Graduate level courses across multiple disciplines, extensive internships and a research project make up requirements for the Doctor of Plant Health (DPH) degree.

Internships can be internal or external to the university, such as with the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and state or federal government.

Research projects may be with university personnel or off-campus collaborators. Research projects and comprehensive exams are to be determined by the student's advisory committee.

Students with an appropriate background should expect to complete this program within four years.

Total Program Credit Hours: 100 

* All classroom courses unless noted with a 'd' for distance or 'd/c' when offered via both distance and classroom

A group of students learning outside the classroom.

Plant Pathology Foundation (Core, 16 credits)

 

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

PLPT 801
Biology of Plant Pathogens
3
 
PLPT 802
Ecology and Management of Plant Pathogens
3
 
PLPT 866
Phytopathogenic Nematodes
3
 
PLPT 867
Plant Associated Microbes
4
 
PLPT 965
Plant Virology
3
 

Entomology Foundation (Core, 16-17 credits)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

ENTO 800
Insect Biodiversity
4
 
ENTO 806
Insect Ecology
3
d/c
ENTO 813
Biological Control of Pests
3
d
ENTO 817
Pest Management Systems
3
d/c
ENTO 801
Insect Physiology (take this course or ENTO 820)
4
d/c
ENTO 820
Insecticide Toxicology (take this course or ENTO 801)
3
d/c

Weed Science Foundation (Core, 7 credits)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

AGRO 826
Invasive Plants (required only if equivalent Weed Science course 
not taken as undergraduate. If taken, credited as elective only)
 (3)
 
AGRO 896
Interplant Competition
3
 
 
(plus 4 credits from the following or other weed related courses, with permission)
  
AGRO 812
Crop & Weed Genetics
1
d
AGRO 822
Integrated Weed Management
1
d
AGRO 823
Herbicide Action in Plants
1
 
AGRO 896
Regional Weed Science Contest
1-2
 
AGRO 896
Pest Resistance Management 
2
d

Plant Science Foundation (Core, 9 credits)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

AGRO 806
Plant Ecophysiology: Theory and Practice
4
 
AGRO 807
Plant-Water Relations
3
 
AGRO 811
Crop Genetic Engineering
2
d
AGRO 835
Agroecology
3
 

Soil Science Foundation (Core, 9 credits)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

AGRO 824
Plant Nutrition & Nutrient Management
3
d
AGRO 855
Soil Chemistry & Mineralogy
3
 
AGRO 860
Soil Microbiology
3
 

Quantitative Tools (take a minimum of 8 credits from the following)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

NRES 815
Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture
4
 
NRES 818
Introduction to Remote Sensing
4
 
STAT 801
Statistical Methods in Research
4
 
STAT 802
Design & Analysis of Research Studies
4
 

Policy & Leadership (take a minimum of 3 credits from the following)

Course # 

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

AECN 856
Environmental Law
3
d
AECN 857
Water Law
3
d
NRES 813
Environmental Leadership
3
d
ALEC 800
Overview to Program Planning
3
d/c

Internships

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

DPLH 695
Plant Health Internship (2 or more experiential learning opportunities)
0
 

Other Requirements (17 credits)

Course #

Title

Credit Hours

d/c*

 
Practicum in Research Methods (research project)
4
 
 
Plant Health Diagnosis (7 credits, to include the following):
 
 
AGRO 896
Integrated Plant Health Diagnostics
3
 
PLPT 892
Plant Pathology Diagnosis
1
 
ENTO 896
Arthropod Diagnosis
1
 
 
Two additional diagnostics credits required
2
 
DPLH 691
Colloquium (1 credit/year; 2 years)
2
 
ENTO 896
Integrated Plant Health Management (DPH Capstone)
 

Electives chosen to meet students' professional goals (11-12 credits)