The Master of Science in Plant Pathology provides teaching and research experience and other educational opportunities in the study of plant pathology to help prepare graduates for careers in academia, industry, and government. The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of two years of study and research and can usually be completed within three years.
The Master of Science student is exposed to the breadth of the plant pathology discipline through coursework and a research thesis, usually completed in two years.
Program Requirements
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 31 credits are required at the 400 level or higher, with at least 18 credits in the 500-600 series combined.
Required Courses
- PPEM 405 Microbe-Plant Interactions: Plant Disease and Biological Control
- PPEM 416 Plant Virology: Molecules to Populations
- PPEM 417 Phytobacteriology
- PPEM 425 Biology of Fungi
- PPATH 502 Plant Disease Diagnosis
- PPATH 522 Professional Development and Ethics in Plant Pathology
- PPATH 590 Colloquium
Six additional credits of 500-level courses are required. However, any of the following 400-level PPEM or related courses may be taken as additional credits as approved by the thesis adviser.
- PPEM 430 Air Pollution Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems
- PPEM 440 Environmental Microbiomes: Concepts and Analysis Tools
- PPEM 454 Virus Ecology
- PPEM 456 From Tame to the Wild: The Environments and Ecologies of Microbes
- PPEM 497 Genome Editing
- PPATH 533 Molecular Genetics of Plant-Pathogen Interactions
- PPATH 542 Epidemiology of Plant Diseases
- PPATH 544 Fungal Genetics
- PPATH 505 Fundamentals of Phytopathology
- PPATH 802 Plant Protection: Responding to Introductions of Threatening Pests and Pathogens
- PPATH 840 Major Writing Projects: Start to Finish
- AGECO 457 Principles of Integrated Pest Management
The full selection of courses offered at Penn State can be found in LionPATH.
Typical M.S. Program Timeline
| Semester | Activity |
|---|---|
| First | Coursework |
| Decide on research topic, write and submit brief research abstract and project objectives | |
| Apply for dual-degree program (if applicable, see below) | |
| Second | Coursework |
| First seminar | |
| Select thesis research committee | |
| Prepare thesis research proposal | |
| Thesis proposal meeting and thesis approval | |
| Third | Coursework |
| Thesis writing | |
| Fourth | Finish thesis writing |
| Final seminar and thesis defense |
Annual Evaluation
The annual evaluation of graduate students ensures that students receive the mentorship they deserve and are making progress toward completion of their degrees. The annual evaluation of graduate students consists of a collaborative effort between faculty adviser and student to:
- Complete the evaluation form;
- Complete and submit the check sheet with evidence that steps have been completed;
- Demonstrate that the student's web page is up-to-date;
- Present a professional quality CV suitable for awards, job applications, and internships;
- Produce a narrative of service or other activities not captured on a CV.
- In addition, a mid-year check-in with the student's adviser(s) is required to review progress on their actionable goals.
