Agroforestry

Master of science

Our world has finite resources. As the Earth’s population continues to increase, multiple overlapping concerns have emerged: how does society feed and support everyone and also preserve the environment with the amount of land and water present? To provide an answer and adapt to the growing need for sustainable business practices, agroforestry has taken off in the United States and overseas. The University of Missouri-Columbia’s (Mizzou) unique master of science in agroforestry degree program trains individuals with a background in agriculture, natural resources, urban planning, engineering, education, environmental science or a similar field on key practices and strategies for implementing these efforts.

Mizzou currently offers two formats: the on-campus program pairs this scope with a thesis, and the fully online, non-thesis degree accommodates working professionals interested in enhancing their knowledge and switching careers. As an alternative, consider supplementing your current job or degree with Mizzou’s 12-credit, online agroforestry graduate certificate, which can serve as a pathway to the master’s program.

Why earn a master’s degree in agroforestry?

As a practice gradually picking up steam, agroforestry involves integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural environments, including horticulture, crop growing and livestock management, to take advantage of their benefits, economically use the land and preserve it for future generations. Trees help manage carbon, draw in nutrients from deep in the soil, support pollination and provide shade for livestock. At the same time, they additionally offer a source of fruit and timber.

The online master’s in agroforestry trains you to design and implement such landscapes. You’ll be instructed in practices like forest farming, alley cropping, silvopastures, riparian buffers, urban food forests and windbreaks. You’ll also examine agroforestry in broader economic, societal and land management contexts, with the long-term goals of preserving our world, its habitats and biodiversity, and creating more sustainable, resilient civilizations.

This interdisciplinary program also builds off Mizzou’s history of pioneering agroforestry research. Our Center for Agroforestry opened in 1998 to advance and study these land practices. Today, faculty continue to spearhead related research or are involved in education, outreach and economic development efforts. The master’s in agroforestry stands on this foundation and collaboration within the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The online version allows professionals around the world access to this information to implement in their local communities.  

As a student enrolled in the online master’s in agroforestry, you’ll:

• Learn more about sustainable land use, focusing related research and ecological principles to apply these practices 
• Explore the latest topics and technologies in crop and farm systems
• Understand how to integrate trees, crops and livestock to design multifunctional landscapes with specific products or services in mind
• Acquire the technical competencies to consult and guide landowners, businesses and other organizations to create multifunctional, working landscapes based on diverse products, markets and farm income
• Gain the skills to develop agricultural landscapes that improve soil, water and air quality, reduce carbon emissions, uphold biodiversity and conserve land and water habitats