Plant Science (PLSC)

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Abstract

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) directs the graduate program in Plant Science (PLSC). The program advances graduate training and research at all levels of organization: from the genomic and molecular level to the whole organism, to agricultural systems and to natural and designed ecosystems. The program's faculty provide education and training in a wide variety of plant science related disciplines including Functional Genomics and Molecular Physiology, Plant Conservation Biology and Ecology, Plant Protection and Management and Landscape Management. The program offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Admissions Information

Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate from an accredited college or university in the United States or the equivalent in a foreign country. Applicants are expected to have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale) in all previous academic work. In addition, applicants should have at least 16 credit-hours of prior course work in calculus, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, genetics or statistics. Promising students lacking this general preparation may be provisionally admitted to the program and may be required to correct course work deficiencies within one year of enrollment. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants to the Plant Science Program. International students must submit the results of the TOEFL English exam. The program's admission committee, chaired by the graduate coordinator, reviews all applications to the Plant Science graduate program. The committee will assess the credentials (academic transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and statement of personal goals) of each applicant and determine if the applicant is acceptable for full admission, acceptable for provisional admission or unacceptable for admission. For applicants acceptable for provisional admission the committee will recommend the deficiencies or requirements that the student must meet upon subsequent enrollment. The graduate coordinator will report to the faculty the recommendations of the admission committee and identify potential faculty to serve as research advisors. Admission is dependent on the availability of a faculty member in the proposed area of study who is willing to assume the responsibility or advising. Once a suitable research advisor is identified the graduate coordinator notifies the Graduate School of the Departments recommendation on admission status. Only the Graduate School can extend an offer of admission.

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	All applicant's (Domestic and International) materials must be received by February 1 .	All applicant's (Domestic and International) materials must be received by June 1 .
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

1. GRE General(required)
2. 3 Letters of Recommendation
3. Statement of Research Interest
4. Academic Transcripts

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)
The master's program offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option. The thesis option program requires a minimum of 30 semester credits, including six credits of research, beyond the B.S. degree. Students are required to complete 12 credits of course work at the 600-level or above, including two credits of seminar (798) and have one semester each of 400-level (or higher) biochemistry, plant physiology, and statistics which may be completed as part of a B.S. or M.S. degree program. A thesis, based on the student's research, as well as the presentation of research results to a departmental seminar and a defense of the thesis in an oral examination, are required for the degree.

The non-thesis option is offered for students who do not intend to pursue further studies beyond the M.S., and whose career objectives will not require skills or competence in research. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 semester credits of course work beyond the B.S. degree, but in general, non-thesis M.S. students complete more course work than that required for the thesis option: a total of 18 credits at the 600 level or above, and a minimum of 15 credits in a major area. Non-thesis M.S. students are also required to write two scholarly papers, to present a seminar on the contents of each, and to pass a written and an oral comprehensive examination.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. degree requires demonstration of a high level of competence in the discipline and the completion of original, advanced research which is presented in a departmental seminar and as a doctoral dissertation. At a minimum, the Ph.D. student is required to complete course work equivalent to what is normally expected of a M.S. student plus 12 credits of dissertation research. In addition, students are required to have a second semester of a graduate level biochemistry or a statistics course. The group of formal courses selected should form a logical and coherent whole that will provide the student with sufficient depth in the area of specialization to be fully competent to carry out the dissertation research planned and to work successfully as a professional. Details regarding the specific course requirements of the Ph.D. program of study are available from the department. Admission to doctoral candidacy requires that the student pass both a written and an oral comprehensive examination. Completion of the Ph.D. degree includes successful defense of the dissertation in addition to completion of required course work.

Facilities and Special Resources

The majority of laboratory space and offices for faculty in the Department are located at the College Park Campus in the Plant Science Building and H. J. Patterson Hall. Laboratories are equipped for chemical, biochemical, molecular, genomic and physiological research in plant science. Extensive controlled-environment facilities, a state-of-the-art greenhouse and a network of commodity-oriented field research farms (Western Maryland Research and Education Center, Sharpsburg MD; Central Maryland Research and Education Center, Clarksville MD; Turfgrass Research and Education Center, Beltsville MD; Southern Maryland Research and Education Facility, Upper Marlboro MD; Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown MD; Lower Eastern Shore Research and Education Center, Salisbury MD) further enhance the facilities and resources available to the program

Students have access to a computer laboratory in the department and a comprehensive computer center located on campus. The University Libraries on campus and the National Agriculture Library located nearby, supplemented by the Library of Congress, make the library resources accessible to students among the best in the nation. Many of the Department's projects are conducted in cooperation with other departments on campus and with professionals at the headquarters of the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture located three miles from campus in Beltsville. Scientists at the Geologic Survey, the National Academy of Sciences, NASA, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, Smithsonian, and National Park Service, as well as other agencies, have cooperated with the Department's faculty on various projects. Scientists from some of these agencies have adjunct appointments in the Department, have taught special courses at the University, and participate on graduate committees.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of research assistantships and teaching assistantships are available for qualified applicants. There is strong competition for these awards, and candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible in the semester preceding anticipated enrollment in the Department.

Contact Information

For more specific information on the program, contact:

Dr. Gary D. Coleman
Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Achitecture, University of Maryland, 2102 Plant Sciences Building
MD  20740
Telephone: 301-405-4371
Fax: 301-314-9308
gcoleman@umd.edu

http://www.psla.umd.edu/GradPL/index.cfm

Ms. Susan Burk
Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, 2102 Plant Sciences Building
MD  20740
Telephone: 301-405-6244
Fax: 301-314-9308
sburk@umd.edu

http://www.psla.umd.edu/GradPL/index.cfm

Courses: NRSC HORT PLSC

Related Programs and Campus Units

Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
Agricultural Experiment Station
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
Biology
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
College of Life Sciences
Entomology
Maryland Cooperative Extension & Agricultural Experiment Station
Molecular and Cell Biology
Turfgrass Research Unit - College Park