Graduate Degree

Plant Pathology - Doctor of Philosophy

Program:
Plant Pathology - Doctor of Philosophy
Plan Code:
PLANTP_PHD
Program Level:
Graduate
Award Type:
Doctor of Philosophy
College:
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Department:
Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Graduate Study
Plant Pathology - Doctor of Philosophy

The objective of this program is to provide a high quality plant pathology graduate experience to equip students with the skills necessary for research, teaching and extension, or other agriculture-related positions that require the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Regular admission may be granted to those students having a master’s degree or its equivalent, a 3.00 grade point average, and appropriate training in the biological and physical sciences and mathematics. Outstanding students without a master’s degree may be accepted.

Provisional admission may be granted to those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Plant Pathology

All doctoral students in plant pathology must meet the requirements specified below:

1. Pass a preliminary examination.
2. Acquire experience in either (a) teaching, by serving as a teaching assistant in a course or, (b) extension, through the development and delivery of outreach programs or materials, as approved by the guidance committee.
3. Complete all of the following courses:
PLP  805 Principles of Plant Diseases 3
PLP  812 Epidemiology of Plant Diseases 3
PLP  847 Advanced Mycology 4
or
PLB  402 Biology of Fungi 4
PLP  850 Physiological Plant Pathology 3
PLP  881 Molecular and Biochemical Plant Pathology 3
PLP  884 Prokaryotic Diseases of Plants 3
PLP  885 Plant Diseases in the Field 2
PLP  894 Seminar in Plant Pathology 3
PLP  999 Doctoral Dissertation Research 24
Students who completed 2 credits of PLP 894 at MSU as a master's student must complete 3 additional credits of PLP 894.
4. Other courses and/or reading knowledge of a foreign language as specified by the guidance committee.
5. Complete oral and written comprehensive examinations.
6. Complete a written thesis and present the result publicly at a departmental seminar prior to graduation.
7. Pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis before the guidance committee which occurs immediately after the public seminar at which the thesis results are presented.