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PLPPHD - Plant Pathology

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Plant Sciences, SchGraduate Degree SeekingPHD - Doctor of Philosophy

Overview

Program Requirements

Completion requirement

63

Completion requirement

The following courses are required for the Plant Pathology PhD (total 38 units):

  • PLS 560,  Advanced Plant Biology, 4 units, minimum grade expected B

  • PLP 550, Principles of Plant Microbiology, 4 units, minimum grade expected B

  • PLP 592, Directed Research, 3 units (1 unit each for three 7.5-week laboratory rotations), minimum grade expected B

  • PLP 596A, School of Plant Sciences Seminar, 5 units (1 unit each for five semesters)

  • PLP 695A, School of Plant Sciences Journal Club, 4 units (1 unit each for four semesters; domain-specific journal clubs may be substituted for two semesters)

  • PLP 920, Dissertation, 18 units.

Completion requirement

Elective credits (minimum 16 units) may be selected from the following courses. Substitutions may be considered at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies. The minimum expected grade is B but exceptions may be made as long as the cumulative GPA is maintained at 3.2 (see “Satisfactory Progress” in our handbook). Research units do not contribute to the GPA.

  • BE 513 Applied Biostatistics (4units)

  • BE 587 Metagenomics (3 units)

  • ECOL 518 Spatio-Temporal Ecology (2 units)

  • ECOL 553 Functional and Evolutionary Genomics (4 units)

  • ECOL 565 Phylogenetic Biology (3 units)

  • EVNS 502 Nutrient Dynamics in Soil (3 units)

  • EVNS 520 Environmental Physics (3 units)

  • PLP 546 Insect Pathogens: Biocontrol Agents & Biological Models (4 units)

  • PLP 575 Advanced Mycology (3 units)

  • PLP 527 General Mycology (3 units)

  • PLP 528L Microbial Genetics (Laboratory) (2 units)

  • PLP 528R Microbial Genetics (Lecture) (3 units)

  • PLP 611 Comparative Virology (3 units)

  • STAT 571B Design of Experiments (3 units)

  • PLP 900 Research (variable units)

Completion requirement

  • Exams: Written and oral comprehensive exams are required (see our Graduate Handbook for details).

  • Teaching: One semester of service as a Teaching Assistant is required.

  • Research presentations: Two oral presentations of student work are required, in addition to the public presentation associated with the dissertation defense.

  • Dissertation prospectus: In consultation with their Advisor, PhD students are required to write a prospectus in which they describe the series of projects to be included in the dissertation.

  • Dissertation: The Graduate College requires completion of a dissertation which meets required standards of scholarship and demonstrates the candidate's ability to conduct original research. The general expectation for Plant Science dissertations is that they will result in multiple first-authored scientific publications.

Completion requirement

All PhD students must select a minor and complete at least 9 minor units. Our program allows students to select PLS as the minor, or students may select a minor from another, relevant, program. Typical outside minors for our Plant Pathology students include Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biosystems Engineering, and Plant Science. Coursework is selected in consultation with the Major Advisor and the Minor Advisor in accordance with the requirements of the minor program.

Completion requirement