Jun 18, 2025

Catalog 2025-2026

Regenerative Organic Agriculture, PhD

Location(s): Online, On-Campus, On-Campus, Low Residency

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The PhD in Regenerative Organic Agriculture program at Maharishi International University (MIU) prepares future leaders to address global agricultural challenges through innovative research and sustainable practices. This research-intensive program integrates advanced scientific training in areas such as soil health, agroecology, and ecosystem resilience with MIU’s unique Consciousness-Based Education (CBE) methodology. Graduates will emerge as pioneers capable of advancing regenerative practices in academic, policy, and professional contexts worldwide.

Students may select from two pathways. Both tracks emphasize interdisciplinary research and holistic decision-making in sustainable agricultural systems:

1. Standard Track:

Designed for students with foundational knowledge in regenerative organic agriculture, requiring coursework, qualifying exams, and dissertation research.

2. Accelerated Track:

Tailored for experienced professionals, faculty, or researchers with prior academic and professional expertise.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successfully completing the Ph.D. in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, students will be able to:

1. Conduct advanced, original research addressing global challenges in regenerative agriculture, including soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

2. Evaluate and integrate ecological, microbial, social, and economic systems into sustainable farming practices.

3. Apply Consciousness-Based Education (CBE) principles to create innovative, holistic agricultural systems.

4. Communicate complex research findings effectively to influence agricultural policy and industry practices.

5. Collaborate globally to advance the science and application of regenerative organic agriculture through publications, presentations, and partnerships.

TRANSFER CREDIT AND COURSE WAIVER POLICY

Standard Track

In the Standard Track, Master’s-level coursework exceeding 30 credits, particularly in areas related to the PhD core, may count toward the 72-credit PhD requirement, subject to program director evaluation.

Accelerated Track

The Accelerated Track allows waivers for up to 40 credits in specific course requirements based on documentation of the student’s qualifications, such as teaching experience, publications, or professional accomplishments. Up to 40 credits may be waived for:

• Core Coursework (20 credits)

• Research Methods (8 credits)

• Proposal Preparation (6 credits)

ENTRY OPTIONS

Students may begin the program in either the Fall or Spring semester. A rolling admissions process ensures flexibility for international and domestic candidates. Students in the Accelerated Track must provide documentation of qualifications, such as teaching experience, publications, or professional accomplishments.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To graduate with a PhD in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, students must complete a total of 102 semester-hour credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Applicants whose master’s program lacked training in key foundational areas (e.g., soil microbiology or sustainable systems) may be required to complete leveling courses. These courses ensure foundational proficiency but do not count toward the credits required for the PhD. A student who has not earned a prior degree from MIU or has received prior training in Transcendental Meditation may also be required to complete the 4-credit Consciousness in Agriculture series of courses.

Standard Track

The Standard Pathway is for students entering the program with a master’s degree in a related field but without extensive prior professional or academic experience in regenerative agriculture. The Standard Pathway requires 102 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree level including:

Master’s degree coursework exceeding 30 credits completed prior to entering the PhD program from a master’s program in a related field, such as soil science, agroecology, or environmental sciences.
72 credits of PhD Coursework and Research including:

Core Coursework (20 credits): Foundational and advanced competencies such as soil microbiology, agroecology, and sustainable systems.
Research Methods (8 credits): Training in quantitative and qualitative methodologies tailored to agricultural systems.
Proposal Preparation (8 credits): Structured guidance to develop and defend a dissertation proposal.
Dissertation Research (36 credits): Independent research contributing original knowledge to the field of regenerative organic agriculture.
Dissertation Writing, Defense, and Presentation for Publication

Accelerated Track

The Accelerated Track is for experienced professionals or faculty members who demonstrate extensive prior expertise in regenerative agriculture or related fields. This track allows up to waivers for up to 40 credits in specific course requirements based on documentation of the student’s qualifications, such as teaching experience, publications, or professional accomplishments.

The Accelerated Track requires a minimum of 32 semester-hour credits completed within the program. Credit requirements including:

• Minimum of 2 credits of Proposal Preparation.

• Minimum 30 credits of independent Dissertation Research contributing original knowledge to the field.

PhD in Regenerative Organic Agriculture Requirement

Core PhD ROA Course Requirements (Standard Track: 20 credits | Accelerated Track: may be waived)

AG 650 - Advanced Soil Science Credits: 4
AG 651 - Soil Microbiology And Agroecology Credits: 4
AG 652 - Sustainable Systems In Agriculture Credits: 4
AG 653 - Advanced Ecosystem Functions And Dynamics Credits: 4
AG 654 - Agroecological Systems Research Credits: 4

Research Methods (Standard Track: 8 credits | Accelerated Track: may be waived)

AG 655A - Research Methods, Part A Credits: 4
AG 655B - Research Methods, Part B Credits: 4

Proposal Preparation (Standard Track: 8 credits | Accelerated Track: minimum 2 credits)

AG 700A - Proposal Preparation, Part A Credits: 2-4
AG 700B - Proposal Preparation, Part B Credits: 2-4

Dissertation Research (Standard Track: minimum 36 credits | Accelerated Track: minimum 30 credits)

AG 701 - Dissertation Research Credits: 2-4

Total Credits Required: Standard Track: 72 | Accelerated Track: 32

PHD DISSERTATION, EXAM, AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS

To graduate with a PhD in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, students must meet the following requirements:

Course Grades

A grade of B (3.00 GPA) or higher in all courses. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, then the course instructor(s) and the program director will meet with the student to identify the reason their grade dropped below the threshold. The student, the course instructor, and the program director will create an academic improvement plan with clear milestones. The outcome of this meeting will be recorded in the student’s file.

Qualifying Examination

This examination assesses the ability of the student to pursue doctoral research. Based on successful completion of this examination, which must be verified by at least three faculty members from the student’s academic program, the program director, and the Dean of the Graduate School, the student advances to PhD Candidate status.

Teaching and Research Experience

All doctoral students who have passed their qualifying exams may apply to teach courses, help teach courses, and/or help as research assistants. These activities give students necessary experience and skills in academic teaching and conducting research necessary in the career path of PhD graduates. Students who have reached PhD Candidate status may be awarded a PhD Assistantship, which entails this teaching or research. A student must take and successfully complete Faculty Training prior to teaching their first course.

Advanced Coursework

Advanced courses may be prescribed by the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee to ensure that students have comprehensive knowledge of a major field and related subjects. The courses students are required to take will depend upon academic background in relation to their graduate program and area of research interest.

Dissertation Committee

A doctoral student must form a Dissertation Committee of at least four members including the dissertation advisor from the Student’s department, another faculty member from the student’s department, a faculty member from another MIU department, and one faculty member from another university or research institution. Each committee member is expected to hold a doctoral degree. Dissertation committee membership must be approved by the director of the doctoral program and the Dean of Faculty.

Dissertation Proposal

The student submits the completed dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee for approval and presents an oral defense of the proposal to their committee. All students must submit their research design including consent forms to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approving beneficence, justice, and care for the individual. See https://library.miu.edu/dissertation-guidelines-for-phd-candidates/ for details. After the dissertation proposal is approved by their committee and the Dean of the Graduate School, the student advances to PhD Researcher status to conduct the research, write the dissertation, and prepare an oral defense of the dissertation.

Original Research for a Dissertation

Each doctoral student must conduct original research as the basis for a dissertation that contributes significantly to knowledge. This research is guided by the dissertation advisor and the dissertation committee and requires their approval. All doctoral students must be registered during each block they’re working on their doctoral dissertation, whether they live on or off campus.

Doctoral Research Off Campus

Candidates for the doctoral degree may, with the approval of their dissertation committee, carry out all or part of their research work on campus or off campus. All doctoral students must be register at the Enrollment Center during each semester they’re working on their doctoral dissertation, whether they live on or off campus.

Written Dissertation and Abstract

Dissertation guidelines are online at https://library.miu.edu/dissertation-guidelines-for-phd-candidates/. Students should read these guidelines before beginning their dissertations. When writing a dissertation, students work closely with their dissertation advisor.

At least four months before students plan to graduate, they should have the first version of their dissertation thoroughly checked by their dissertation advisor. Once the dissertation advisor has approved the dissertation, the student submits the document to the other members of their dissertation committee. The committee members will review the document and give their comments in a timely fashion - within two weeks. After incorporating all comments, the student will send updated copies of the manuscript to all committee members at least two weeks before the dissertation defense.

Oral Defense of the Dissertation

The PhD Researcher must successfully complete an oral defense of the dissertation. The oral examination in defense of the dissertation is conducted and evaluated by the dissertation committee. The examination is scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee. The student must be registered during the semester in which the oral defense is conducted.

Publishing the Dissertation

When the dissertation committee has reviewed and approved the dissertation and the student has passed the dissertation defense, the student incorporates any further recommended changes and corrections before submitting the dissertation to the MIU Library. To aid in completing the final dissertation, students present an electronic copy of their dissertations one month before graduation to the MIU Library Director (even if the dissertation is not complete). The Library Director will give the student feedback on formatting the dissertation. One week before graduation, the student must give the Library Director a final printed copy of the dissertation and two copies of the abstract. Everything needs to be complete at this time.

All doctoral dissertations submitted to the Graduate School will be published. MIU subscribes to a service offered by Proquest ETD Administrator. Information about the publication procedures and fees may be obtained from the MIU Proquest ETD administrator website and from the MIU Library Director. Two copies of the dissertation will be placed in the MIU Library and will be available for interlibrary loan. The abstract will be published in Dissertation Abstracts, which announces the availability of the dissertation.