Campuses:
Twin Cities campus
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Twin Cities Campus
Plant Pathology M.S.Plant Pathology
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Plant Pathology, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Buford Circle, Saint Paul, MN 55108 (612-625-8200)
Email:
plpathgp@umn.edu
Website: http://plpa.cfans.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Plant pathology focuses on the biology of plant-microbe interactions, and incorporates research involving biochemical, molecular, genetic, physiological, whole organism, population, and community levels of biological organization. Plant pathology interfaces with all plant science disciplines, and with many other fields including food sciences, veterinary medicine, biobased products, and ecology. Areas of concentration include molecular plant pathology (offered as a special emphasis), plant disease management, biological control of plant disease, forest pathology and microbial degradation of wood, microbial ecology, population biology, plant-microbe interactions, disease resistance, host-parasite coevolution, plant microbe mutualisms, and virology. Students have opportunities for laboratory and field research locally as well as nationally and internationally. The course of study varies with the requirements for the area of concentration and interests of the student. Students who choose the emphasis in molecular plant pathology enhance their ability to design and use molecular approaches to investigate plant disease, increase basic knowledge, and develop new strategies for disease control.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.50.
Master's degree applicants must have a sound college background in the basic biological and physical sciences and mathematics.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Applicants must have completed 35 semester credits in biology with at least one course in each of the following areas: botany, zoology, genetics, plant physiology, and microbiology. Applicants must also have completed at least one course each in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. If deficiencies exist in the prerequisites, students must correct them during the first year of the graduate program. These courses cannot be counted as part of the degree program. All students accepted into the department with a B.S. degree are admitted into the M.S. program. After a minimum of two semesters, students who qualify may elect to change their degree status to the Ph.D. program. Criteria for the change include scholastic standing, potential for success in completing a Ph.D., and writing competency.
Special Application Requirements:
GRE scores are required for all students and TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students. A clearly written statement of career interests as well as three letters of recommendation are required of all students. Students may apply at any time; however, submission of all application materials by December 10 will ensure priority consideration for fellowships and research assistantships for the next academic year. Students can be admitted any semester.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan A: Plan A requires
14
major credits,
6
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
Plan B: Plan B requires
14
major credits and
6
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project: The Plan B option also requires one to three projects totaling ca. 120 hours. The content and procedures for completing the project(s) are to be determined and approved by the student's major adviser and the director of graduate studies.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 2.80
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Regular attendance at weekly plant pathology seminars is expected. Internships are encouraged as part of the graduate experience and financial support is available on a competitive basis for international or domestic internships.
Required Coursework
PLPA 5480: Principles of Plant Disease (3 cr) must must be completed if student lacks an introductory Plant Pathology course.
PLPA 8105 - Plant Bacteriology
(3.0 cr)
PLPA 8104 - Plant Virology
(2.0 cr)
PLPA 8200 - Plant Pathology Seminar
(1.0 cr)
PLPA 8123 - Research Ethics in Plant and Environmental Sciences
(0.5 cr)
Students must enroll in a seminar or workshop on teaching methods.
All students are required to enroll in a minimum of four of the following courses, chosen in consultation with the director of graduate studies, adviser, and graduate advisory committee.
Take 4 or more course(s) from the following:
·
PLPA 5003 - Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees
(3.0 cr)
·
PLPA 5444 - Ecology, Epidemiology, and Evolutionary Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions
(3.0 cr)
·
PLPA 8103 - Plant-Microbe Interactions
(3.0 cr)
·
PLPA 5202 - Field Plant Pathology
(2.0 cr)
·
PLPA 5203 - Introduction to Fungal Biology
(3.0 cr)
·
PLPA 5300 - Current Topics in Molecular Plant Pathology
(1.0 cr)
·
PLPA 5301 - Large Scale Omic Data in Plant Biology
(3.0 cr)
M.S. in Plant Pathology, Molecular Option (Plan A only)
Molecular Option Requirements
M.S. students wishing to emphasize molecular plant pathology must complete the following course requirements in addition to the Plan A master's program requirements:
BIOC 4125: Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or equivalent.
PLPA 8103 - Plant-Microbe Interactions
(3.0 cr)
Suggested courses for the 6 supporting field credits
Note: Students who wish to complete a designated minor (which is certified on the transcript, unlike the related-fields option, which is not) must complete 6 or more credits in a single field. A designated minor must be approved by the director of graduate studies in the minor field.
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AGRO 8241 - Chromosomal and Molecular Genetics of Plant Improvement
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5361 - Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 5221 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GCD 5036 - Molecular Cell Biology
(3.0 cr)
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