Ph.D. Curriculum & Info Summary

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree granted on evidence of ability for independent investigation leading to original research in plant pathology. Normally, five to six years of graduate work are necessary to meet the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

In our Ph.D. program, most students are initially admitted to work in the larger program rather than the laboratory of any particular professor. During their first semester, students "rotate" through three different laboratories and do small research projects. Lab choices are based on area of research interest and on availability of graduate support funding in that laboratory. At the end of the first semester, each student then matches up with a professor who will be their Ph.D. mentor, based on mutual interest between faculty mentor and student.

Degree requirements are established by the Graduate School and by the Department.

The Ph.D. is a research degree granted on evidence of ability for independent investigation leading to original research in Plant Pathology. Course requirements include:

• foundation courses in Math, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology;
• Introductory Plant Pathology (PP300);
• Plant-Microbe Interactions (PP505);
• Diseases of Economic Plants (PP559);
• Ecology, Epidemiology, and Control of Plant Diseases (PP602);
• Teaching Practicum in Plant Pathology (PP799);
• attendance at Plant Pathology departmental seminar (PP 923) is expected. Students are required to communicate in some form of public speaking at least once per year, which can include the research proposal seminar and the final research seminar;
• 2 1-credit PP 875 Special Topics Seminars;
• at least 10 credits in a minor option;

Many courses related to pathogen groups (viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes) and other aspects of plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions are offered and may be recommended by a student’s advisor and committee.

Students also complete:

• the Preliminary Exam, which has two components:
  • students first complete the Visiting Prelim, which consists of five questions in four subject areas. The visiting prelim is completed over the course of the first two years. Four questions, one in each subject area, are offered by different faculty each semester;
  • students then complete the Oral Prelim Exam.
• a thesis of original research in Plant Pathology;
• a comprehensive oral Final Thesis Defense.

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