USU is home to the only agriculturally focused plant science degrees in the state. The plant science graduate degrees are centered on the biology, genetics, and management of plants and other issues related to agricultural and horticultural production. In particular, USU’s plant science programs focus on regional issues pertaining to the West and current environmental issues, such as the management of invasive weed species, specifically the weed problems of the Intermountain West, and the challenges of organic and sustainable agriculture in the West’s arid climate.

Each graduate student in the department follows a unique and completely customized plan of study. Students work closely with faculty on research projects and receive individual attention and mentoring as they complete their research. Students can focus their research in a variety of areas as they develop solutions to current problems. Those areas may include environmental plant physiology, genetics, molecular biology, plant breeding, crop production, sustainable and organic crop and forage production systems, weed science, urban landscape management, and water management in agricultural and horticultural crops, including turf and other ornamentals.