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  • Plant and Soil Sciences, M.S.
WVU Morgantown

Plant and Soil Sciences, M.S.

  • Overview
  • Areas of Emphasis
  • Learning Outcomes

Program Requirements 

With the direction of their graduate advisory committee, each student will complete a Plan of Study during their first semester. The program requirements include a total of 30 credit hours, distributed as outlined below.

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required in all courses applied toward degree requirements.
Statistics/Analtyical Requirement
Select one of the following:3
BIOS 501
Applied Biostatistics 1
STAT 511
Statistical Methods 1
Select one of the following:3
BIOS 503
Applied Biostatistics 2
RESM 540
Spatial Pattern Analysis
RESM 575
Spatial Analysis for Resource Management
STAT 512
Statistical Methods 2
STAT 521
Statistical Analysis System Programming
Seminar Requirement3
HORT 796
Graduate Seminar
ENTO 796
Graduate Seminar
PPTH 796
Graduate Seminar
ESWS 796
Graduate Seminar
Restricted Electives *11-13
Courses in AEM, AGBI, ESWS, ENTO, GEN, HORT, PLSC, PPTH, FNRS, BIOL, and GEOL.
Required Area of Emphasis8-10
Entomology (9 credits)
Environmental Soil and Water Sciences (9 credits)
Horticulture (8-9 credits)
Plant Pathology/Environmental Microbiology (10 credits)
Total Hours30
*

All restricted electives must be approved by the student’s graduate committee on the formal Davis College Plan of Study. Restricted elective credits cannot be double-counted with credits earned in meeting the AoE requirement. Excludes 797 and limit 590, 690, and 790 to no more than three credits.

Areas of Emphasis

  • Entomology
  • Environmental Soil and Water Sciences
  • Horticulture
  • Plant Pathology/Environmental Microbiology

Entomology Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
ENTO 650 Insect Ecology3
ENTO 797Research6
Total Hours9

Environmental Soil and Water Sciences Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
ESWS 516Soil Chemistry3
or ESWS 552 Pedology
ESWS 797Research6
Total Hours9

Horticulture Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select one of the following:2-3
PLSC 550
Grants and Grantsmanship
PLSC 553
Organic Crop Production
PLSC 560
Plant Biochemistry
HORT 797Research6
Total Hours8

Plant Pathology/Environmental Microbiology Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select one of the following:4
PPTH 503
& 503L
Mycology
and Mycology Laboratory
PPTH 730
Physiology of the Fungi
AEM 797Research6
Total Hours10

Major Learning Outcomes

Plant and Soil Sciences 

  1. Students will demonstrate detailed knowledge of their particular research area and fundamental knowledge of other areas of Plant and Soil Sciences relevant to their field of study.
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to read and understand, peer-reviewed scientific literature relevant to their research.
  3. Students will employ technical skills in the laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field to acquire novel, high-quality data, and analytical skills to interpret the data to draw conclusions that are valid and meaningful.
  4. Students will communicate effectively in writing and orally about scientific concepts and the results of their research.
  5. Graduates of the program will be employed in a relevant professional position within one year of completing their degrees. 
  • Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
  • Animal, Food, and Nutrition Sciences
  • Animal Physiology
  • Forestry
  • Human and Community Development
  • Natural Resource Economics
  • Natural Resources Science
  • Nutritional and Food Science
  • Plant and Soil Science
    • Plant and Soil Sciences, M.S.
    • Plant and Soil Science, Ph.D.
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

WVU Morgantown

Graduate/Professional Catalog Information

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  • FERPA
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  • Graduate Certificates
  • Programs, Courses and Credits
  • Tuition, Fees and Residency
  • Veterans

Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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