Colorado State University

What you'll study

This programme combines applied public‑service skills with subject knowledge in agriculture and natural resources. Core topics typically include agricultural and food policy, public administration for rural and agricultural contexts, programme planning and evaluation, research methods and statistics, and stakeholder engagement and communication.

• Agricultural and Food Policy: development, analysis and implementation of policy at local, state, national and international levels.
• Extension and Outreach Methods: principles and practice of Cooperative Extension and other extension models, adult learning, needs assessment and curriculum design for producer and community audiences.
• Programme Planning and Evaluation: logic models, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods, impact assessment.
• Research Methods and Data Analysis: research design, survey methods, statistical analysis relevant to applied public‑service questions.
• Leadership and Organisational Management: nonprofit and public‑sector management, grant writing, budgeting and human‑resource considerations in agricultural organisations.
• Electives and Specialisation: students may choose electives in areas such as natural‑resource policy, rural development, food systems, community resilience or international agricultural development.
• Practicum or Capstone: the degree ordinarily includes a practicum, internship or capstone project placing students with government agencies, extension offices, NGOs or community organisations to apply skills on real problems. Some students may have a thesis option depending on the programme track.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably in agriculture, natural resources, public policy, economics, social sciences or a related field. Admissions commonly consider academic record, relevant work or volunteer experience, a statement of purpose outlining professional goals, and letters of recommendation.

Some programmes accept applicants with quantitative coursework; if your background lacks research methods or statistics, you may be advised to take preparatory courses. Graduate entrance test requirements (such as the GRE) vary and may be optional for some applicants. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements through an approved test or institutional pathway.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue careers that bridge agriculture and public service. Typical roles include extension agent or educator, policy analyst or advisor for government departments, programme manager for state agricultural agencies, community development specialist, grant and project administrator for NGOs, and specialist roles with commodity organisations, conservation agencies or international development organisations.

Alumni commonly work for county and state extension systems, the United States Department of Agriculture and its state counterparts, regional conservation programmes, non‑profit organisations focused on food systems and rural development, and private consultancies that support public‑sector agricultural programmes.

Why study at Colorado State University

As a land‑grant institution, Colorado State University offers direct connections to Cooperative Extension and agricultural experiment station systems, providing practical training and field opportunities in outreach and applied research. The university’s multidisciplinary faculty bring expertise in policy, economics, soil and crop sciences, rangeland management and community engagement, enabling a programme grounded in both science and public service practice.

Students benefit from a mix of classroom instruction and hands‑on placements with state and regional partners in a state that encompasses diverse production systems, from irrigated agriculture to rangelands. The university’s networks of practitioners, government agencies and non‑profits support career development and real‑world project experience relevant to agricultural public service roles.