Program Overview

Plant Biology M.S. Program

The Environmental and Plant Biology M.S. graduate program provides educational and research experience in plant biology from the molecular to the organismal and ecosystem levels.

Program Overview

Most students are trained within three general areas of study: plant ecology, plant systematics and evolution, or plant molecular and cellular biology. The program strives to foster communication across and beyond these areas of study to provide unique opportunities to meet each student's specific career goals.

Career Opportunities

A student with an M.S. in plant biology could work at a college or university, teaching or doing research in a variety of specialty areas. He or she also could work in private industry or governmental agencies dealing with agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, biotechnology or pharmaceutical firms, conservation agencies and museums of natural history, environmental consulting firms, food companies, the brewing and fermentation industry, lumber and pulping companies, plant nurseries, greenhouses, botanical gardens, and arboreta.

Research Areas

Most students are trained within three general areas of study:

• Ecology: From Forest Biology to Applied Management
• Functional Genomics
• Systematics & Evolution

Ecology: From Forest Biology to Applied Management

Environmental & Plant Biology faculty are actively researching various aspects of forest biology, ranging from basic ecological processes to applied management concerns.

Functional Genomics

The plant cell wall biotechnology group studies the structure and function of plant cell wall components in hopes of exploiting this knowledge for the production of valuable biological products.

Systematics & Evolution

Researchers employ independent sources of data to infer phylogenetic relationships and to use the phylogeny as a framework to study character evolution and biogeography.

Program Structure

The M.S. program is designed to train and prepare students to be successful in a Ph.D. program or positions in industry, government, or non-governmental organizations. Each student will be directed in the conduct of independent research in the pursuit of knowledge. Students are mentored in grantsmanship to support their own research with internal and external funding.

Concentrations

Two concentrations are offered in the M.S. program:

• Plant Biology Track
• Molecular and Cellular Biology Track

Advising & Program of Study

All new students will report to the Graduate Chair for initial instructions on their program of study. A student may be co-advised by two Environmental & Plant Biology tenure-track faculty members.

Plant Biology Master's Thesis

The thesis will be orally defended in a formal, public presentation. After the public presentation, the committee will conduct a closed-door defense to thoroughly evaluate the quality of the research.

Teaching Assistantships

Students have hands-on teaching experience because the program provides a teaching assistantship. As teaching assistants, students have the opportunity to assist in a variety of courses and interact with faculty.

Important Deadlines

• End of first semester – Course Approval Form to Graduate Chair
• End of second semester – Thesis Proposal approved by Thesis Committee (or by the Masters Advisory Committee for students in the Molecular & Cellular Biology concentration). Turn in signed Proposal Approval Form to Graduate Chair.
• End of third academic semester – Comprehensive exam finished for Molecular & Cellular Biology concentration students.
• Sixth semester (Graduate semester) – Apply to graduate, enroll in PBIO 6950 and PBIO 6970
  • Submit thesis to committee at least two weeks prior to defense and provide thesis title and abstract to office staff.
  • Check TAD for their deadlines.
  • Submit CAS#8 (Report of the Oral Thesis Examination/Dissertation Defense) to Graduate Chair.
• End of every spring semester – Graduate Student Progress Report.

Transfer to Ph.D. Program

An M.S. thesis student can request a transfer into the doctoral program by submitting an application of transfer to the graduate committee by January 15 or by the end of the first semester.

Related Programs

• Plant Biology Ph.D.
• Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Ph.D.