complete requirements for a certificate. Students also need to complete this form when completing a graduate application to receive appropriate credit for a certificate. Minors/certificates can only be granted concurrently and in conjunction with the granting of a degree from Mississippi State University. Completion of a minor/certificate will be noted on a student's academic transcript.

Minors

Agribusiness

This minor offers courses to equip you with fundamental economic and management principles to broaden your scope of career opportunities.

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Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

This minor will help you develop the leadership and human relation skills needed to become an effective employee in the agricultural workforce.

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Agronomy

The agronomic industry offers employment positions for people trained in other areas, such as business, accounting, computer science, engineering, advertising and marketing, and more. Expand your employment opportunities by minoring in agronomy.

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Animal and Dairy Sciences

The multidisciplinary science coursework in this minor will compliment a number of Bachelor of Science programs and give you a deeper understanding of livestock.

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Biochemistry

The coursework in this minor will give you the research skills needed to enter the science-related workforce and compliment a number of degree programs.

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Entomology

Compliment your Bachelor of Science degree program and enhance your employment opportunities with a well-grounded understanding of insects.

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Environment and Sustainability

The courses in this minor will help you gain fundamental economic and management principles pertinent to environmental and resource policy issues. You may choose to specialize in Humanities, Social Sciences, or Science and Engineering.

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Environmental Economics and Management

Broaden your scope of career opportunities in a variety of industries as you learn fundamental economic and management principles relevant to environmental and resource policy issues.

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Floral Management

Compliment your major degree program with a minor in floral design, and gain the skills needed to design floral arrangements.

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Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture

Gain the skills needed to work with flowering and woody plants. This minor is an excellent compliment to a number of related degree programs.

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Food Science

Enhance your major degree program with the knowledge and understanding of food and its manufacture.

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Global Affairs and Leadership

This interdisciplinary program equips graduate students with leadership skills and global awareness to excel in roles across public and private sectors. It complements their major by preparing them to lead effectively in diverse, multicultural settings.

For more information, email the Program Coordinator, Dr. Rima Musser at mm1824@msstate.edu.

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International Studies in Agriculture

Expand your employment opportunities and gain an understanding of an interdependent global food system. This minor will teach you the impacts of international agricultural technologies and systems and will help you develop skills needed in a global economy.

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Plant Pathology

Complement your related Bachelor of Science studies with a minor in plant pathology, and gain the skills needed to diagnose and treat plant pathogens.

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Poultry

The poultry industry offers employment positions for graduates trained in other areas, such as accounting, human nutrition, microbiology, advertising and marketing, law, and more. Expand your employment opportunities by minoring in poultry science.

Certificates and Endorsements

Companion Animal Management Endorsement

Pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or animal science? This 15 credit hour online endorsement program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to delve deeper into concepts related to companion animals, including training, nutrition, and management.

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Gerentology

Increased life expectancy means more opportunities for careers with older Americans. If you want to capitalize on some of the career opportunities in a diversity of occupations, consider the Gerontology Certification.

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Global Affairs and Leadership

This interdisciplinary program enables graduates from any major to enhance their leadership skills on a national and global scale, gaining specialized knowledge to boost their global awareness, career competencies, and workforce competitiveness. Students will be prepared to lead across cultures and excel in positions within public and private sectors, both domestically and abroad.

For more information, email the Program Coordinator, Dr. Rima Musser at mm1824@msstate.edu.

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Meat Science Endorsement

This 24 credit hour curriculum offered by the Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion, and the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to specialize in the meat processing industry.

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Precision Agriculture Endorsement/Certificate

Prepare for a career that requires training and skills in emerging agricultural technologies. This 16 credit hour program complements majors taught across College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) departments. For undergraduates, precision agriculture is added to your transcript as an endorsement. Graduate students may receive a certificate in precision agriculture.

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Retail Endorsement

Gain a competitive edge as you prepare to enter the retail industry. This program will give you an opportunity to obtain nationally accredited endorsement from the National Retail Federation, learn real-life industry skills and develop leadership/management ability in the retail industry.

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Trauma-Informed Child Advocacy Endorsement

This 12 credit hour (minimum) endorsement program complements the MSU Human Development and Family Science degree and other related majors. The coursework will give you knowledge and training focused on trauma and risk, child advocacy, human behavior and behavioral strategies, and/or family functioning.