About

Students are trained by graduate faculty with an emphasis on interdisciplinary education and mastery of their chosen area of study. All PLSC graduate training is thesis-based, and an emphasis is placed on research and discovery learning rather than coursework. Students work directly with internationally-recognized graduate faculty who are leaders in their disciplines.  Students are guided in their studies by a major professor as well as a graduate advisory committee selected by the student from experts on the campus, nearby research institutions, and other universities. 

The objectives of the Plant Science graduate program are:

• To provide students with the skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information, using inductive and deductive reasoning, and communicating in both verbal and written form.

• To train a next generation of plant science researchers to lead public and private efforts to provide a secure and nutritious food supply, maintain and restore ecosystems, and provide high quality plant science education.

• To advance knowledge in the plant sciences that is critical to the improvement of the efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of global and national agricultural and natural resources.