U.S. Dept of Agriculture Marketing & Regulatory Programs Graduate Scholarship Program

Program Description

The Graduate Scholarship Program provides funding for graduate school as preparation for a career in government service. The program is designed to recruit individuals to work for USDA after completion of graduate course work in particular disciplines and will be administered under the Student Career Experience scholarships. Prior to graduation, recipients intern at USDA for a minimum of 640 hours. The internships are paid in addition to the scholarship funds. After graduation, recipients are required to work for USDA one year for every year of financial assistance received from USDA. The awards include the following: Full-tuition scholarships: tuition, mandatory university fees and books; Paid internship (minimum 640 hours) leading to permanent employment; employee benefits; and mentoring, career development, and leadership training.

Sponsoring MRP Agencies and Eligible Fields of Study:

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Agricultural Business (Master's); Agricultural Economics (Ph.D or Master's); Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy (Master's); Agricultural Management (Master's); Agricultural Marketing (Master's); Agronomy (Ph.D.); Animal Sciences (Ph.D.); Auditing (Ph.D.); Botany Statistics (Ph.D.); Food Sciences/Technology (Master's)

Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)

Accounting; Agricultural Business; Agricultural Economics; Auditing; Computer Science; Economics; Food Analytical; Chemistry; Electronic Engineering

Eligibility Criteria (Applicant must meet all of the following eligibility requirements):

Be a U.S. citizen
Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, or be a graduating senior, with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average based on a 4.0 scale
Be accepted into or enrolled in an accredited institution as a graduate student, seeking a Master's or Ph.D. degree in a field as defined above
Have a strong interest in a career in public service with USDA
Not a current USDA employee

The recruitment office is currently accepting applications. To be considered, your application must contain the following items:

Resume, including current and summer addresses and telephone numbers
Transcripts of all college courses completed to date
Letter of acceptance for those applicants entering graduate school, if applicable
Two letters of recommendation from college officials, such as professors, deans, or counselors. For one of these letters you may substitute a supervisor's recommendation if the work experiences that supervisor are related to the particular discipline eligible for Fields of Study
If you served the the U.S. Armed Forces, please submit documentation of service with your application
An original essay by you, not to exceed 500 words, addressing this topic: "Why I should receive a Graduate Scholarship and what contributions I would make to USDA"

Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or any other non-merit factor. Veterans' Preference will be applied.

Nomination deadline is May 22. All applications and materials must be postmarked no later than May 22. The students selected will begin receiving scholarship benefits at the start of the fall semester after agreeing to the conditions of the scholarship by signing an agreement with the agency.

Nominations should be addressed to:
Graduate Scholarship Program
USDA, MRPBS, APHIS, Human Resources/Recruitment
4700 River Road, Unit 22, Riverdale, MD

For more information, contact Emilie Clingerman

Last updated: 04/13/2009