M.S. in Applied Biosciences

Step into a new leadership role with the confidence and skills you need.

The M.S. in Applied Biosciences is a specialized 30-credit hour graduate degree that fuses advanced scientific knowledge in the animal health and food safety and security sectors with professional skills for those who aspire to managerial and supervisory roles in their laboratory, unit or business.

Tracks

Animal Health Track

Combine advanced knowledge about animal diseases and the interconnections between animals, humans and the environment with professional skills that will prepare you to lead and manage in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

Food Safety and Food Security Track

Gain advanced knowledge and skills in food science, food safety, horticulture, nutrition and consumer science. When paired with professional skills courses, you'll be prepared to lead in commercial, governmental and nonprofit organizations.

Industry Analytics Track

Featuring data analytics and sensory and consumer research courses, students gain the ability to understand and leverage data to lead a company to success. Coming Fall 2025.

$462.96 per credit hour*

30 credit hours

Multiple degree tracks

Three certificate options

*This estimate is for illustrative purposes only. This number is for in-person courses at the K-State Olathe campus and does not include any course, department or college fees; online fees; and also my vary depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress.

Have Questions?

Connect with Steven, your student success coach for this program. He can answer your questions about the application process, classes, scholarships, careers and more.

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Ready to Apply?

If you're ready to become a student at K-State Olathe, complete the application documents in the link below. We're here if you have questions.

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Careers

This degree opens doors for managerial and supervisory roles in laboratories, research units, business and also governmental and nonprofit organizations. Positions include as lab manager or director of quality assurance and mid- to senior-level scientific or technical positions, such as project manager.

Fields graduate work in include:

Program Features

Practical, real-world application and in-demand business skills for career advancement.
Cross-disciplinary education
Science-related courses that focus on animal health and food safety and security. Content areas include:
- Animal science
- Food science
- Horticulture
- Consumer science
- Veterinary biomedical sciences
- Leadership
- Management
Core competencies you'll learn:
- Interpreting and applying data
- Managing ambiguity
- Project management
- Building effective teams
- Complex problem-solving
Short completion time. It typically takes two years to earn a degree.
Access to the industry mentor program. Students also have the opportunity to have a faculty mentor and, for those doing an internship, an internship mentor, arranged through their academic advisor.

Learning Outcomes

All students who wish to earn the M.S. in Applied Biosciences are required to take AAI 858 - Capstone Experience I and AAI 859 - Capstone Experience II. The capstone courses provide the foundation for the program's assessment of student learning outcomes. Faculty evaluate each student's capstone project proposal in AAI 858 - Capstone Experience I, and each student's capstone project presentation in AAI 859 - Capstone Experience II, in order to determine if the student has met the program's student learning outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of one or more relevant STEM fields.
Demonstrate graduate level oral and written communication skills in a professional STEM environment.
At an advanced level, effectively analyze quantitative data for use across multiple science disciplines.
Synthesize information from multiple disciplines in order to accurately identify problems.
Synthesize information from multiple disciplines in order to develop innovation solutions.

Courses and Assignments Used to Assess SLOs

1. AAI 858 - Capstone Experience I, Capstone Project Proposal

2. AAI 859 - Capstone Experience II, Capstone Project Presentation (Poster required/PowerPoint also often required by Major Professor)

Curriculum

Tracks for This Degree

There are three academic tracks within this program. You'll be asked to declare a track at the time of admission. Each track is 12 credit hours within the total 30 credit hour program.

Animal Health Track

Courses in the animal health track provide you with knowledge of diseases that affect animals, as well as the interconnections among animals, humans and the environment. When paired with the professional skills courses, you’ll be prepared to lead and manage in commercial, governmental or nonprofit organizations related to the animal health industry.

Food Safety and Security Track

Courses in the food safety and security track provide you with knowledge and skills in the areas of food science, food safety, horticulture, nutrition and consumer science. When paired with the professional skills courses, you’ll be prepared to lead and manage in commercial, governmental or nonprofit organizations related to the food industry.

Industry Analytics Track

Information coming soon.

Certificates/Stackable Credentials

As part of this master's degree program, you can earn three certificates. These three certificates fit in the 30-credit hour master's degree curriculum. This lets you maximize your time and while while adding even more to your career potential.

Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate

Combine the knowledge of animal science and veterinary medicine with skills needed to navigate governmental processes and regulations throughout a product's lifecycle. This program is 15 credit hours and fully online.

Professional Interdisciplinary Sciences Graduate Certificate

Develop and enhance your interdisciplinary skills in order to more effectively tackle broad and multifaceted challenges that arise in animal health and food safety and security. This program is 12 credit hours and can be taken fully online or in-person.

Professional Skills for STEM Practitioners Graduate Certificate

Gain the management, communication and critical thinking skills necessary for leadership roles in STEM industries and fields. This program is 15 credit hours and can be taken fully online or in-person.

Scholarships for this Program

Students who live in Johnson County and who are applying to this program or one of its certificate programs may be eligible for a Johnson County resident scholarship.

These scholarships for Johnson County residents are sponsored by the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle, or JCERT. Scholarship awards are based on availability of funds. Applicants may be awarded up to $2,500 for certificate programs and up to $5,000 for master's degree programs for the duration of their program of study, provided they meet minimum academic and enrollment requirements. Scholarship amounts vary depending on fund availability, merit and need.

Eligibility details:

Applicant must be a resident of Johnson County, Kansas. Proof of residency will be required.
Applicants must be resident at K-State Olathe and admitted to or seeking admission to the following JCERT mission-related programs:

Apply for a Johnson County resident scholarship.

View all scholarships available at K-State Olathe.

View admissions guide