The Ph.D. in Plant Science is offered jointly by the School of Biology and Ecology, the School of Food Sciences and Agriculture, the School of Forest Resources, and sometimes other related departments. The Plant Science Ph.D. program gives students interested in plants an opportunity to focus on the ecology, physiology, or molecular biology of plants and their pathogens. 

The curriculum for each student will be tailored to individual needs by his or her graduate committee. Selection of courses will be guided in part by the requirement that each student pass two written exams in his or her area of specialization, plus two supporting areas, and an oral examination. An original research dissertation is the heart of the Plant Science PhD. This work is required to be of the quality and significance that warrants publication in a refereed research journal.