Studies & Degrees in Applied Plant Science

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Are you a graduate student who has previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree in botany, ecology, horticulture or another one of the plants sciences?  Are you looking for a graduate degree program that can not only expand your current knowledge base but also teach you how to apply the concepts and techniques you’ve learned?  If so, you may want to consider pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Applied Plant Science.  To help you get started, below we will provide a brief synopsis of the Master of Science degree program in Applied Plant Science, including a course description and an outline of some of the topics/classes you will encounter while pursuing the degree.  Additionally, we will list some of the typical eligibility requirements for admission into the program.
 
Master of Science Degree in Applied Plant Science:  Description and Coursework
 
The Master of Science Degree in Applied Plant Science is a two-year graduate-level program offered by many colleges and universities throughout the world.  The program is designed for students who want to increase their knowledge and learn cutting-edge application techniques, skills that will help them succeed in a career in the plant science industry.  Master-level students in the Applied Plant Science program are given the freedom to design an integrated and individualized schedule of classes, a schedule that combines a wide variety of theoretical and practical courses from several different disciplines. In addition to studying plant biology at the organic level, students will also be exposed to courses in genetics and plant breeding, cropping systems and communities, and courses related to the production and ecology of agronomic and/or horticultural species.
 
The required coursework for the Master of Science Degree program in Applied Plant Science may vary slightly from one institution to the next, but the topics that students will study are relatively the same regardless of the institution.  Below is a brief sample of some of the courses students will encounter as participants in the program, listed according to the specific branch of plant science under which each course falls.
 
Genetics and Plant Breeding
 

• Orientation to Crop Production and Restorative Methods
• Evolution of Crop Plants
• Plant Chromosome Biology
• Advanced Plant Breeding
• Molecular and Cellular Genetics of Plant Improvement
• Plant Genomics

 
Organismal Biology
 

• Advanced Plant Propagation
• Plant Physiology
• Plant Cell Biology
• Manipulation of Plant Growth and Reproduction
• Plant Virology and Bacteriology
• Introduction to Fungal Biology

 
Cropping Systems, Communities and Commodities
 

• Biology, Ecology and Management of invasive Plants
• Turf Grass Management
• Organic Viticulture and Fruit Production
• Restoration and Reclamation Ecology
• Principles of Plant Pathology
• Organic Vegetable Production

 
Master of Science Degree in Applied Plant Science:  Eligibility Requirements
 
Students who wish to pursue a Master of Science Degree in Applied Plant Science must possess at least a Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in the areas of ecology, plant biology, botany, horticulture or a closely related field.  Students studying in the United States will need to take and pass the GRE examination, earning a combined score of 1000 or better.  Many universities will also require students to sit for an interview with the faculty and/or present letters of recommendation prior to being admitted to the program.