Plant and Soil Science Graduate Certificate
From soil to seed, cultivate your career in plant and soil science and make a lasting impact on agriculture and the environment.
- Offered 100% Online as well as Face-to-Face in Commerce.
- 1 year
- 12 credit hours
- No thesis required
- No foreign language credits required
Get Your Hands Dirty
Are you passionate about the plants you grow? Do you want to enhance your understanding of the intricate processes behind plant nutrition, production, and how plants and crops thrive in our harsh environment? Then the Graduate Certificate in Plant and Soil Science is for you.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
With our Plant and Soil Science Graduate Certificate, you can pursue a variety of career paths in agriculture, environmental science, sustainability and research.
Career Possibilities
Program Details
Our program provides specialized soil health, plant management and sustainability training, preparing you to address key challenges in agriculture, environmental conservation and land resource management.
What Might I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
Soil Microbes
Understand the critical role of soil microorganisms in nutrient cycling, plant health and soil fertility. Learn how these microbes influence crop yields and ecosystem function.
Precision Agriculture with AI
AI leverages data from drones, satellites and sensors to optimize soil management, irrigation and fertilization, enhancing crop yields and minimizing resource waste.
Carbon Sequestration
Explore how soils capture and store carbon to help mitigate climate change. Study farming practices that enhance soil carbon storage and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change and Soil
Examine the effects of climate change on soil health, plant growth and crop productivity. Develop adaptive strategies to manage soil and agricultural systems in a changing climate.
Taking Classes
Designed for both current professionals and those seeking to advance their knowledge, our graduate certificate offers a flexible, fully online format. Study at your own pace, wherever you may be. Our program is offered entirely online, with hands-on courses available at the Commerce campus.
Please check the schedule of classes for course offerings, locations and times, which are subject to change.
Curriculum
Our 12-hour graduate certificate helps you gain advanced knowledge in plant and soil science to strengthen your expertise in areas like plant growth, nutrition, and agricultural systems. As well as build applied skills for careers in research, agronomy, and environmental stewardship through focused graduate-level study.
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Robert “Bob” Williams, Ph.D.
Alum Faculty
Jose Lopez, Ph.D.
Faculty
Whitney Figland, Ph.D.
Faculty
Student Organizations
Our campus has many ways to engage and get involved.
You have access to professional organizations that support career development and practical experience. These organizations offer opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration on industry-focused projects. By actively participating, you can deepen your expertise, build valuable connections and develop leadership skills essential for advancing in the field of plant and soil science.
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
Financing My Future
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship. Financial Aid and Scholarships
On-Campus Employment Opportunities
Enhance your expertise through on-campus employment opportunities.
Graduate Assistant/Research/Teaching
Graduate assistant teaching (GAT), graduate assistant research (GAR), and graduate assistant non-teaching (GANT) assistantships at East Texas A&M offer financial support and professional development for graduate students. Assistantships are available in academic and non-academic departments.
Cost Before Financial Aid
East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.
$3,669
for Texas residents
/
$7,341
For non-residents
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are
Additional Fees May Apply
- Online Courses ($50 per hour)
- Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
- Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Admission Process
Once admitted, you must:
- Earn a 3.0 GPA on all required coursework (No course substitutions may be applied on graduate certificates)
- Submit a Completion of Certificate Request while taking your final graduate certificate courses.
- Create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Plant and Soil Science, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
View Degree Plan
DegreeWorks is where you track your progress through your program and make sure you are meeting all your requirements for graduation.
- Sing in to myLEO
- Navigate to “Student Resources”
- Select “Grad School DegreeWorks”
Register for Classes
- To register for classes, go to myLEO > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Deadlines
- Fall admission consideration: May 10
- Spring admission consideration: October 15
- Summer admission consideration: March 15
Note: International students interested in graduate certificates must do so in conjunction with a graduate degree.
- Create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Plant and Soil Science, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
View Degree Plan
DegreeWorks is where you track your progress through your program and make sure you are meeting all your requirements for graduation.
- Sing in to myLEO
- Navigate to “Student Resources”
- Select “Grad School DegreeWorks”
Register for Classes
- To register for classes, go to myLEO > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
- 903.886.5358
- 903.886.5990
- [email protected]