Program Overview
The Environmental & Plant Biology Ph.D. program provides comprehensive training in plant biology, emphasizing original research and scientific communication. Students specialize in plant ecology, systematics and evolution, or molecular and cellular biology. The program requires coursework, research credits, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation defense, preparing graduates for careers in academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Environmental & Plant Biology Ph.D. graduate program offers comprehensive educational and research experiences in plant biology, ranging from molecular to organismal and ecosystem levels. The program emphasizes conducting original research and effectively communicating scientific knowledge to diverse audiences.
Objectives:
- Impart professional standards of science and ethical conduct essential for scientific pursuits.
- Enhance students' depth of knowledge in their chosen specialization within plant biology while fostering a broad understanding of the field as a whole.
- Equip students with the skills necessary for writing research proposals.
- Guide students in designing, implementing, and analyzing scientific studies and experiments.
- Develop students' abilities to interpret data soundly and communicate scientific findings in both written and oral formats.
Outline:
Content and Structure:
Students specialize in one of three focus areas: plant ecology, plant systematics and evolution, or plant molecular and cellular biology.
Course Schedule:
The program requires the completion of a minimum of 30 graded graduate credit hours (20 in PBIO courses) for students without an M.S. degree or 21 graded graduate credit hours (12 in PBIO courses) for students with an M.S. degree.
Assessment:
Students are evaluated based on:
- Maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Successfully completing required coursework and research credits.
- Passing a comprehensive examination composed of written and oral components.
Careers:
Graduates with a Ph.D. in plant biology qualify for positions in various settings, including academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations. Career opportunities span research, teaching, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, conservation, and environmental consulting.
