Master of Science degree students may pursue either the thesis or nonthesis option. The thesis option (24 hours of graduate course work plus six hours of thesis research) is designed for students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. An oral exam over the research is required for the thesis option. The nonthesis option (36 hours of graduate course work) is considered a terminal degree. An oral exam is required during the graduating semester for the nonthesis option.

A Master of Science degree at a distance is available in both Horticulture and Plant and Soil Science; each requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate course work without a thesis. Students must take the last 6 semester credit hours from Texas Tech and an oral exam is required during the graduating semester.

The Master of Science in Horticulture degree program at a distance is designed specifically to meet the needs of today?s working professional. Horticulture is the application of basic scientific information to the growing and use of edible (fruits, nuts, and vegetables) and ornamental plants (annual and perennial flowers and woody plants).

Today?s horticulture students focus on the challenges and practices of genetics and breeding, propagation, biotechnology, production, management, handling and storage, marketing, and use of horticultural plants. This non-thesis degree program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate coursework and is considered a terminal degree.

A maximum of six hours of coursework from another institution may be evaluated for transfer to Texas Tech University. Students must take the last 6 semester credit through Texas Tech University. An oral exam is required during the graduating semester.