Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Plant and Soil Sciences (MS, PhD)

Telephone: (302) 831-8153
http://canr.udel.edu/plsc/graduate-programs/
Faculty Listing: http://canr.udel.edu/our-faculty/plsc-faculty/

Program Overview

The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences offers graduate programs that lead to degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Plant and Soil Sciences. The objectives of the programs are to equip the student with background and techniques necessary for degree completion, opportunities for advanced study in the plant and soil sciences, and for job placement.

In addition to modern research facilities in Worrilow Hall and at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI), special items available for student research include field, state-of-the-art greenhouse and growth chamber facilities, radioisotope room, gas and liquid chromatographs, x-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, pressure-jump relaxation apparatus, atomic absorption spectrophotometers, inductively coupled plasma spectrometer, low- and high-speed centrifuges, microtomes, electrophoretic apparatus, cold rooms, confocal, atomic force and electron microscopes, carbonnitrogen-sulfur analyzer, DNA sequencers, and a bioinformatics center.

Requirements For Admission

Students seeking admission must provide Graduate Record Examination scores, grade transcripts, evaluation by three professionals, evidence of English language proficiency for applicants whose native tongue is not English, and a completed Graduate Studies application form. A member of the department also must agree to serve as the faculty advisor or rotation coordinator for the student.

Financial Aid

Please refer to the Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships section for more information.

Public Horticulture (Longwood Graduate Program) (MS)

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ADMITTING STUDENTS AT THIS TIME.

Telephone: (302) 831-2517
http://www.udel.edu/longwoodgrad

Program Overview

The Graduate program in Public Horticulture was established at the University in 1967 with the support of Longwood Gardens. The Program is thesis driven and leads to the Master of Science degree; it is unique in its educational approach to leadership in the public horticulture profession. Graduates have found employment in arboreta, botanical gardens, display gardens, horticultural societies, Cooperative Extension, park systems, and garden-related foundations. Graduate Fellows participate at the University in an academic course of study tailored to their individual needs, and they may choose to take courses to prepare for a PhD program. Additionally, all students work closely with the management staff in administration, business, education and visitor services, horticulture, and maintenance at Longwood Gardens. This joint effort of the University and Longwood Gardens uniquely prepares students for professions in a wide variety of careers in public horticulture.

Students participate in symposium planning, a multi-week internship in an international region, professional outreach, as well as intensive visits to North American institutions with public horticulture emphasis. A generous stipend is an integral part of the Fellowship and all tuition is paid by the Program.

Requirements For Admission

Applicants should demonstrate experience and interest in public horticulture and leadership potential. Applicants should submit a Graduate Record Examination combined score (verbal and quantitative) of at least 300, an analytical writing score of at least 3, three letters of recommendation, and one official transcript of the undergraduate record. Admission is selective and competitive. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. Applicants must apply on-line via the UD Graduate School, which can be accessed from the Program’s website.

Financial Aid

All students admitted to the Program are awarded a Longwood Fellowship that provides a stipend and tuition scholarship for two years.

Programs

Master’s

Plant and Soil Sciences (MS)

Doctorate

Plant and Soil Sciences (PhD)