Plant And Soil Sciences

College of Agriculture and

Life Sciences

Dr. Vance Watson, Dean

Dr. Michael Collins, Department Head and Graduate Coordinator

117 Dorman Hall

Box 9555

Mississippi State, MS 39762

662-325-2311

Graduate study offered in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences leads to the Master of Science in Agriculture degree with concentrations in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science and also to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science.  The department has an extensive research program which provides a diversity of problems for thesis and dissertation research under the supervision of experienced and highly trained scientists. The Department of Plant and Soil Science offers graduate programs in Plant Breeding and Genetics, Crop Simulation, Crop  Modeling, Agronomy, Soil Sciences, Crop Physiology, Weed Science, Turfgrass Science, and Horticulture.  In Horticulture, a student may conduct research in the area of fruits, floriculture, ornamentals, or vegetables.  Graduate programs are designed to develop skills in research techniques in reference to the individual needs of each student.  This program is developed and administered by a departmental committee within the student’s area of specialization and may include courses dealing with statistics, computer science, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, electron microscopy, radio-chemistry, etc., as well as traditional agronomic, horticultural, and weed sciences courses.  Graduate assistantships are provided, subject to availability of funds.  An undergraduate grade average of  B or better is required to be eligible for an assistantship.  Request for additional information should be addressed to Head of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, P. O. Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

Agronomy

Admissions Criteria:

·          M.S. concentration and Ph.D. in Agronomy

·          TOEFL score of 500 (173 computer-based)

·          GRE not required

Program of Study—The minimum number of required hours is 30 hours (24 hours course work with 12 hours being 8000 or above plus six hours of thesis).  A thesis defense is required.  An exit seminar describing thesis research is also required.

A student in the M.S. non-thesis option program must successfully complete 30 hours of graduate level courses of which at least 15 must be courses numbered 8000 or above.  Three hours of Directed Individual Study (PSS 7000) are required, and the student must develop a research paper approved by the student’s graduate committee.  An oral comprehensive exam is required.

For the Ph.D. degree, the student must successfully complete a program of study as presented by the student’s major advisor and graduate committee.  Twenty hours of Dissertation Research (PSS 9000) and two seminars (PSS 8811- 8831) to include an exit seminar describing the student’s dissertation research are required.  A qualifying examination is required at the beginning of the student’s third semester.

Provisional Admission—A student who has not met the requirements stipulated by the University for admission to graduate study (GPA of 2.75) may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status.  The student will be eligible for advancement to regular status after attaining a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses taken at Mississippi State University (transfer and unclassified graduate hours do not apply).  Normally, it is expected that a student will remove the provisional admission status during his or her initial semester of enrollment.  If a GPA of 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student may be dismissed from the graduate program.

Academic Performance—Students in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs must maintain a 3.00 GPA after admission to the program. No grade of less than a C will be accepted for graduate credit.  More than two grades of C or below constitute grounds for dismissal from the program.

Prerequisite and Core Courses—As specified by the student’s major professor and graduate committee.

Completion Requirements:

·          For the M.S. thesis-option degree, a thesis and oral defense are required.

·          For the Ph.D. degree, original research, a preliminary examination, a dissertation, and an oral defense are required.  The preliminary examination will be administered when course work is completed.

Graduate Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

Crops:

PSS 6103      Forage and Pasture Crops. 3 hours

PSS 6123      Grain Crops. 3 hours

PSS 6133      Fiber and Oilseed Crops. 3 hours

PSS 6414      Turf Management. 4 hours

PSS 6423      Golf Course Operations (PSS 6414). 3 hours

PSS 6443      Athletic Field Management (PSS 3303, PSS 4414, or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSS 6444      Plant Tissue Culture (BIO 4214/6214 or equivalent). 4 hours

PSS 6483      Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies. 3 hours

PSS 6503      Plant Breeding (PO 3103 or equivalent). 3 hours

PSS 6823      Turfgrass Weed Management. 3 hours

PSS 6990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

PSS 8000      Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSS 8103      Pasture Development. 3 hours

PSS 8123      Crop Ecology (BIO 4213/6213 or permission of instructor). 3 hours

PSS 8163      Environmental Plant Physiology. 3 hours

PSS 8513      Advanced Plant Breeding (PSS 4503/6503 or equivalent) [Same as GNS 8113]. 3 hours

PSS 8543      Biometrical Genetics in Plant Breeding (PSS 4503/6503 and ST 8114) [Same as GNS 8143]. 3 hours

PSS 8811- 8831   Seminar. 1-3 hours

PSS 8990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours

Seed Science:

PSS 6223      Seed Production. 3 hours

PSS 6990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

PSS 8000      Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSS 8203      Seed Physiology(PSS 4243/6243 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSS 8990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours

Soils:

PSS 6313      Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (PSS 3303 and junior standing). 3 hours

PSS 6314      Soil Microbiology (BIO 3304)Same As [BIO 4324/6324]. 4 hours

PSS 6323      Soil Classification (PSS 3303). 3 hours

PSS 6333      Soil Conservation and Land Use (PSS 3303). 3 hours

PSS 6373      Geospatial Agronomic Management (PSS 3303 and PSS 3133). 3 hours

PSS 6603      Soil Chemistry (PSS 3303). 3 hours

PSS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

PSS 8000      Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSS 8314      Clay Mineralogy. 4 hours

PSS 8333      Advanced Soil Fertility. 3 hours

PSS 8343      Model Watershed Hydrology (PSS 3301/3303 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSS 8990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours

Horticulture

Admission criteria for each degree:

·          Admission tests scores - None

·          TOEFL scores - A TOEFL minimum score of 500 or 173 (CBSS - Computer-Based Score Scale) is required to be considered for graduate school.

Program of Study:

Master of Science Degree—The minimum number of required hours is 30 hours (24 hours) course work with 12 hours being 8000 or above plus six hours of thesis.  A thesis defense is required. 

Ph.D. Degree—A minimum number of 30 hours of course work is required.  After two semesters, the student is required to take a qualifying examination.  After completing course work, an oral preliminary examination will be administered.  Original research and dissertation are also required, including a dissertation defense, and final examination. 

Provisional Admission—A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University or the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status.  The student will be eligible for advancement to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses taken at Mississippi State University.  Transferred and unclassified graduate courses do not apply.  Normally, it is expected that a student will remove his or her provisional admission status during the initial semester of enrollment.  If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student may be dropped from the graduate program.

Academic Performance—The general academic performance and continued enrollment policies as stipulated by the Office of Graduate Studies will be followed.

Prerequisite and Core Courses—As stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.

·          M.S. specific requirements – Statistics (ST 8114) and Seminar (PSS 8811)

·          Ph.D. specific course requirements – Biochemistry (BCH 6603), Statistics (ST 8214), and Seminar (PSS 8811- 8831)

Completion Requirements:

·          A thesis and thesis defense are required for a Master of Science degree.  M.S. candidates are required to take an oral examination, a written examination, or both.

·          Ph.D. Degree - The dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctorate, and a minimum of twenty semester hours of research for the dissertation must be scheduled.  The graduate committee must approve the dissertation topic, the outline, and final product.

Graduate Courses—Courses prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

PSS 6143      Advanced Fruit Sciences (PSS 3043 or equivalent). 3 hours

PSS 6343      Greenhouse Management (BIO 1203, PSS 3301and PSS 3301). 3 hours

PSS 6353      Arboriculture and Landscape Maintenance. 3 hours

PSS 6363      Nursery Management (PSS 2423,PSS 3473 and PSS 3923). 3 hours

PSS 6444      Plant Tissue Culture (BIO 1203 or equivalent and BIO 4214/6214). 4 hours

PSS 6453      Vegetable Production (PSS 3303, PSS 3301 and BIO 4204). 3 hours

PSS 6503      Plant Breeding (PO 3103) [Same as PSS 4503]. 3 hours

PSS 6613      Floriculture Crop Programming (PSS 4343/6343). 3 hours

PSS 6990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

PSS 8000      Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSS 8513      Advanced Plant Breeding (PSS 4503/6503)[same as GNS 8113]. 3 hours

PSS 8553      Plant Growth and Development (BIO 4214/6214 and CH 2503). 3 hours

PSS 8554      Plant Genetic Engineering (PSS 6443 or PSS 6444 and BCH 6713). 4 hours

PSS 8563      Post Harvest Physiology of Horticultural Plants (Organic Chemistry and BIO 4214/6214 or equivalent). 3 hours

PSS 8573      Morphology of Horticultural Plants (BIO 4204/6204). 3 hours

PSS 8613      Methods of Horticultural Research. 3 hours

PSS 8811-8831   Seminar. 1-3 hours

PSS 8990      Special Topics in PSS. 1-9 hours

PSS 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours 

Weed Science

Admissions Criteria:

·          M.S. in Weed Science

Overall GPA of 3.00 or GPA of 3.00 on last 60 hours of undergraduate work

·          Ph.D. in Weed Science

GPA of 3.25 on Master’s degree.  Completion of GRE and submission of test scores.  TOEFL score of 550 (173 computer-based) for international students. 

Program of Study—Students in the M.S. program must successfully complete 30 hours of graduate courses as presented by the student’s major advisor and graduate committee of which half must be 8000- level and above. Six hours of Research/Thesis (PSS 8000) are required. The student pursuing the M.S. degree will present an exit seminar describing his or her research.

For the Ph.D. degree, the student must successfully complete a program of study as presented by the student’s major advisor and graduate committee. Twenty hours of Research /Dissertation (PSS 9000) and two seminars (PSS 8811- 8831) to include an exit seminar describing the student’s dissertation research are required. A qualifying examination after the student has completed two semesters, a preliminary exam after completion or within six hours of completing course work, and an oral exam are required.

Provisional Admission – A student not meeting the 3.00 GPA admission requirement may be admitted on a provisional status. A student will be eligible for advancement to regular admission status after attaining a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours taken after admission to the program.  Transfer and unclassified graduate hours do not apply.  If a GPA of 3.00 is not attained, the student may be dismissed from the graduate program.

Academic Performance—S tudents in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs must maintain a 3.00 GPA after admission to the program. No grade below C will be accepted for graduate credit. More than two grades of C or below constitute grounds for dismissal.

Prerequisite and Core Courses—As specified by the student’s major professor and graduate committee.

Completion Requirements— For the M.S. degree, a thesis and an oral thesis defense are required.  For the Ph.D., original research, a dissertation, a preliminary exam and an oral defense are required.

Graduate Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

PSS 6483      Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies (Senior or Graduate standing, or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSS 6633      Weed Biology and Ecology (BIO 1203, PSS 3133). 3 hours

PSS 6813      Herbicide Technology (PSS 3133). 3 hours

PSS 6823      Turfgrass Weed Management. 3 hours

PSS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 3 hours

PSS 8000      Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSS 8634      Environmental Fate of Herbicides (CH 4513/6513,PSS 4813/6813). 4 hours

PSS 8701- 8791   Current Topics in Weed Science (PSS 4813/6813) or consent of instructor). 1-9 hours

PSS 8724      Herbicide Physiology and Biochemistry (PSS 4813/6813, BIO 4214/6214 CH 4513/6513 or consent of instructor). 4 hours

PSS 8811- 8831   Seminar. 1-3 hours

PSS 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours