Dec 09, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Applied Biosciences (MS)

Location(s): Olathe Campus, Olathe Online



Offered by the K-State School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies (Olathe Campus), this 30-credit hour program combines education in animal health and food safety and security with leadership and management skills. The program is ideal for students seeking to build the STEM and professional expertise needed for career advancement. All students take professional skills courses, a statistics course, and STEM courses in the animal health track, food safety and security, or industry analytics track. Students must select the track they wish to pursue at the time of admission. All students must also complete two capstone courses.

After completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Demonstrate advanced knowledge of one or more relevant STEM fields,

2) Demonstrate oral and written communication skills in a professional STEM environment,

3) Effectively analyze quantitative data for use across multiple science disciplines, and

4) Synthesize information from multiple disciplines to accurately identify problems and develop innovative solutions.

Courses are offered online, face-to-face, and in combination. This program is recognized as a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program, approved by the National PSM Office.

Course Requirements


A culminating experience is required for this option. The graduate student works with the major professor and the supervisory committee to determine the parameters of the culminating experience.

Professional Skills: 9 credit hours


Professional Skills Electives – 9 credits selected from the following courses (or other graduate professional skills courses as approved by the student’s supervisory committee):

STEM: 15 credit hours


Statistics Electives: 3 credit hours


Statistics Electives – 3 credits selected from the following courses (or another graduate statistics course as approved by the student’s supervisory committee):

Students choose the remaining 12 credit hours of STEM electives from their chosen track:


Animal Health Track

The courses in the animal health track provide students 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, students will be prepared to lead and manage in commercial, governmental, or nonprofit organizations related to the animal health industry.

Animal Health Track - STEM Electives: 12 credit hours

STEM Electives – 12 credits selected from the following courses (or graduate STEM courses within the disciplines indicated below, as approved by the student’s supervisory committee):

Complimentary STEM Courses - a maximum of 6 credit hours

(as part of the 12 STEM electives) can be selected from the following courses:

Food and Security Track

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

Food Safety and Security Track - STEM Electives: 12 credit hours

STEM Electives – 12 credits selected from the following courses (or graduate STEM courses within the disciplines indicated below, as approved by the student’s supervisory committee):

Complimentary STEM Courses - a maximum of 6 credit hours

(as part of the 12 STEM electives) can be selected from the following courses:

Total Hours Required for Master’s: 30