The Doctor of Philosophy in Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies is designed to enable students to generate new knowledge and learn to apply their scholarship to practice in complementary fields responsive to rapidly changing social, natural, and agricultural conditions.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

1. Admission
2. Degree Requirements

Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies must have completed a Master’s degree from a recognized educational institution. Strong academic credentials in the natural, physical, or social sciences, combined with relevant experience, including independent research experience, are necessary. All applicants for admission are required to submit scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All applicants from countries whose official language is not English are required to submit current TOEFL scores or equivalent, as outlined on the Michigan State University Graduate School web site, page 4 of http://www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/prospect/gradappintl.pdf ). Collateral courses or English language courses may be required to overcome deficiencies. Such courses will not count toward the doctoral degree.

See applications & admission process for a complete list of required application materials. All applicants must explain why they are interested in an interdisciplinary degree rather than a discipline-based degree. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty to explore possible common interests.

The student’s program of study must be developed in cooperation with and approved by the student’s guidance committee and must include the requirements specified below.

1. Foundations of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, ACR 800 (3 credits)
2. Research methods courses ( 9 credits)
• Including at least 3 credits respectively in quantitative and qualitative methods
3. A minimum of 24 credits of course work across two focus areas. Each of the two focus areas must include at least 9 credits. At least one course in each focus area must be selected from CARRS courses. The other six credits may be associated with one or both of the focus areas.
4. Comprehensive examination program statement
5. Comprehensive examination
6. At least 24 credits of ACR 999 (dissertation research)
7. Final oral examination – public defense of dissertation research