> Degrees Offered

The department offers two graduate degrees programs:

• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of Plant Pathology has graduated over 1,000 students with advanced degrees, more than from any other Plant Pathology department in the U.S. Our graduates come from over 40 countries. Most graduates received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology. Graduate students studying with faculty in Plant Pathology will also receive advanced degrees in Agronomy, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biometry, Environmental Studies, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Plant Breeding and Genetics. This diverse group of students contributes to the multidisciplinary approach to research in the department, which is frequently essential to solving important biological and agricultural problems.

The M.S. degree may serve as a terminal degree or it may be recommended as an interim degree for students working toward the Ph.D. The Ph.D. is a research degree, which is granted on evidence of ability for independent investigation leading to original research in Plant Pathology. Normally, two to three years for an M.S. degree and five to six years of graduate work is necessary to complete the requirements for the Ph.D.

The Graduate School is the administrative unit for over 170 graduate programs of study at UW-Madison. Applicants and students must satisfy the requirements of both the Graduate School and the Department for admission, progress, and completion of degrees.

Research Committee:
Each graduate student must establish a Research Committee in discussion with your major professor to provide guidance and oversight over the course of the student’s graduate studies. The Graduate School establishes criteria for committee composition. Additional departmental policy states that a M.S. student must have three graduate faculty on their committee (major professor and two others). Ph.D. candidates must have at least four graduate faculty prior to completion of the visiting prelims, and five graduate faculty including at least one member who does not carry an appointment in the Department of Plant Pathology, for their Oral Preliminary Exam and all stages thereafter. Each Ph.D. student’s doctoral advisory committee shall include at least two Plant Pathology faculty (adopted by faculty 1/16/01).

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