Graduate Studies in Plant Biology

The Plant Biology Graduate Program (PB Program) faculty represent seven departments including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Natural Resources Conservation, Microbiology, and Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences at UMass and associated Five College institutions. Faculty research interests encompass a variety of plant science disciplines including cell biology and physiology, biochemistry and metabolism, genetics and evolution, and environmental, ecological and integrative plant biology.  An emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary research with approaches that range from practical to theoretical. 

The Program offers both Ph.D. and Masters of Science degrees.  Click on the links below for a detailed description of each program of study, or click here for the full document:
PDF version of the full PB academic requirements.

Ph.D. Program in Plant Biology

Master's Degree Program in Plant Biology

A Five Year Master's Program is available to qualified Five College undergraduates.

A typical schedule for either a PhD or Masters program candidate is posted below.

TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR PH.D. CANDIDATES (NON-TARGETED)
First Semester
· Plant Biology core survey course (PB I)
· one or two PB program-related elective courses
· fall semester rotation chosen by September 30th
· PB seminars and discussions
Wintersession
· fall semester rotation continues to end of wintersession
Second Semester
· Plant Biology core proposal writing course (PB II)
· one or two PB program-related elective courses
· spring semester rotation
· PB seminars and discussions
· journal club
· Preliminary comprehensive exam (part I): completed with grade of B- or better in PB core courses
Third Semester
· one PB program-related course
· journal club
· PB seminars and discussions
Fourth Semester
· form dissertation committee
· journal club
· PB seminars and discussions
· Preliminary comprehensive exam (part II) : Complete defense of original research proposal on planned dissertation project
Fifth Semester and after
· Dissertation Prospectus submitted to Graduate School by end of sixth semester (must be at least 7 months prior to defense)
· journal club every semester
· PB seminars and discussions every semester

TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR MASTER'S CANDIDATES
First Semester
· Plant Biology core survey course (PB I)
· One or two PB program-related courses
· PB seminars and discussions
· Thesis Advisor selected and approved by end of semester
Second Semester
· Thesis Committee assembled and approved as early in semester as possible
· Plant Biology core proposal writing course – optional (PB II)
· One or two PB program-related courses
· journal club
· PB seminars and discussions
Third Semester
· at beginning of semester, Thesis Outline approved and submitted to Graduate School (no later than 4 months prior to defending)
· one or two elective courses
· journal club
· PB seminars and discussions
Fourth Semester
· journal club
· PB seminars and discussions
· Defense of Thesis Examination