phd student position in horticulture

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The Ph.D. in Horticulture is granted for proven ability in research and scholarship. The student conducts research under the guidance of the major professor with input from the student’s doctoral committee. The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of five members of the graduate faculty, including at least two from the Department of Horticulture and a representative from the Graduate Council.

Requirements

• There is no rigid credit requirement; however the equivalent of at least three years of full-time graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree (at least 108 graduate credits) is required.
• The equivalent of one full-time academic year in regular non-blanket course work (at least 36 graduate credits).
• A graduate student who holds an M.S. degree must file a study program with the graduate school by the end of one calendar year of enrollment as a Ph.D. student. This program is formulated and approved at a formal meeting of the student's doctoral committee prior to this date.
• No more than 15 hours of blanket-numbered courses (e.g., 501, 507, etc.), other than thesis (Hort 503), may be included in the program.
• HORT 507 (1 credit), Horticulture Seminar. The student presents a seminar at the regularly scheduled time of the department seminar (Tuesdays at 4:00 pm).
• HORT 511 (2 credits), Research and Educational Perspectives in Horticulture, to be taken the first Fall term of enrollment (not required if the student earned these credits as an MS student).
• A minimum of 6 credits of ENT/HORT 518, PBG/HORT 519, or HORT 520 (two credits per course).  At least one course should be related to the student's area of emphasis, but students are encouraged to enroll in other topic areas.
• Successful completion of an oral preliminary examination. In Horticulture it is the prerogative of a major professor to require a written comprehensive examination as well.
• Successful completion of a final oral examination, which includes a defense of the thesis.

Courses in the major, Horticulture, may be selected from those in Horticulture (i.e. with a Hort designation) as well as from those offered by many other departments and programs.

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Learning Outcomes: 

Through successful participation and completion of a Doctoral degree in Horticulture students will gain an advanced understanding of horticulture and the interaction with related disciplines, and conduct original research that advances the field of horticulture. Students will be trained through disciplinary coursework and research experience to provide soil science expertise and will have the breadth of knowledge to be able to communicate with professionals from the broad range of specialties involved in horticultural systems management and research.

Outcome 1: SCHOLARSHIP

Graduates will have the ability to conduct original research that extends knowledge in the field of horticulture. This will be demonstrated through mastery and application of critical thinking in the design and conduct of original research, and application of standard and innovative theory and methods in both coursework and an individual thesis research project.

Outcome 2: KNOWLEDGE

Graduates will be able to demonstrate:

• In-depth disciplinary knowledge and capacity to apply that knowledge to horticultural systems issues at multiple scales and levels of biological organization.

• Skill in integrating horticultural systems concepts across multiple disciplines.

• Original and innovative contributions to the understanding of horticultural systems.

• The ability to employ technical knowledge and leadership skills to a horticulture research problem.

Learning outcomes specific to Horticulture students:

• Ability to perform basic analyses in horticulture.

• Ability to perform other basic tasks required of a professional horticultural researcher.

• Understand key linkages and interactions between horticulture and other biological and earth science processes.

• Ability to make original contributions to the understanding of horticultural systems.

These outcomes will be accomplished through successful completion of the coursework required for the degree and a dissertation research project.

Outcome 3: COMMUNICATION

Graduates will have the ability to communicate professionally and with the public about horticulture research and horticultural resources. They will gain skills and experience in communicating in both formal and informal venues with learners, practitioners and community members. This will be demonstrated through presentation of a thesis, a special non-thesis seminar and a teaching assignment.

Outcome 4: ETHICS AND DIVERSITY

Graduates will have a commitment to diversity and high ethical standards in scholarship, teaching and service. This will occur through participation and training in research methods courses, professional development courses, and seminars, workshops, or other activities focused on diversity and ethics. 

Outcome 5: BROADER IMPLICATIONS

Graduates will demonstrate awareness of the broader implications of their research. These broader implications can include the linkages and relationships between the student’s research and aspects of broader society such social relationships—including issues relating to diversity equity and inclusion, economics, and environmental impacts. This will be demonstrated through exploration of these issues in the thesis, as part of the thesis seminar, or during the final exam.

Learn more: 

Degree: Horticulture

Level: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department: Department of Horticulture

Class Location: Corvallis Campus

Contact Us: 

For more information or to review our admissions process , please contact: Elaine Clark Oregon State University 4017 ALS Building Corvallis, OR 97331-3002 Phone: (541) 737-5477 Fax: (541) 737-3479

Degree Requirements - OSU Catalog

John Lambrinos Director of Graduate Programs 4137 Ag Life Sciences Bldg Corvallis, OR 97331-3002 Phone: (541) 737-3484 [email protected]

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Horticulture and Agronomy

Graduate Studies

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Master of Science

The Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group offers programs of study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees for students interested in the science and management of agricultural crops, including their ecology, physiology, genetics, and post-harvest management, as well as the interaction of agricultural crops with the environment. These programs are designed to focus on a cropping system, such as agronomy, environmental horticulture, pomology, vegetable crops, viticulture, and weed science. Within that cropping system, the student can specialize in one of a number of areas, including agroecology, biotechnology, breeding and crop improvement, crop physiology, crop production, floriculture, landscape horticulture, mineral nutrition, modeling, nursery production, pest management, plant growth and development, postharvest physiology, revegetation/restoration, and water relations. Research may be conducted within these areas with an applied or basic focus, but in association with a cropping system.

Graduate Program Requirements

Contact information.

Graduate Program in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Welcome to the graduate program information page for the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University!

Our graduate program offers thesis-based Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Landscape Systems and Design Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. Reflecting the research interests of our faculty, graduate students in our program engage in projects that explore fundamental concepts of plant biology, applied aspects of horticulture, and landscape management. The research program in Purdue HLA is internationally recognized for its discoveries, extraordinary publication and extramural funding records, and the strong involvement of its excellent faculty in graduate student mentoring. Areas of concentration include plant molecular genetics and epigenetics, plant physiology and stress biology, plant genetics and breeding, plant cellular and developmental biology, sustainable production horticulture, bioenergy, contained environment growing, floriculture, weed science, turf management, horticultural marketing, landscape management, and horticultural social sciences.

Our goal is to prepare students through scholarly study and research experiences for professional careers in basic and applied plant science, with an emphasis on improving food, fiber, fuel, ornamental crops, and landscape management. We value diversity in our graduate program, and we recognize that diversity fosters creativity, drives scholarly dialogue, and enriches all activities in our department. We also recognize the unique needs and ambitions of our students. We are therefore committed to supporting the whole graduate education experience to create an environment that promotes student success and well-being. The personal, professional, and career development of each student is the central focus of our training and mentoring. We have implemented a holistic admissions process and we intentionally look to identify opportunities, programs, and initiatives that support students. Students participate in designing their thesis research and in the implementation of their course curriculum with plans of study tailored around each student’s needs, interests, and future career goals. HLA graduate students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of professional development offerings at Purdue and to be involved with departmental, college, and university-level organizations. HLA has a vibrant and welcoming graduate student association which provides incoming students an opportunity to connect with peers. Students are also able to expand their professional networks outside the university through interactions with seminar speakers, research collaborators, and colleagues at professional society meetings. We actively celebrate and promote the scholarly achievements of our students through a variety of platforms to increase their visibility in the department, university, and larger scientific community.

Faculty in the program conduct extramurally-funded research on such topics as:

• Controlled environment agriculture
• Horticultural Economics and Marketing
• Specialty crop production
• Landscape Systems and Design
• Plant breeding and genome engineering
• Plant secondary metabolism
• Improvement of postharvest fruit quality
• Plant mineral nutrition
• Mineral nutrient utilization from cellular to global scales
• Postharvest physiology
• Plant cell cycle regulation
• Plant epigenetics
• Plant interactions with soil microbial communities
• Regulation of plant architecture and reproduction
• Sustainable biofuel production
• Turf grass science
• Stress tolerance in crop plants
• Water utilization and stress responses
• Weed science in specialty crops and technology

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Graduate Curriculum

Students enter the graduate program with different professional objectives and varying academic backgrounds. Therefore, there are few required courses and credit requirements in our M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs. However, M.S. and Ph.D. students generally take 24 or more credit hours of coursework. Students are advised to work with the advisory committee that they select to schedule coursework that will complement their research plan. Graduate programs generally include required and elective course work and seminars, written and oral examinations, and original research guided by a major professor. Graduate student research projects are generally funded by extramural grants, which usually increase the resources available to the student researcher. Participation by graduate researchers at professional society meetings is actively encouraged and financially supported by the department.

Graduate Faculty

The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture has an outstanding faculty representing a broad range of disciplines within horticulture and landscape architecture. These individuals can provide training opportunities in their areas of specialization. We recommend that potential students identify particular faculty members who share their academic interests and contact these individuals directly.

Graduate Faculty in Horticulture and Area of Specialization

Research Facilities

Modern research laboratories and state-of-the-art analytical equipment are available for graduate student research in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, which also maintains greenhouses, controlled environment facilities, and several research farms.

Graduate students have access to one of the most extensive online libraries in the world and have access to extensive bioinformatics platforms, many of which have been developed at Purdue in collaboration with members of the HLA Department.

Financial Aid

Most HLA graduate students receive financial support in the form of research and teaching assistantships, fellowships and/or other awards covering living expenses while working on their degree. These assistantships are like fellowships in that students are paid to pursue their own research projects. The assistantship provides a base salary for each fiscal year period, along with a remission of all but a portion of fees, $298.00 for fall/spring per semester and $149.00 summer session. Research assistantships may be sponsored by grants or by the department. We try to provide all graduate students with the opportunity to be a Teaching Assistant for at least one semester; students selected to be Teaching Assistants will be provided a teaching assistantship for that semester at the same rate of pay as the research assistantship.

Application Procedures

Admission criteria and selection for fellowships and assistantships is based upon several criteria. These include: the student's academic background, grade point average, letters of recommendation, relevant experience, a written statement by the applicant, answers to department-specific questions, and the availability of a major adviser in an applicant's interest area.

Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL, even if they are already in the United States when they apply. Purdue University Graduate School applicants who take the TOEFL IBT must achieve the following minimum test scores: reading 19; listening 14; speaking 18 and writing 18. As an alternative to the TOEFL, the Graduate School accepts IELTS scores of 6.5 or higher.

Students who are interested in being considered for Purdue University-wide fellowships should apply by   December 1st   for summer or fall admission. Applications for the HLA Graduate Program are otherwise accepted year-round. For timely review of the application that are submitted after the Dec 1 st deadline,   applicants should identify specific HLA faculty member who share their academic interests and contact these faculty directly before submitting their application, which will then be reviewed with support from the graduate faculty. To obtain instructions on how to apply to this program, please go to the  Graduate School Application .

Contact Information

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Ph.D. in Horticulture

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Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

The Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture program develops a horticulture graduate student into a professional horticulturist on the highest plane. The Ph.D. is the highest earned degree offered by universities. It is only conferred for independent work of distinction in which the student displays original scholarship of marked ability and achievement. The Ph.D. program aims to:

• Provide an opportunity for advanced study and specialization in horticulture
• Assist the student in developing proficiency in independent scientific investigation
• Allow the student to rigorously acquire and develop new knowledge, technical skills, communication skills, and creative problem-solving capabilities that enable them to conduct advanced research in horticulture.
• The Ph.D. program requires that the student conducts an independent research investigation, reports the results in both a written dissertation and a peer reviewed publication, and defends the dissertation in a final oral exam, or defense.

Visit the Graduate Studies in Horticulture page on for more details

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Jessica Prenni

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Karen Allison

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The department provides graduate training leading to the doctor of philosophy in horticulture. Each doctoral student will have a major advisor who will supervise their program of study and their thesis research. Specializations are available in several aspects of crop science: organic and sustainable horticulture, diversified crop production for urban and regional food systems, environmental impact of horticultural practices, environmental regulation of plant growth and development, plant breeding, biochemistry and molecular biology of horticultural plants, microculture and biotechnology, weed control and herbicide physiology, and biostatistics. Students have the opportunity to develop their research projects using vegetables, fruits, trees, ornamentals, specialty crops, or model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana .

The Ph.D. student’s dissertation project will involve an in-depth mentored exploration of a research question and the development of a dissertation in conjunction with a graduate committee of at least four faculty members. A public presentation and defense of the dissertation is required. 

The department houses research labs, controlled environment chambers, and greenhouse facilities. Field-plot areas with associated storage and laboratory facilities are available at the UW–Madison Arboretum , Horticulture Research Farm at Arlington , and the Agriculture Research Stations managed by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at selected locations throughout the state. In conjunction with the farm at Sturgeon Bay, the world's largest collection of tuber-bearing Solanums is maintained by the Inter-Regional Potato Introduction Project and is available for research use.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

The department accepts applications for fall, spring, and summer entry.  The applicant's academic preparation should include fundamental courses in the plant sciences such as botany, bacteriology, genetics, and physiology, as well as courses in chemistry (general, organic, quantitative), physics, mathematics, and biochemistry. The academic average should be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) with evidence of proficiency in subjects related to agriculture and plant sciences.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

A complete application should include the following items:

• Graduate School Application and Application Fee
• Supplementary Application: The supplementary application will appear as a part of the Graduate School’s electronic application once the applicant selects Horticulture.
• Statement of Purpose: Your essay should be a concise description of your reasons for choosing to study horticulture at the University of Wisconsin.  Please include your research interests and career goals as well as a description of your preparation for graduate study including relevant coursework, related employment, research experience, publications, presentations, awards, and honors.  
• Transcripts: We require all applicants to submit an unofficial transcript in PDF format to their online application. If an applicant is recommended for admission, then they will be required to submit their official transcript to the Graduate School. International academic records must be submitted in the original language and accompanied by an official English translation. Documents must be issued by the institution with an official seal/stamp and an official signature.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Proof of English Proficiency: Applicants, whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must follow the Graduate School’s guidelines for proof of English proficiency.

FACULTY ADVISORS

The Horticulture M.S. and Ph.D. programs do not support lab rotations. All students are admitted directly into a faculty member’s lab. Thus, we strongly encourage applicants to contact faculty members who work in their areas of interest before and during the application and admissions process.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

All applicants to the graduate program in Horticulture are automatically considered for financial support. There is no need to submit a separate application. Most of our students are supported through research assistantships, but additional sources of internal financial support include teaching assistantships, project assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships. 

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required COURSES

Departmental requirements.

All Horticulture Ph.D. students must satisfy the following general course requirements. These requirements can be satisfied by coursework completed while the student was an undergraduate or enrolled in another graduate program.

• Physics, including electricity, heat, and light
• Organic Chemistry lecture
• Organic Chemistry lab or Biochemistry lab
• Crop Production
• Plant Breeding or Genetics
• Plant Structure, Plant Taxonomy, or Plant Physiology
• Plant Pathology or Entomology
• A Statistics Course
• A Soil Science Course

Specific course requirements 

The only specific course requirements for the Ph.D. in Horticulture are HORT 799 Practicum in Horticulture Teaching and the seminar requirement, listed below.  Apart from these, each student is required to work with the major professor and the Ph.D. committee to design a program of coursework that best meets the individual student's needs and interests. The resulting program of coursework must satisfy the departmental requirements as well as the requirements specified by the Graduate School. The final determination of a student's required coursework is made by the student's Ph.D. committee as part of the certification process.

Seminar requirement

During their graduate careers, students are required to present a minimum of three seminars in advanced seminar courses and receive a passing grade in each seminar. Advanced seminar courses offered by the departments other than Horticulture may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Required Teaching/Outreach

All students in the Horticulture PhD program are required to enroll in HORT 799 Practicum in Horticulture Teaching for one semester and obtain a passing grade. Students may enroll in HORT 799 Practicum in Horticulture Teaching for 1 to 3 credits. Each student is expected to work with their PhD advisor to identify an opportunity within the department for the student to engage in teaching or outreach work. This requirement is broadly defined, and could include assisting a Horticulture faculty member with their classroom teaching or working with a Horticulture Faculty member on an extension or outreach project.

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

This program follows the Graduate School's policy for Satisfying Requirements with Prior Graduate Coursework from Other Institutions.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

This program follows the Graduate School's policy for Satisfying Requirements with Coursework from Undergraduate Career at UW–Madison .

UW–Madison University Special

This program follows  the Graduate School's policy for Transfer from UW–Madison University Special Student Career at UW–Madison.  

This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy .

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Every graduate student must have a faculty advisor (major professor) who is on the Horticulture faculty. The major professor advises the student about course work and supervises the student's research. The major professor must approve the student's coursework and research direction. A student may have more than one major professor, in which case at least one of the professors must be a member of the Horticulture faculty.

A Ph.D. committee is composed of at least four members, the major professor, and four more whom must be UW–Madison graduate faculty or former UW–Madison graduate faculty up to one year after resignation or retirement. The Graduate School requires that at least three committee members are designated as readers. Readers are committee members who commit themselves to closely reading and reviewing the entire dissertation. The committee is empowered by the program to advise and evaluate the student with regards to certification, administer the preliminary examination, oversee progress meetings, approve thesis composition, and conduct the final Ph.D. examination. 

The student, in consultation with their major professor(s), should select the members of their Ph.D. committee prior to the end of the second semester of graduate study in order to convene a meeting to discuss the student's coursework and plan for certification. Certification is the process by which the Ph.D. committee certifies that the student has completed the formal coursework requirements of the Ph.D. certification is particularly important in the horticulture department because each student has a custom-designed program of coursework. This coursework plan must be approved by the student's Ph.D. committee, and for this reason it is important for the student to convene a meeting of their Ph.D. committee prior to the end of their second semester so that additional courses suggested by the committee may be taken during the student's second year of graduate study The Graduate School requires at least one member of the Ph.D. committee to be from outside the horticulture department. The horticulture department requires that at least half of the committee members have an appointment in the horticulture department. Students choosing Minor Option A typically include their minor professor as a member of their Ph.D. committee. It is the student's responsibility to seek and obtain (verbal) approval from the faculty members selected to serve on this committee.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

This program follows the Graduate School's Time Limits policy .

grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy  

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

• The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
• If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
• If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
• If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
• The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
• If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
• If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
• If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

The Horticulture Graduate programs encourage students to develop  Individual Development Plans  in collaboration with their major advisor to facilitate professional development. Besides the extensive opportunities offered across the campus at large, students in the Horticulture programs also benefit from activities and  programs provided by the  Plant Sciences Graduate Council , a student-led organization for graduate students at UW–Madison interested in plant science.

• Articulates challenges, frontiers and limits with respect to knowledge within the field of horticulture.
• Formulates ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the field of horticulture.
• Creates research that makes a substantive contribution to the field of horticulture.
• Demonstrates breadth within their learning experiences.
• Communicates complex or ambiguous ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
• Fosters ethical conduct and professional guidelines.

Faculty: Professors Bamberg, Colquhoun, Goldman, Krysan (chair), Simon, Weng, Zalapa; Associate Professors Atucha, Bethke, Dawson, Endelman, Jull; Assistant Professors Ellison, Kovaleski, Wang; USDA Scientist Mura

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Horticulture, Ph.D. http://www.pasdept.wisc.edu

Kathryn Jones, Academic Advising Manager [email protected] 608-807-7391 386 Horticulture Building, 1575 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706

Jeffrey Endelman, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected] 608-250-0754 395 Horticulture Building, 1575 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group

Phd program.

The Ph.D. program is structured to meet the needs of a diverse student body whose unifying characteristic is an interest in the application of biological principles to the solution of problems in crop production and resource management. Two primary objectives of the curriculum are to foster a sense of community among the students and to provide them with a breadth of knowledge about agronomic and horticultural principles and how they are used in a variety of practices.

Areas of Emphasis Students will be aligned into one of five areas of emphasis - Agroecology, Crop Improvement, Crop Production Systems, Plant Physiology, and Post-harvest Biology/Physiology - and pursue projects in these cropping systems: Agronomy, Environmental Horticulture, Pomology, Vegetable Crops, Viticulture, and Weed Science.

A wide range of study areas can be pursued including: Biotechnology, Breeding and Genetics, Crop Physiology, Floriculture, Horticulture, Integrated Pest Management, Landscape Horticulture, Modeling and Quantitative Systems Analysis, Nursery Production, Plant Growth and Development, Plant Nutrition, Post-harvest Biology and Technology, Precision Agriculture, Revegetation/Restoration, and Water Relations. In addition, students can become involved in Designated Emphasis programs such as Biotechnology.  

Required and Recommended Courses The Ph.D. curriculum requires that all students take a series of lecture, seminar, and laboratory courses that develop a breadth of understanding of basic principles within their area of emphasis. Each student will consult with a Guidance Committee (graduate academic adviser, major professor supervising the student's research program, and one other faculty member) during the first, third, and fifth quarters in order to arrange a program of courses in the student's area of emphasis. Service as a Teaching Assistant is recommended, although not a requirement of the program.

In addition to completing any pre-requisite courses deficiencies, students will be required to take 16 units of graduate level Core Courses and a minimum of 3 courses (totaling at least 9 units) exclusive of seminar and research units (e.g., 290, 299) in his/her area of emphasis, of which 2 (minimum of 6 units) must be at the graduate level. Guidance Committee Report   - for first, third, and fifth quarter meetings with Guidance Committee.  

Ph.D. Core Requirements

In addition, PhD students must take another seminar class and give an exit seminar.  

Area of Emphasis Courses Your Guidance Committee will work with you to select the courses for your particular Area of Emphasis; see  Suggested Courses List by Course  and  Suggested Courses by QE Topic  for examples of courses that might be used. Other classes from the  UC Davis Catalog  may also be selected.

Qualifying Examination Upon completion of all coursework requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Horticulture and Agronomy, the student must pass an oral qualifying examination administered by a five-member faculty committee. The student may suggest committee members with the advice of her/his Graduate Adviser, but the committee is nominated by the Advising Committee and appointed according to Graduate Council procedures. The exam is designed to test the student's mastery of the breadth of Agronomy or Horticulture and expertise within their Area of Emphasis. The exam will consist of a presentation of the student's research proposal, followed by questions from the Core and Required Courses in the student's area of emphasis. More on Qualifying Exam  

Research Dissertation The focus of a Plan B Ph.D. degree is an original research project, culminating in a dissertation and a required exit seminar presentation before final action can be taken (dissertation signed). The research project is supervised, and the dissertation is evaluated and approved by a committee of three faculty members, chaired by the student's major professor.  

Time to Degree Students generally take 4 to 6 years to complete a PhD degree in the sciences at UC Davis, including students in Horticulture & Agronomy. The coursework usually only takes two to two-and-a-half years, but the length of research projects varies, depending on the type of research the student is doing. Sample timeline for PhD students

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Once obtained, the PhD degree represents the ability of the recipient to conduct original research and scholarly work at the highest level without supervision. As stated in the NCSU Graduate Catalog, “The degree is not granted simply upon completion of a stated amount of course work, but rather upon demonstration by the student of comprehensive knowledge and high attainment in scholarship in a specialized field of study. The student must demonstrate this ability by writing a dissertation reporting the results of an original investigation and by passing a series of comprehensive examinations in the field of specialization and related areas of knowledge.”

To be admitted to the PhD program, you must have a BS and MS degrees from accredited institution(s). Occasionally, the department will admit a qualifying student directly into the PhD program after completing their BS degrees. These students must have obtained three or more years of professional experience in a related area of horticultural science after completion of their BS degree and high GPA/GRE scores.

The following links are vital information to the Doctor of Philosophy program.

Eligibility

Bachelor of science / master of science courses.

• Horticultural Science or Landscape Horticulture courses (in your area of interest)
• Background courses: advanced math, statistics, general and organic chemistry, and physics
• Biology courses: plant biology, botany, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, soils, genetics/genomics/biotechnology, and biochemistry

Basic requirements

• GPA of 3.0 or better for the BS and MS degree programs
• For non- native English speakers, minimum TOEFL scores of 80 or better
• A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for all graduate course work during the degree program.
• All degree requirements must be completed within ten calendar years, beginning with the date the student takes courses carrying graduate credit applicable to their degree program. Students must be continuously enrolled for the duration of their program.
• Advisory committee of at least four graduate faculty members, and at least one member of the advisory committee must be from a different department. That member could represent the minor field, if declared. A Representative of the Graduate School will also be appointed by the Graduate School to serve on the committee.
• HS 601 Professional Presentation Skill
• Students are encouraged, but not required to take the Horticultural Science core courses
• As soon as possible after the appointment (or after completion of 18 credit hours of course work), the committee must meet with the student and prepare a Plan of Graduate Work, which must be approved by the DGP and the Graduate School. In addition to the proposed course work, the subject of the student’s dissertation must appear on the plan.
• Doctoral degrees at North Carolina State University require a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree.
• For a student who has a Master’s degree from a university other than NC State, a maximum of 18 hours of relevant graduate credit from the Master’s degree may be applied toward this minimum, upon the recommendation of the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee. Therefore, the minimum credit-hour requirement, in this case, is 54 credit hours.
• If a student completes a Master’s degree at NC State and continues for a doctoral degree without a break in time, up to 36 credit hours taken while in Master’s status may be used to meet minimum requirements for the doctoral degree. Students cannot take 400-level courses or lower as part of the credit-hour requirement.
• A graduate course that was completed while enrolled in PBS status at NC State University may be considered for transfer to a doctoral program provided that it is a 500- or 700-level course and that the grade is B or better.
• All coursework scheduled in the graduate degree classification must be completed prior to graduation.
• Qualifying  Written Examinations  in the major and minor fields are scheduled no earlier than the end of the second year of graduate study and no later than one semester before the final oral examination.
• When all written examinations have been completed satisfactorily, the preliminary  Oral Examination  is scheduled for admission to candidacy. If student is awarded a graduate assistantship, she/he must complete the preliminary oral exam prior to the start of the eleventh (11th) semester
• All  PhD students  are expected to give two formal departmental seminars. The first will be early in their graduate program (usually the beginning of the third semester) and will focus on a review of the literature, proposed research, and research progress made to date. The second will be scheduled in conjunction with their  Final Oral Examination .

Additional Requirements

• Departmental Seminars
• Teaching Experience
• Outreach/Extension Experiences

The Doctor of Philosophy per semester graduate tuition and fee rates for North Carolina residents, starting Fall, 2023 is $5,850.13 for 9+ credit hours of coursework. Online courses and the MHS-DE degree option may be subject to different rates. Visit NC State’s Tuition and Fees page for detailed information about graduate tuition and fees.

Financial aid eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office. We encourage you to contact your financial aid counselor in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Criteria for funding are based on academic merit, demonstrated financial need, and enrollment in multiple courses per semester. For additional information, please visit NC State’s Student Services Center website , or call (919) 515-2421 . NC State also offers a monthly payment plan .

Students pursuing this degree may be eligible for teaching assistantship funding. PhD students on Graduate Assistantships provided through the Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) will receive a stipend, tuition, and health insurance for a specified number of semesters. University fees are not covered by the GSSP, but some faculty advisors may have external funding to cover these costs.

Director of Graduate Programs

Dr. Gina Fernandez Professor and Director of Graduate Programs John D. and Nell R. Leazar Distinguished Professor Department of Horticultural Science 260 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box 7609 Raleigh, NC  27695-7609

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• Doctorate (PhD)
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Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

• Fall January 10
• Spring July 1

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

Degree Description:

By enrolling in the graduate program in Horticulture at Washington State University, you form part of a team of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to the scientific and intellectual pursuit of knowledge in horticulture.

Depending on your career goals, your studies may concentrate on such basic sciences as plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics, as well as horticulture. You may explore a variety of subjects, such as plant pathology, soil science, biological systems engineering, environmental science, or the social sciences to complement your graduate education. Keeping your interests and goals in mind, your research project, course requirements, teaching and/or Extension experiences for your graduate work will be individualized and determined with your   faculty advisor   and graduate committee.

All doctoral candidates must conduct independent research leading to a doctoral dissertation and publication of peer-reviewed research papers, with the objective of making a major contribution to the body of scientific knowledge in horticulture. Students in this degree option are expected to have completed a research-based master’s degree or to have research experience prior to enrolling in the doctoral program.

Admission Requirements:

Students with undergraduate majors in the plant sciences, including horticulture, crop science, plant pathology, environmental science, genetics, plant physiology, and biochemistry, may be well prepared for graduate work in Horticulture. If your undergraduate degree is not directly related to plants, you may be eligible by strengthening your preparation through enrollment in additional courses before applying, or while pursuing your graduate degree. Undergraduate students who are pursuing studies not related to plant science and who contemplate graduate work in horticulture should take as many courses in the basic physical and biological sciences as possible. Your graduate studies may be tailored for your individual background and needs.

In addition to meeting the WSU Graduate School’s  admission criteria,  acceptance of qualified applicants is generally dependent upon availability of research support and a suitable advisor.  Positions are limited and students are individually selected by faculty members with matching interests who have an opening for a graduate student.  A completed application is an effective and essential tool for faculty consideration.

Application requirements:

• WSU Graduate School Application .  This is an electronic application that requires a $90.00 application fee. The department does  not  offer application fee waivers.
• Statement of Professional Goals:  Please address such issues as interests, anticipated thesis research or areas of research interest, career objectives, experiences in research and teaching, and financial ability.
• Language Requirements for international students.    Please refer to the detailed information on the  Graduate School site .  Applicants who are required to submit exam scores will be held incomplete until those are received.
• Three letters of recommendation:  You will need to provide the names and email addresses of three people who are willing to write letters of recommendation for you.  Once you choose your three recommenders, be sure to inform them that they will be completing the recommendation electronically and ask that they monitor their inbox for your recommendation request (which will come from  [email protected] ), including any junk or spam folders.
• Transcripts from every college and university you have attended  (photocopies are acceptable for initial application review, official transcripts are required for official admission to WSU).   

Career Opportunities:

University faculty positions; Federal and state agricultural laboratories; Extension specialists; management positions in allied and agricultural industries; technical positions; Postdoctoral positions.

Contact Information:

• CAHNRS Graduate Center [email protected]

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Home » Horticulture (Ph.D.)

Horticulture (Ph.D.)

The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture encourages human engagement with the landscape and focuses on solving problems for people, agriculture, and the environment through scholarship and creativity fostered by teamwork and individual diversity.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Horticulture

Areas of study.

• Bioactive plant components
• Dietary intervention/cancer prevention
• Ecophysiology
• Environmental and stress physiology
• Floriculture
• Fruit/vegetables
• Germplasm conservation
• Greenhouse technology
• Landscape ecology
• Landscape/ornamental plants
• Landscape water conservation/xeriscapes
• Organic/sustainable production
• Plant antioxidants
• Plant tissue culture
• Potato breeding
• Potato production management
• Potato storage physiology
• Rhizosphere biology/ecology
• Turfgrass science
• Viticulture
• Contact your department representative or request more program information .
• Check out department requirements and resources from your department’s website.
• When you’re ready to take the leap, start your application .

Requirements

Coursework, credit requirements, and more information is available in the Colorado State University general catalog . Please contact your department representative with program-related questions.

Student Employment

Graduate students interested in employment positions (GTA, GRA, GSA appointments and hourly positions) should contact their advisor and their departmental graduate coordinator for the process to apply.

Financial Aid

• Financial aid resources available through the Office of Financial Aid website.
• Your department may have financial aid options available and please check our financial resource section for additional opportunities.

• Cornell University Home
• College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Home

School of Integrative Plant Science

Application to the Field of Horticulture

We are glad you are interested in the Field of Horticulture. This is an exciting time in our many areas of research and extension.  The deadline for MS/PhD application is December 1.  

Preparing your application

All applications for Graduate Studies at Cornell are online and accessible through the  Cornell Graduate School . You will be asked for a Statement of Academic Purpose, a personal statement, transcripts, relevant research and work experience, and letters of reference.  

The Statement of Academic purpose describes what you want from your graduate education and how our program is likely to provide that training, as well as the experiences and achievements that make you likely to be successful in our program.  

The personal statement provides a broader context of your interest in graduate education and life goals. How is horticulture a medium for reaching those goals? If you have requested consideration for a fellowship is support of diversity, this is a good place to describe the diversity you bring and how you can support our efforts to be inclusive of a more diverse audience.  

There is a fee to apply .  Applicants for whom the fee is a financial hardship or who participated in certain pipeline programs may  request a fee waiver . 

Cornell University expects all applicants to complete their application materials without the use of paid agents, credentials services, or other paid professional assistance.  The use of such services violates University policy. 

How we evaluate you

There are many criteria we consider in evaluating a student for acceptance in the Field of Horticulture. A strong background in life sciences is important; as evidenced by grades, coursework, and research projects undertaken. A high motivation for graduate study in horticulture is essential. We look carefully at the student's statement of purpose and experiences in horticulture or plant sciences. The more in-depth the experiences, the better. We welcome applications from non-traditional students with significant life experiences and a strong desire to study in the field of horticulture, as well as students coming directly from their undergraduate degrees. Letters of recommendation are also extremely important. We are interested in getting all the information we can about the students' motivation and aptitude for graduate research. 

Our admissions process uses a holistic review, in that we look at how your qualifications and potential fit together as a whole. In order to capture the many relevant dimensions of PhD applicants, we use a rubric with these criteria: 

• Academic preparation. Does your education to date prepare you for success in our program? 
• Fit with mission and expertise. Are your goals consistent with our mission? Does our program provide the kind of training you seek?  
• Life skills. Can you do realistic long-term planning and execute on that plan? Are you resilient in the face of setbacks?  
• Research potential. How do you know that you will thrive in a research environment? How do you deal with the complex issues that describe most research problems?   
• Diversity contributions. Will you enhance diversity and inclusion in horticulture and research? Do you bring novel and valuable perspectives to your research topic? 

Admission is competitive.  Although students are not required to have an undergraduate degree in horticulture, a strong background in life sciences is essential for success in our graduate program. Students considering graduate school as a means to change career paths, but lacking extensive background in life sciences, are encouraged to consider a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in the  Field of SIPS  instead of the MS or Ph.D. degrees. 

English language requirement  

International applicants must demonstrate sufficient proficiency through either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The Graduate School sets minimum scores though the Field can require higher scores where necessary for the proposed program. The Graduate School proficiency requirements can be found on their  website .  Scores must be sent electronically (e-delivery) to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions, Caldwell Hall e-download account. E-delivery may also be referred to as an e-TRF by your test center. More information:  English Language Proficiency Requirements. 

GRE requirement  

GRE scores are not required. If you choose to submit them, the scores will be considered, along with the totality of your academic record, solely to assess the strength of your academic preparation. 

Institution and section codes  

TOEFL - Cornell University = 2098, section code = 30   GRE - Cornell University = 2098, section code = 0109 

Process and Timeline 

December 1  - Application deadline for Fall Admission to MS, PhD, and MS/PhD programs. Supporting documentation, letters of references, and test scores are all required by this date. Contact the Graduate Field Coordinator for more information.  

January-  Review of applicants and evaluation by prospective advisors. Applicants may be contacted by prospective advisors for more in-depth discussion of potential role in their research program. 

Early February-  On-campus recruiting event. Select applicants will be invited to a two-day recruiting event to further explore the opportunities offered at Cornell.  

Mid-February through April 1-  Admission offers are made on a rolling basis as funding packages are developed. We fully fund every admitted PhD student.  

April 15-  Admission and support offers must be accepted by this date. 

Accepted applicants will receive an acceptance email that will include funding information, the name of the advisor assigned to them, and other pertinent information from the Graduate School.   

Financial support 

Students may obtain support in several ways including teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. 

Fellowships in support of Diversity:

Applicants from a variety of backgrounds or identities historically underrepresented within graduate education are eligible for consideration for a  Fellowship in Support of Diversity . We encourage you to self-identify your eligibility. You may then write a Personal Statement to be used in the Diversity Fellowship nomination and selection process. 

Field requirements 

View field requirements for the Graduate Field of Horticulture .

SIPS Graduate Fields: Frequently Asked Questions

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Agriculture and Life Sciences degree is a one-year, course-based master's degree , ideal for individuals who are interested in in-depth study of the issues and advancements in plant and soil sciences. Learn more about the program description and MPS specializations.  

MS/PhD degrees typically take 2-5 years and involve a combination of coursework and original research. A written thesis based on original research is an important element of MS/PhD degree programs.

At Cornell, graduate study leading to an Masters or Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is organized using a field structure.  Fields are composed of faculty members from a number of departments or sections (in the case of SIPS) who come together around a shared intellectual interest, and may draw from different campuses or colleges.  Graduate students are admitted to fields of study.  Within each field, they select major and minor subjects, which are research interests or concentrations.

Fields span departments and even disciplines.  It’s possible for a student in the field of economics to include faculty on his or special committee from industrial labor and economics, civil and environmental engineering, and sociology along with the more traditional economics and management.

The concentrations listed under each field and topics of recent MS/PhD theses can help you decide which Field is a good fit for you.

Go to the complete list of SIPS faculty. The short profiles list the Graduate Fields of which they are a member.  Note that many faculty are members of more than one field.

Correspondence is welcomed from potential applicants who have a well-informed interest. Be sure to briefly describe your experience and your interests and how they relate to the research program of the faculty you contact. Inquire about the recruiting goals of those faculty for the coming year. Faculty input about individual applicants is extremely important to the decisions of our admissions committee.

No. Students without an MS are admitted to our doctoral program as MS-PhD. This arrangement provides greater flexibility and does not generally take longer.  Note that the Graduate Field of Plant Biology is PhD only with now MS option.

The Graduate School requires that all doctoral students have a full special committee no later than the end of the 3rd semester and all masters students no later than the end of the 2nd semester.

What Constitutes a Special Committee?

A minimum of three members of the graduate faculty for a doctoral student and a minimum of two members for a master's student constitute a special committee.

• One member, the chair of the committee (major advisor), represents the major field and concentration.
• One member must represent a minor outside the student's major field.
• The third member can either represent another minor outside of the field or be in the major field but represent a different concentration from the major one.

Please note that most faculty members are members of several fields . A student can add additional members and ad hoc members depending on the circumstances (an additional member would be another member of the Cornell Graduate Faculty; an ad hoc member is generally someone from another institution such as a collaborator on a project who is not a member of Cornell's faculty).

The Philosophy

The selection of the special committee is up to the student in consultation with his/her major advisor. Theoretically, minor/s can be in any field (Russian Literature, anyone?); however, in practical terms, students will want to select faculty who will, in some way, contribute to or support their research goals.

The Power of the Special Committee

The faculty member who represents a particular subject/concentration on the committee determines the specific requirements for that student (e.g. coursework needed). The committee, as a whole, evaluates the student at the time of exams and determines whether they have met the appropriate standards for original research contributing to the knowledge base of the field (approving the thesis or dissertation). Students are encouraged to meet with their full committee at least once a year to ascertain that everyone is in agreement regarding progress toward degree completion.

Acceptable Committee Formations

Chair, Minor, Minor Chair, Minor, Additional Member Chair, Minor, Field Appointed Minor Member Chair, Co-Chair, Minor Member

Nomination Process

Committee members are nominated through student center (link in advisor box to 11Special Committee"). The GFA is the first approver so if the distribution among fields/concentrations is not correct, the GFA should not approve the committee nomination.

Josh Balles Graduate Field Coordinator 237 Emerson Hall Phone: 607-255-9573 Email: jeb527 [at] cornell.edu (jeb527[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Taryn Bauerle Director of Graduate Studies 136 Plant Science Building Phone: (607) 254-4867 Email:  tlb33 [at] cornell.edu (tlb33[at]cornell[dot]edu)

College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

Graduate program.

One of the strengths of the Horticulture Graduate Program is founded in the interdisciplinary and integrative nature of horticulture, allowing graduate students a great deal of flexibility in designing their individualized programs of study and research.

Students have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, including laboratories, greenhouses, growth chambers, and both on- and off-campus field research stations.

Horticulture faculty  develop and procure funding for individual and multidisciplinary team research projects, providing a wide range of opportunities for master's and doctoral students. To view the department's research areas, which includes a listing of faculty's specific focus, visit our Research Focus Area page .

A graduate degree in the Horticulture Graduate Program draws upon the expertise of roughly 30 faculty members in the Horticulture Department, as well as the advisory expertise of many faculty from across campus in basic plant biology, pathology, entomology, forestry, agronomy, genetics, biochemistry, marketing, food science, health and nutrition, engineering, etc.

Students also may study with Horticulture faculty through interdepartmental programs in Genetics, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems .

At MSU , work towards the graduate degree involves training and experience in research, teaching and professional communications with peers, industries and the public. It is the goal of the Horticulture Graduate Program to produce the leaders of tomorrow who can integrate knowledge and resources from multiple disciplines to improve the performance, production, profitability, and environmental sustainability of high value crops.

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Research Focus Areas

• Landscapes, Gardens and Urban Food Production
• Plant and Crop Physiology and Biochemistry
• Plant Breeding, Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology
• Sustainable Crop Production, Food Systems and Agroecology

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Texas A&M University Catalogs

Doctor of philosophy in horticulture.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Horticulture program is designed to prepare students to become successful independent researchers to help meet the challenge of providing nutritious foods and sustaining an aesthetically pleasing and healthy environment to support the health and well-being of the citizens of Texas and beyond. Our program provides an advanced science-based education for students through innovative teaching and directed horticultural research experiences. The program encompasses basic genetics, physiology, production, processing, and utilization of horticultural products including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and landscape plants.

Mission Statement

The Department of Horticultural Sciences is focused on improving the quality of life related to aesthetic disciplines, the production of healthful fruits and vegetables, and improving the utility and sustainability of the built environment. The PhD in Horticulture prepares students to accomplish this mission by providing them with the knowledge, resources, and skills to become productive researchers in the field of Horticulture. The program includes formal classroom training, basic and applied research opportunities, and public outreach opportunities through Extension programming.  The PhD degree is obtained through appropriate course work, completion of research and other requirements, successful completion of university-directed administrative procedures, and successful defense of a dissertation.  The research project and specific coursework will be outlined by the student with guidance from the student's graduate advisory committee members. Students completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture are prepared for teaching/research positions within academia or lead research positions in government or the private sector.

This program is offered as a cooperative program with Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Steps to Fulfill a Doctoral Program

Program Requirements

• Student's Advisory Committee

Degree Plan

Transfer of credit, research proposal, preliminary examination, preliminary examination format, preliminary examination scheduling, preliminary examination grading, failure of the preliminary examination, retake of failed preliminary examination, final examination, final examination grading, dissertation, student’s advisory committee.

After receiving admission to graduate studies and enrolling, the student will consult with the head of their major or administrative department (or chair of the intercollegiate faculty) concerning appointment of the chair of the advisory committee. The student’s advisory committee will consist of  no fewer than four members of the graduate faculty  representative of the student’s several fields of study and research, where the chair or co-chair must be from the student’s department (or intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), and  at least one or more of the members must have an appointment to a department other than the student’s major department . The outside member for a student in an interdisciplinary degree program must be from a department different from the chair of the student’s committee.

The chair, in consultation with the student, will select the remainder of the advisory committee. Only graduate faculty members located on Texas A&M University campuses may serve as chair of a student’s advisory committee. Other Texas A&M University graduate faculty members located off-campus may serve as a member or co-chair (but not chair), with a member as the chair.

If the chair of a student’s advisory committee voluntarily leaves the University and the student is near completion of the degree and wants the chair to continue to serve in this role, the student is responsible for securing a current member of the University Graduate Faculty, from the student’s academic program and located near the Texas A&M University campus site, to serve as the co-chair of the committee. The Department Head or Chair of Intercollegiate faculty may request in writing to the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School that a faculty member who is on an approved leave of absence or has voluntarily separated from the university, be allowed to continue to serve in the role of chair of a student’s advisory committee without a co-chair for up to one year. The students should be near completion of the degree. Extensions beyond the one year period can be granted with additional approval of the Dean.

The committee members’ signatures on the degree plan indicate their willingness to accept the responsibility for guiding and directing the entire academic program of the student and for initiating all academic actions concerning the student. Although individual committee members may be replaced by petition for valid reasons, a committee cannot resign  en masse . The chair of the committee, who usually has immediate supervision of the student’s research and dissertation or record of study, has the responsibility for calling all meetings of the committee. The duties of the committee include responsibility for the proposed degree plan, the research proposal, the preliminary examination, the dissertation or record of study and the final examination. In addition, the committee, as a group and as individual members, is responsible for counseling the student on academic matters, and, in the case of academic deficiency, initiating recommendations to the Graduate and Professional School.

The student’s advisory committee will evaluate the student’s previous education and degree objectives. The committee, in consultation with the student, will develop a proposed degree plan and outline a research problem which, when completed, as indicated by the dissertation (or its equivalent for the degree of Doctor of Education or the degree of Doctor of Engineering), will constitute the basic requirements for the degree. The degree plan must be filed with the Graduate and Professional School prior to the deadline imposed by the student’s college and no later than 90 days prior to the preliminary examination.

This proposed degree plan should be submitted through the online Document Processing Submission System located on the website  http://ogsdpss.tamu.edu . A minimum of 64 hours is required on the degree plan for the Doctor of Philosophy for a student who has completed a master’s degree. A student who has completed a DDS/DMD, DVM or a MD at a U.S. institution is also required to complete a minimum of 64 hours. A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree but not a master’s degree will be required to complete a 96-hour degree plan. Completion of a DDS/DMD, DVM or MD degree at a foreign institution requires completion of a minimum of 96 hours for the Doctor of Philosophy. A field of study may be primarily in one department or in a combination of departments. A degree plan must carry a reasonable amount of 691 (research). A maximum of 9 hours of 400-level undergraduate courses may be used toward meeting credit-hour requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy.

Additional coursework may be added by petition to the approved degree plan by the student’s advisory committee if it is deemed necessary to correct deficiencies in the student’s academic preparation. No changes can be made to the degree plan once the student’s Request for Final Examination is approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Approval to enroll in any professional course (900-level) should be obtained from the head of the department (or Chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if applicable) in which the course will be offered before including such a course on a degree plan.

No credit may be obtained by correspondence study, by extension or for any course of fewer than three weeks duration.

For non-distance degree programs, no more than 50 percent of the non-research credit hours required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.

To receive a graduate degree from Texas A&M University, students must earn one-third or more of the credits through the institution’s own direct instruction. This limitation also applies to joint degree programs. 

Courses for which transfer credits are sought must have been completed with a grade of B or greater and must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the Graduate and Professional School. These courses must not have been used previously for another degree. Except for officially approved cooperative doctoral programs, credit for thesis or dissertation research or the equivalent is not transferable. Credit for “internship” coursework in any form is not transferable. Courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater will be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution. Credit for coursework taken by extension is not transferable. Coursework  in which no formal grades are given or in which grades other than letter grades (A or B) are earned (for example, CR, P, S, U, H, etc.) is not accepted for transfer credit . Credit for coursework submitted for transfer from any college or university must be shown in semester credit hours, or equated to semester credit hours.

Courses used toward a degree at another institution may not be applied for graduate credit. If the course to be transferred was taken prior to the conferral of a degree at the transfer institution, a letter from the registrar at that institution stating that the course was not applied for credit toward the degree must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School.

Grades for courses completed at other institutions are not included in computing the GPA. An official transcript from the university at which transfer courses are taken must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

The general field of research to be used for the dissertation should be agreed on by the student and the advisory committee at their first meeting, as a basis for selecting the proper courses to support the proposed research.

As soon thereafter as the research project can be outlined in reasonable detail, the dissertation research proposal should be completed. The research proposal should be approved at a meeting of the student’s advisory committee, at which time the feasibility of the proposed research and the adequacy of available facilities should be reviewed. The approved proposal, signed by all members of the student’s advisory committee, the head of the student’s major department (or chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School at least 20 working days prior to the submission of the Request for the Final Examination.

Compliance issues must be addressed if a graduate student is performing research involving human subjects, animals, infectious biohazards and recombinant DNA. A student involved in these types of research should check with the Office of Research Compliance and Biosafety at (979) 458-1467 to address questions about all research compliance responsibilities. Additional information can also be obtained on the website  http:// rcb.tamu.edu .

Examinations

The student’s major department (or chair of the interdisciplinary degree program faculty, if applicable) and their advisory committee may require qualifying, cumulative or other types of examinations at any time deemed desirable. These examinations are entirely at the discretion of the department and the student’s advisory committee.

The preliminary examination is required. The preliminary examination for a doctoral student shall be given no earlier than a date at which the student is within 6 credit hours of completion of the formal coursework on the degree plan (i.e., all coursework on the degree plan except 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 693, 695, 697, 791, or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog). The student should complete the Preliminary Examination no later than the end of the semester following the completion of the formal coursework on the degree plan.

The objective of preliminary examination is to evaluate whether the student has demonstrated the following qualifications:

a.     a mastery of the subject matter of all fields in the program;

b.     an adequate knowledge of the literature in these fields and an ability to carry out bibliographical research;

c.     an understanding of the research problem and the appropriate methodological approaches.

The format of the preliminary examination shall be determined by the student’s department (or interdisciplinary degree program, if applicable) and advisory committee, and communicated to the student in advance of the examination. The exam may consist of a written component, oral component, or combination of written and oral components.

The preliminary exam may be administered by the advisory committee or a departmental committee; herein referred to as the examination committee.

Regardless of exam format, a student will receive an overall preliminary exam result of pass or fail. The department (or interdisciplinary degree program, if applicable) will determine how the overall pass or fail result is determined based on the exam structure and internal department procedures. If the exam is administered by the advisory committee, each advisory committee member will provide a pass or fail evaluation decision.

Only one advisory committee substitution is allowed to provide an evaluation decision for a student’s preliminary exam, and it cannot be the committee chair.

If a student is required to take, as a part of the preliminary examination, a written component administered by a department or interdisciplinary degree program, the department or interdisciplinary degree program faculty must:

a.     offer the examination at least once every six months. The departmental or interdisciplinary degree program examination should be announced at least 30 days prior to the scheduled examination date.

b.     assume the responsibility for marking the examination satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or otherwise graded, and in the case of unsatisfactory, stating specifically the reasons for such a mark.

c.     forward the marked examination to the chair of the student’s advisory committee within one week after the examination.

Students are eligible for to schedule the preliminary examination in the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) if they meet the following list of eligibility requirements:

Student is registered at Texas A&M University for a minimum of one semester credit hour in the long semester or summer term during which any component of the preliminary examination is held. If the entire examination is held between semesters, then the student must be registered for the term immediately preceding the examination.

An approved degree plan is on file with the Graduate and Professional School prior to commencing the first component of the examination.

Student’s cumulative GPA is at least 3.000.

Student’s degree plan GPA is at least 3.000.

At the end of the semester in which at least the first component of the exam is given, there are no more than 6 hours of coursework remaining on the degree plan (except 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 693, 695, 697, 791, or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog). The head of the student’s department (or Chair of the Interdisciplinary Degree Program, if applicable) has the authority to approve a waiver of this criterion.

Credit for the preliminary examination is not transferable in cases where a student changes degree programs after passing a preliminary exam.

If a written component precedes an oral component of the preliminary exam, the chair of the student’s examination committee is responsible for making all written examinations available to all members of the committee. A positive evaluation of the preliminary exam by all members of a student’s examination committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their preliminary exam.

The student’s department will promptly report the results of the Preliminary Examination to the Graduate and Professional School via the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) within 10 working days of completion of the preliminary examination.

If an approved examination committee member substitution (one only) has been made, their approval must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS. The approval of the designated department approver is also required on the request.

After passing the required preliminary oral and written examinations for a doctoral degree, the student must complete the final examination within four years of the semester in which the preliminary exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a preliminary exam taken and passed during the Fall 2023 semester will expire at the end of the Fall 2027 semester. A preliminary exam taken in the time between the Summer and Fall 2023 semesters will expire at the end of the Summer 2027 semester.

First Failure

Upon approval of a student’s examination committee (with no more than one member dissenting), and approval of the Department and Graduate and Professional School, a student who has failed a preliminary examination may be given one re-examination. In accordance with Student Rule 12.5, the student’s department head or designee, intercollegiate faculty, or graduate advisory committee should make a recommendation to the student regarding their scholastic deficiency.

Second Failure

Upon failing the preliminary exam twice in a doctoral program, a student is no longer eligible to continue to pursue the PhD in that program/major. In accordance with Student Rule 12.5.3 and/or 12.5.4, the student will be notified of the action being taken by the department as a result of the second failure of the preliminary examination.

Adequate time must be given to permit a student to address inadequacies emerging from the first preliminary examination. The examination committee must agree upon and communicate to the student, in writing, an adequate time-frame from the first examination (normally six months) to retest, as well as a detailed explanation of the inadequacies emerging from the examination. The student and committee should jointly negotiate a mutually acceptable date for this retest.  When providing feedback on inadequacies, the committee should clearly document expected improvements that the student must be able to exhibit in order to retake the exam.  The examination committee will document and communicate the time-frame and feedback within 10 working days of the exam that was not passed.

Candidates for the doctoral degrees must pass a final examination by deadline dates announced in the  Graduate and Professional School Calendar  each semester. A doctoral student is allowed only one opportunity to take the final examination.

No unabsolved grades of D, F, or U for any course can be listed on the degree plan. The student must be registered for any remaining hours of 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 791 or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog during the semester of the final exam. No student may be given a final examination until they have been admitted to candidacy and their current official cumulative and degree plan GPAs are 3.00 or better.

Refer to the  Admission to Candidacy  section of the graduate catalog for candidacy requirements.

A request to schedule the final examination must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS a minimum of 10 working days in advance of the scheduled date. Any changes to the degree plan must be approved by the Graduate and Professional School prior to the submission of the request for final examination.

The student’s advisory committee will conduct this examination. Only one committee member substitution is allowed with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School. If the substitution is for the sole external member of the advisory committee - with an appointment to a department other than the student's major department - then the substitute must also be external to the student's major department. In extenuating circumstances, with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School, an exception to this requirement may be granted.

The final examination is not to be administered until the dissertation or record of study is available in substantially final form to the student’s advisory committee, and all concerned have had adequate time to review the document. Whereas the final examination may cover the broad field of the candidate’s training, it is presumed that the major portion of the time will be devoted to the dissertation and closely allied topics. Persons other than members of the graduate faculty may, with mutual consent of the candidate and the chair of the advisory committee, be invited to attend a final examination for an advanced degree. A positive vote by all members of the graduate committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their exam. A department can have a stricter requirement provided there is consistency within all degree programs within a department. Upon completion of the questioning of the candidate, all visitors must excuse themselves from the proceedings.

The student’s department will promptly report the results of the Final Examination to the Graduate and Professional School via the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) within 10 working days of completion of the final examination. The Graduate and Professional School will be automatically notified via ARCS of any cancellations.

A positive evaluation of the final exam by all members of a student’s advisory committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their final exam. If an approved committee member substitution (1 only) has been made, their approval must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS.

The dissertation,  which must be a candidate's original work demonstrates the ability to perform independent research . Whereas acceptance of the dissertation is based primarily on its scholarly merit, it must also exhibit creditable literary workmanship. Dissertation formatting must be acceptable to the Graduate and Professional School as outlined in the Guidelines for Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study.

After successful defense and approval by the student’s advisory committee and the head of the student’s major department (or chair of intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), a student must submit the dissertation in electronic format as a single PDF file to https://etd.tamu.edu/ . Additionally, a dissertation approval form with original signatures must be received by the Graduate and Professional School through the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS). Both the PDF file and the completed ARCS approval form must be received by the deadline.

Deadline dates for submitting are announced each semester or summer term in the Graduate and Professional School Calendar (see Time Limit statement). These dates also can be accessed via the  Graduate and Professional School website .

Each student who submits a document for review is assessed a one-time thesis/dissertation processing fee through Student Business Services. This processing fee is for the thesis/dissertation services provided. After commencement, dissertations are digitally stored and made available through the Texas A&M Libraries.

A dissertation that is deemed unacceptable by the Graduate and Professional School because of excessive corrections will be returned to the student’s department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty . The manuscript must be resubmitted as a new document, and the entire review process must begin anew. All original submittal deadlines must be met during the resubmittal process to graduate.

Additional Requirements

Continuous registration, admission to candidacy.

• 99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degree

Application for Degree

A student who enters the doctoral degree program with a baccalaureate degree must spend one academic year plus one semester in resident study at Texas A&M University. A student who holds master’s degree when they enter a doctoral degree program must spend one academic year in resident study. One academic year may include two adjacent regular semesters or one regular semester and one adjacent 10-week summer semester. The third semester is not required to be adjacent to the one year. Enrollment for each semester must be a minimum of 9 credit hours each to satisfy the residence requirement. A minimum of 1 credit hour must be in a non-distance education delivery mode. Semesters in which the student is enrolled in all distance education coursework will not count toward fulfillment of the residence requirement.

To satisfy the residence requirement, the student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester or 10-week summer semester in resident study at Texas A&M University for the required period. A student who enters a doctoral degree program with a baccalaureate degree may fulfill residence requirements in excess of one academic year (18 credit hours) by registration during summer sessions or by completion of a less-than-full course load (in this context a full course load is considered 9 credit hours per semester).

Students who are employed full-time while completing their degree may fulfill total residence requirements by completion of less-than-full time course loads each semester. In order to be considered for this, the student is required to submit a Petition for Waivers and Exceptions along with verification of employment to the Graduate and Professional School. An employee should submit verification of employment at the time they submit the degree plan. See  Registration .

See  Residence Requirements .

All requirements for doctoral degrees must be completed within a period of ten consecutive calendar years for the degree to be granted. A course will be considered valid until 10 years after the end of the semester in which it is taken. Graduate credit for coursework more than ten calendar years old at the time of the final oral examination may not be used to satisfy degree requirements.

After passing the required preliminary oral and written examinations for a doctoral degree, the student must complete the final examination within four years of the semester in which the preliminary exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a preliminary exam taken and passed during the fall 2019 semester will expire at the end of the fall 2023 semester. A preliminary exam taken in the time between the summer and fall 2019 semesters will expire at the end of the summer 2023 semester.

A final corrected version of the dissertation or record of study in electronic format as a single PDF file must be cleared by the Graduate and Professional School within one year of the semester in which the final exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a final exam taken and passed during the fall 2022 semester will expire at the end of the fall 2023 semester. A final exam taken in the time between the summer and fall 2022 semesters will expire at the end of the summer 2023 semester. Failure to do so will result in the degree not being awarded.

A student in a program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy who has completed all coursework on their degree plan other than 691 (research) are required to be in continuous registration until all requirements for the degree have been completed. See  Continuous Registration Requirements .

To be admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree, a student must have:

• completed all formal coursework on the degree plan with the exception of any remaining 681, 684, 690 and 691, or 791.
• a 3.0 Graduate GPA and a Degree Plan GPA of at least 3.0 with no grade lower than C in any course on the degree plan,
• passed the preliminary examination (written and oral portions),
• submitted an approved dissertation proposal,
• met the residence requirements. The final examination will not be authorized for any doctoral student who has not been admitted to candidacy.

A student is required to possess a competent command of English. For English language proficiency requirements, see the Admissions section of this catalog. The doctoral (PhD) foreign language requirement at Texas A&M University is a departmental option, to be administered and monitored by the individual departments of academic instruction.

99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degrees

In Texas, public colleges and universities are funded by the state according to the number of students enrolled. In accordance with legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, the number of hours for which state universities may receive subvention funding at the doctoral rate for any individual is limited to 99 hours. Texas A&M and other universities will not receive subvention for hours in excess of the limit.

Institutions of higher education are allowed to charge the equivalent of non-resident tuition to a resident doctoral student who has enrolled in 100 or more semester credit hours of doctoral coursework.

Doctoral students at Texas A&M have seven years to complete their degree before being charged out-of-state tuition. A doctoral student who, after seven years of study, has accumulated 100 or more doctoral hours will be charged tuition at a rate equivalent to out-of-state tuition. Please note that the tuition increases will apply to Texas residents as well as students from other states and countries who are currently charged tuition at the resident rate. This includes those doctoral students who hold GAT, GANT, and GAR appointments or recipients of competitive fellowships who receive more than $1,000 per semester. Doctoral students who have not accumulated 100 hours after seven years of study are eligible to pay in-state tuition if otherwise eligible.

Doctoral students who exceed the credit limit will receive notification from the Graduate and Professional School during the semester in which they are enrolled and exceeding the limit in their current degree program. The notification will explain that the State of Texas does not provide funding for any additional hours in which a student is enrolled in excess of 99 hours. Texas A&M University will recover the lost funds by requiring students in excess of 99 hours to pay tuition at the non-funded, non-resident rate. This non-funded, non-resident tuition rate status will be updated for the following semester and in all subsequent semesters until receipt of a doctoral degree. Please see the  Tuition Calculator  at the non-resident rate for an example of potential charges.

The following majors are exempt from the 99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degrees and have a limit of 130 doctoral hours:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
• Biomedical Sciences
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Genetics and Genomics
• Health Services Research
• Medical Sciences
• Microbiology
• Neurosciences (College of Medicine)
• Oral and Craniofacial Biomedical Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Public Health Sciences
• School Psychology

For information on applying for your degree, please visit the  Graduation  section.

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture

Pursuing a phd as an international student, why get a phd.

• Love for a subject
• Feat of research , critical thought, and dedication
• Make a difference through research
• Become an expert in the field and obtain increased recognition
• Widen career opportunities –set you apart from other candidates with Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees
• Increased salary
• Teaching at university level
• Read more here on choosing the right PhD program

Where do I start?

1.     understand the timeline.

• Most applications for graduate programs due in December
• Some are rolling admissions (particularly law school)–the sooner you can submit, the better!
• Medical school application timelines tend to vary

2.     Research universities and specific programs you are interested in

• Go to faculty directory on the university website and visit homepages of professors doing research in your interest area
• Read their papers to have a better understanding of what they focus on
• Discuss how your own experiences and interests align with the professor's
• Helpful tips for how to write a CV  
• Shows you are very interested in what they research
• If they say they don’t have funding, you can offer to search for outside funding (see #4)
• Stepping stone to PhD
• A good way to meet and work with professors 
• Ensures program research is best fit for your interests
• Shorter time commitment (1-2 years) 

3.     Sign up for standardized tests 

• Determines international applicants English language skills
• Read here for tips on how to ace these exams
• Research program you are interested in to see if it is required before signing up
• Cost: $200 USD
• Tests math, reading, and writing skills

4.      Ask for letters of recommendation

• Typically programs ask for three
• Shows work ethic and teamwork skills
• Undergraduate professor who can attest to this 
• List of schools and admission deadlines
• CV and resume
• Copies of admissions essays
• Relevant research and work experience 
• Make sure to follow up with recommenders periodically
• Read here for more tips on acquiring recommendation letters

5.      Request transcripts from previous institutions

• Must include: full legal name, name of college/university, list of all coursework taken with grades, any degree already earned, overall GPA
• Official translations include: 1) Translation by university that issued transcript 2) WES , IERF ,  or ECE evaluation 3) Government certified translator 
• Diploma and/or degree certificate

6.    Write Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

• Directions on how to write these statements varies with institutions
• What is your background?
• How has your personal story influenced what you want to study?
• What do you bring to the program?
• How will the faculty/program assist you in pursuing this?
• How will the program/school’s resources assist you?
• What is your academic background? 
• What are your research goals?
• What do you hope to accomplish in the program?
• How will your past experiences contribute to your role as a PhD candidate?
• Find their pages on university website and read their published research
• Read here for more tips on writing a statement of purpose
• Helpful to have edited by someone who has already applied and was accepted into U.S. graduate program
• Send to recommenders to help with their letters

7.    Gather all materials and submit application !  

• Usually about $50 USD

8.    Prepare for Interview

• Depends on program, some don’t require one
• Tips on how to prepare for the interview if it is required

I've  been admitted. What now?

1.     obtain student visa  .

• F-1 student visa given to students qualified to pursue full course of study at American academic institution
• J-1 exchange visitor visa granted to student supported financially by sources other than family/personal funds (ex. U.S. government or home government)

Must show evidence of sufficient financial resources to fund your studies and living expenses

Request form  I-20 (for F-1 visa) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visa) from your institution and the designated school official (DSO) will send it to you

Pay SEVIS I-901 fee

• Must carry minimum of 12 units 
• Non-immigrant students cannot work outside the university without work authorization from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (UCIS) for the first academic year , unless considered a special situation
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Optional Practical Training Extension
• More info on the student visas and employment here
• For more general info on student visas, read here
• Look at page 15 of this s tep-by-step guide for more info on obtaining a student visa   

2.    Look for funding

• Usually merit-based
• Can last from one year to whole duration of student’s study
• Used to sponsor student and their proposed research
• If provided through the department, applicants usually don’t have to fill out extra application
• If extra documentation required, department will contact applicant
• Depends on number of hours worked per week
• Support faculty in their various courses
• Grading, preparing course material, and in some cases teaching portions of the course
• Support faculty in their labs with their research
• Gifts that do not need to be paid back post-graduation
• See 20 PhD scholarships for international students to find out more
• See Scholarships for international students to find specific scholarships and grants for graduate students
• Enables international graduate students to study and conduct research in the U.S.
• Awards approximately 4,000 scholarships a year
• Advancing women in STEM fields
• $20,000 for international female students seeking doctoral degrees
• Must already hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• See International student scholarship search database for a comprehensive list of scholarships available to international students
• Can borrow up to the full cost of education and related expenses
• Often requires credit-worthy cosigner who is US citizen or non-citizen permanent resident
• Find out more about obtaining a loan at IEFA and International Student Loan

3.     Look for housing

• Visit university website to find housing resources
• graduate student housing may be available through the university
• advertise you are looking for a place 
• find roommates
• specific groups exist for graduate students/professionals
• housing openings often posted on Facebook marketplace
• Research websites such as apartments.com  or apartmentlist.com  for rental openings in your prospective location
• Include utilities (electricity, water, wifi) as part of your monthly rent bill
• Target international students
• Post ads on reputable rental sites
• Will ask for advance payment of security deposit before you can visit the premises
• Will use a real address but fake pictures of inside of home
• More info on common scams to look out for and how to avoid them

4.     Get all required immunizations

• Look up requirements for your university on the student health services page
• If you are not able to obtain all required vaccinations in your home country, you may be able to get them with student health services when you arrive

holds may be placed on your registration until you have fulfilled all immunization requirements   

Other Resources:

• Read the  International Student and Scholar Handbook and the UC Davis International Applicants page for more detailed descriptions of everything you need to know to apply to UC Davis
• Refer to the International Applicant’s Guide to a PhD for more general information about how to apply to doctoral programs in the U.S.

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Researcher Advanced Cultivation Systems Greenhouse Horticulture

responsibilities are, among others: you acquire and execute projects in the field of greenhouse horticulture , aimed at the design of new cultivation systems and optimization of current cultivation systems; you

PhD on Nutrient Dynamics from Field to Landscape in Regenerative Agriculture

Your job Are you interested in a PhD focusing on the nutrient dynamics from field to landscape in Regenerative Agriculture? Working with pioneer regenerative farmers across the Netherlands, this PhD

PhD in Plant-Microbe interaction

completed or in the process of completion of higher university degree (master of science) in biology, plant breeding, biotechnology, horticulture , or agronomy, emphasizing plant pathology, mycology

PhD student (Sustainable Food Systems)

agriculture, forestry and horticulture as well as urban and rural landscapes. We are expanding research activities in the area of sustainable food systems. Read more about the department here https://www.slu.se

PhD student (f,m,div) in Chemical Ecology of Plant Biotic Interactions

horticulture . The IGZ conducts research at the interface between plants, humans and the environment. In doing so, we address systemic and global challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, urbanization

PhD Student plant sensors and modelling for tomato

) DigiKas is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of greenhouse horticulture . By promoting the use of plant sensors, we aim to improve the monitoring of plant behaviour in climate

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• phd horticulture
• hydrology phd
• water management phd
• horticulture
• irrigation phd
• agriculture
• phd in horticulture
• agriculture phd
• phd water resources

PhD Student Positions

More available PhD positions can also be found in this list:  Available jobs at Stockholm University, PhD Student Positions included (Varbi.com) For other available jobs, please see: Jobs For available PhD student positions in Swedish, please see: Doktorandplatser

Last updated: July 29, 2024

Source: Office of Human Resources