Interested in a graduate degree in Plant Pathology?
The Plant Pathology graduate program at UCR offers both a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology!
Research in plant pathology at UC Riverside focuses on five areas: plant disease management, microbial genomics and genetics, host-pathogen interactions, Nematology, and microbial ecology and evolution. Information about individual faculty working in these areas can be found on the faculty page and cooperating faculty page.
For more information about joining our Graduate Program, please fill out our Interest Form.
Masters and Ph.D. Curriculum Overview
All Ph.D. students in the program are fully financially supported through fellowships offered through the Graduate Division, teaching and research assistantships, and external fellowships.
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Masters Degree In Plant Pathology
The Master's degree is self-funded and typically takes 2 years to complete. Non-thesis (comprehensive examination) and thesis options are available. The student selecting non-thesis degree program will generally take a minimum of 36 units of upper-division and graduate courses, of which 18 must be graduate level courses in Plant Pathology. An examination committee administers a comprehensive final oral exam in the major subject.
Students selecting a thesis program for the master's degree will generally enroll in 36 units of upper division and graduate courses, of which 24 must be graduate level courses in Plant Pathology. Up to 12 units may be in research for the thesis. The research advisor guides the student toward completion of an acceptable thesis.
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Ph.D. in Plant Pathology
The Doctor of Philosophy program is tailored to the needs and interests of each student. The program involves course work and independent research experience. Classes are selected in consultation with the student's major professor or curriculum advisor, and the graduate affairs committee of the program that will confer the Ph.D. degree. In addition to core subjects such as plant pathology or nematology, some degree of competence may be expected in other areas such as biochemistry, entomology, or genetics, depending on the student's intended field of expertise.
Partway during the Ph.D. training period, students must demonstrate adequate preparation in the fields fundamental to their degree subject and in areas in which students have placed special emphasis in their training. This is determined by written and oral qualifying examinations which must be passed before the student can advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Degree candidates will prepare a dissertation based on their original research, which must be approved by a dissertation committee selected to supervise the student's progress. A final, oral defense of the dissertation and related areas is required.
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Curriculum
Suggested First-Year Core Course Curriculum Plan for Plant Pathology at UCR
Quarter
Course #
Title
Units
Lecture & Discussion Hr/Wk
Lab Hr/Wk
Fall
PLPA210
Introduction to Plant Pathology
5
4
3
PLPA234
Introduction to Mycology
5
4
3
PLPA250
1Seminar in Plant Pathology
1
1
0
Winter
PLPA200
Fungal Diseases of Plants
3
2
3
PLPA207
Bacterial and Viral Diseases of Plants
3
2
3
PLPA250
1Seminar in Plant Pathology
1
1
0
Spring
PLPA206
2Phytopathogens: Nematodes (odd years)
2
1
3
PLPA265
A Colloquium on the Principles of Plant Pathology
3
3
0
Summer
PLPA240
3Field Plant Pathology
1
Field Trips
NA
1First-year students do not present seminars during PLPA250. Second year students and beyond present a 20-minute talk, typically during the Winter offering of PLPA250 each year. The rest of the meetings for PLPA250 during Fall and Winter quarter are reserved for outside speakers, including the annual student-invited speaker event.
2Offered in odd years; course is mix of first and second-year students.
3Currently optional, but highly recommended. Field trips take place over course of one week.
