Jessica Blythe, Interim Director - School of Agriculture and Food Systems
Degree Offered
- Master of Science with a major in Plant and Soil Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Plant and Soil Science
Nature of the Program
The educational experience obtained through courses and research is expected to provide students with the background and expertise to enter professional careers as agronomists, entomologists, microbiologists, horticulturists, and plant pathologists or soil scientists. These disciplines are critical to maintaining agriculture and forest productivity, solving environmental problems, and promoting economic development in the state.
Areas of Emphasis
The master of science in plant and soil sciences degree offers students the ability to specialize in discipline-specific areas of emphasis, which choices of Entomology; Environmental, Soil and Water Sciences; Horticulture; and Plant Pathology/Environmental Microbiology.
The doctor of philosophy in plant and soil sciences degree is offered to students who wish to study crops agronomy, entomology, applied and environmental microbiology, horticulture, plant pathology, or soil sciences.
Admissions for 2027-2028
In order for a student to be admitted to the program, the applicant normally must fulfill the following admission criteria to be considered:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree.
- Have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
- Provide three letters of reference from persons acquainted with the applicant’s professional work, experience, or academic background.
- Submit a written statement of approximately 500 words indicating the applicant’s goals and objectives relative to receiving a graduate degree.
International students must meet WVU's minimum score requirements for English language proficiency.
Major Code: 1735
Degree Progress
The School of Agriculture and Food Systems requires the following milestones for all students. According to the graduate catalog, students will receive a yearly evaluation. Students who are either not making adequate degree progress or who are failing to uphold professional standards may receive notice of probation, suspension or dismissal. Students may be notified of academic consequences outside of routine evaluation processes if an issue must be addressed immediately.
Each year, no later than the first day of classes of the Fall semester, the department will distribute an updated version of the graduate handbook .
Benchmarks
- Year One: Completion of Plan of Study and research proposal
- Year Two (MS): Significant progress toward thesis completion;
- Year Two (Ph.D.): Successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examination
- Year Three (MS): Completion and defense of thesis
- Year Four (Ph.D.): Satisfactory progress toward completion of dissertation
- Year Five (Ph.D.): Completion and defense of dissertation
Satisfactory Progress
- Satisfactory progress toward completion of thesis/dissertation includes literature review, data collection, and analysis.
Major Learning Outcomes
Plant and Soil Science
- Students will acquire fundamental knowledge of their area of emphasis and associated fields in plant and soil science.
- Students will acquire detailed knowledge of their particular subdiscipline or research area, including the scientific literature fundamental to their discipline and the ability to stay current o n scientific literature.
- Students will acquire technical skills in the field or laboratory.
- Students will develop the ability to communicate in writing and orally about scientific concepts and the results of their research.
- Students will develop the ability to design, conduct, and interpret the results of experiments.