1. Botany and Plant Pathology

Botany and Plant Pathology

Graduate Program Fact Sheet
Botany and Plant Pathology

The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology offers graduate programs in the following areas of concentration: ecology, genetics, genomics and computational biology, molecular and cellular biology, mycology, plant pathology, host-microbe interactions ,plant physiology, and systematics. Our students learn about plants at all levels of biological organization, from molecular and cellular processes to global ecosystems. In addition to addressing fundamental questions in plant biology, plant scientists of the 21st century will be called upon to provide information useful for producing food, fiber and medicine for an increasing population, and for increasing our understanding of diversity of plant and ecological systems and their interaction with humans.

Botany and Plant Pathology | M.S.

Oregon State University, provides a special environment for graduate training in plant biology. We are one of a small number of universities that maintain and foster a formal link between botany and plant pathology.

The MS requires coursework and research, resulting in presentation and defense of a thesis. A non-thesis MS degree is also available.

Professional opportunities exist in numerous fields including:

  • plant disease research and management
  • plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology
  • plant genetics
  • marine and aquatic botany
  • plant ecology
  • botanical taxonomy, structure, evolution, biogeography
  • plant product monitoring, program administration, sales
Botany and Plant Pathology | PhD

Our departmental structure facilitates interdisciplinary research and training opportunities, making it possible for students to address fundamental questions in plant biology as well as apply this knowledge to practical problems related to natural or commercial plant resources. The PhD degree requires both, resulting in presentation and defense of a dissertation. PhD candidates must pass a written and oral preliminary examination upon completion of their course work. In addition, PhD students are required to be a teaching assistant for two quarters.

45

Graduate Students

43

Fellowships

6

Distinguished Faculty

Graduate Student Support

  • The Graduate Students Association (GSA) provides a handbook and an orientation program for new graduate students and sponsors social and professional activities throughout the year.
  • The department and University also award several graduate fellowships and scholarships to outstanding students. For more information see the Graduate School’s Financing Your Education website at gradschool.oregonstate.edu/finance.
  • Financial support for graduate studies is available through graduate diversity, graduate teaching, and graduate research assistantships awarded by the Department. Support may also be obtained from various graduate fellowship programs.
  • The Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) represents the interests and rights of Oregon State University’s graduate employees through the bargaining and maintenance of a fair working contract. CGE strives to create a community of graduate employees empowered to advocate for collective issues.
  • The Botany Club and the Mycology Club are open to all students in the Department. The Bolstering Undergraduate Development (BUDS) program pairs undergraduate students with graduate student mentors.
  • Experiential learning provides hands-on training and students are provided with career resources and development.

How to Apply

The online application, a downloadable application form, and contact information are available from the Graduate School. You may also write to the Graduate School, Oregon State University, 2900 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331; telephone them at 541-737-4881, or email at graduate.school@oregonstate.edu.

A student wishing to be admitted to any graduate program at Oregon State University must complete an application form, pay the application fee, and submit photocopies of all official transcripts. International students must also submit recent TOEFL scores and certify sufficient funding to complete the required degree. The Office of Admissions provides a more complete listing of required documents and application steps. Detailed information for both domestic applicants and international applicants is also available.

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Program Requirements

  • There are no specific sets of prerequisite course requirements; however we recommend (at a minimum) a year of biology plus two upper division biology courses; chemistry through organic chemistry, plus biochemistry or environmental chemistry; and a mathematical foundation including statistics and calculus, plus linear algebra, physics and/or computer programming.
  • Three letters of professional reference are required of all students by Dec 15.
  • A current curriculum vitae or resume is required.
  • The application deadline for admission in the following fall quarter is December 1.
  • More information: bpp.oregonstate.edu/bpp/graduate-programs/admissions

Alumni Spotlight

Alisha Quandt

Alisha Quandt

Quandt received her PhD from BPP in 2014 followed by a postdoc at the University of Michigan. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado. Alisha is a mycologist and her research is in evolutionary genomics of fungi.