The Department of Crop and Soil Science is looking for talented, driven graduate students committed to making a difference in agriculture and natural resource management.

How to Apply

Crop Science Graduate Program Application Steps

Steps for applying to the Crop Science Graduate Program are detailed below. Please follow the sequence to ensure that you’re not unnecessarily expending application fees required by the graduate school.

Step 1. Identify an Advisor
  1. Review the matrix of disciplines and commodities to determine your interest area. Faculty Matrix
  2. Email a faculty member identified with that discipline and commodity focus to determine if he or she is willing to serve as your mentor.
  3. Copy your email to our Graduate Applications Coordinator, Rhonda Thomson. 
  4. Provide a letter of interest, your CV, previous GPA, our Graduate Questionnaire and indicate if you require financial assistance.
  5. Await a reply from the identified faculty member and ensure their willingness to serve as your mentor before applying to the Graduate School.
Step 2. Apply to the Graduate School (fee required)
  1. After you have identified a suitable mentor within the Crop Science graduate faculty, submit your application to the Graduate School (http://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions/academic-requirements).
  2. Taking the GRE is required, however there is no program-specified minimum score.
  3. Provide 3 letters of reference.
  4. If you are a non-native English speaker and have not completed another degree in the US, you must provide evidence of English proficiency.  OSU accepts several English language test scores, the most common of which are TOEFL and IELTS. Proficiency requirements are TOEFL: 550; TOEFL iBT: 80; IELTS: 6.5
    (http://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions/international#english-language)
Step 3. Submission Dates

We accept applications at any time of the year, and accepted students can enroll during any academic term. To be considered for funding for Fall Term, we recommend that you submit a complete application by January 10.  For university deadlines visit Oregon State's Graduate School.

For Fall - January 10
For Winter - June 1
For Spring - September 1
For Summer - December 1

Step 4. Apply for Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate research assistantships are available to students through various projects in the department. Research assistants work on a part-time basis 12 months per year; all students must contribute to the sponsoring research project. Graduate research assistants do not pay tuition but are responsible for fees and health insurance. General information on eligibility rules for low-interest federal loans can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants may seek fellowships from their home country, or from international agencies and foundations. To obtain a student visa, international students must show evidence of sufficient financial resources to support their entire educational program at Oregon State. 

Group health insurance is available through Oregon State University.

Soil Science Graduate Program Application Steps

Steps for applying to the Soil Science Graduate Program are detailed below. Please follow the sequence to ensure that you’re not unnecessarily expending application fees required by the graduate school.

Step 1. Identify an Advisor
  1. Email a faculty member identified with that discipline and commodity focus to determine if he or she is willing to serve as your mentor.
  2. Copy your email to our Graduate Applications Coordinator, Rhonda Thomson. 
  3. Provide a letter of interest, your CV, previous GPA, our Graduate Questionnaire and indicate if you require financial assistance.
  4. Await a reply from the identified faculty member and ensure their willingness to serve as your mentor before applying to the Graduate School.
Step 2. Apply to the Graduate School (fee required)
  1. After you have identified a suitable mentor within the Crop Science graduate faculty, submit your application to the Graduate School (http://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions/academic-requirements).
  2. Taking the GRE is required, however there is no program-specified minimum score.
  3. Provide 3 letters of reference.
  4. If you are a non-native English speaker and have not completed another degree in the US, you must provide evidence of English proficiency.  OSU accepts several English language test scores, the most common of which are TOEFL and IELTS. Proficiency requirements are TOEFL: 550; TOEFL iBT: 80; IELTS: 6.5
    (http://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions/international#english-language)
Step 3. Submission Dates

We accept applications at any time of the year, and accepted students can enroll during any academic term. To be considered for funding for Fall Term, we recommend that you submit a complete application by January 10.  For university deadlines visit Oregon State's Graduate School.

For Fall - January 10
For Winter - June 1
For Spring - September 1
For Summer - December 1

Step 4. Apply for Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate research assistantships are available to students through various projects in the department. Research assistants work on a part-time basis 12 months per year; all students must contribute to the sponsoring research project. Graduate research assistants do not pay tuition but are responsible for fees and health insurance. General information on eligibility rules for low-interest federal loans can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants may seek fellowships from their home country, or from international agencies and foundations. To obtain a student visa, international students must show evidence of sufficient financial resources to support their entire educational program at Oregon State. 

Group health insurance is available through Oregon State University.

If you have any questions, please contact us:
Rhonda Thomson 
Graduate Applications Coordinator
109 Crop Science Bldg.
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-1286