Plant Biology
www.life.illinois.edu/plantbio/index.html
265 Morrill Hall
505 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3261
Fax: (217) 244-7246
E-mail: plants@life.uiuc.edu
Major: Plant Biology
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Plant Biology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. It also participates in two interdepartmental programs leading to a doctoral degree: Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology, and the Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology. In addition, students can participate, during their degree programs, in several non-degree granting interdepartmental programs and interest groups, such as the Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program and the Systematics and Biodiversity Group.
The Department teaches and conducts research in basic plant and fungal biology. Its focus is integrative: biological processes are investigated at multiple levels of organization using molecular, biochemical, physiological, and ecological approaches. Areas of specialization within the department include anatomy, biogeochemistry, biodiversity, bioinformatics, cell biology, conservation biology, development, ecology (both temperate and tropical), environmental physiology, evolution, genetics, genomics, modeling, molecular biology, mycology, paleobotany, paleoecology, photosynthesis, physiology, phytochemistry, population biology, systems biology and systematics. Graduate students acquire reasonable breadth in their overall biological and professional training as well as expert-level depth in their areas of specialization.
The Plant Biology Departmental website provides additional information about the department, its admissions procedures, degree requirements, facilities, and the research interests of its faculty.
Admission
Prospective students are encouraged to identify faculty member(s) whose research specialty(ies) most closely coincide(s) with their interests and correspond directly with them. Acceptance for graduate study in Plant Biology is based on the applicant's academic achievement and research potential. While departmental requirements do not specify particular courses as prerequisites for admission, applicants should have had an undergraduate degree in plant biology or biology and related sciences. Admission to the graduate program requires an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required; however no minimum scores are specified for admission. An advanced subject test is recommended. International students should have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 or above on the paper-based test, or 250 or above on the computer-based test (cBT) or 102 or above on the internet-based test (iBT).
Degree Requirements
For additional details and requirements, please refer to the Plant Biology Department's online Graduate Handbook and the University's Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Science
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course hours distributed among three of the following areas: anatomy, biochemistry, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and systematics (4 of these hours must be outside the immediate research interests of the student) | 12 | 12 |
| Individual Topics, IB 590 (min/max applied toward degree): | max 8 | |
| Language Requirement: | Discretion of advisor | Discretion of advisor |
| Thesis Hours Required– PBIO 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | max 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The requirement of a thesis for the M.S. degree in Plant Biology is determined in consultation with the candidate's adviser. The program is normally completed within two years. Candidates are expected to complete at least 32 semester hours of graduate coursework and research agreed upon with a faculty adviser.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree | Required Hours - Entering with B.S./B.A. degree* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Hours | 64 | 96 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | No maximum | No maximum |
| Thesis Hours Required– PBIO 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | No maximum | No maximum |
| Language Requirement: | Discretion of advisor | Discretion of advisor |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Teaching: at least the equivalent of one semester as a half-time teaching assistant | ||
| *See the Plant Biology Department's online Graduate Student Handbook for a detailed description of the Stages and Requirements of the Ph.D. program | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements (32 hours minimum) must be met in order to enter Stage 2 of Ph.D. program | No, but Masters level requirements (32 hours minimum) must be met in order to enter Stage 2 of Ph.D. program |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes, at end of Stage 2, in order to enter Stage 3 |
Yes, at end of Stage 2, in order to enter Stage 3 |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes, at end of Stage 3 | Yes, at end of Stage 3 |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes, at end of Stage 3 | Yes, at end of Stage 3 |
Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to complete a minimum of 96 hours of graduate coursework and research. A formal evaluation (the Two-Year Review) of the student's academic progress is made prior to the end of the second year of study (end of Stage I). Departmental approval must be obtained at this juncture in order to continue in the graduate program. A Preliminary Examination is taken during the second year (if the student entered with an M.S. degree) or the third year (if the student entered with a B.S. degree) (end of Stage 2). This consists of an oral examination of general knowledge in three of nine broadly-defined areas of plant biology and defense of a written research proposal on the thesis research topic prepared by the student. Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates. The final stage (Stage 3) of the program consists of preparing an acceptable thesis based on independent research designed in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by a graduate faculty thesis committee. A final oral examination, in which the student defends the thesis, a public seminar, and deposit of an approved thesis complete the program. The Ph.D. degree program is expected to be completed within five years.
Facilities and Resources
The Plant Biology Department's diverse state-of-the-art research laboratories are located in Morrill Hall, Edward R. Madigan Laboratory and the Institute for Genomic Biology. In addition, the Department maintains extensive plant growth-chamber facilities, environmentally controlled greenhouses, a conservatory with live teaching and research collections, herbaria, a center for paleobotanical collections and diverse local and remote field sites including SoyFACE. The University also offers exceptional research support services including the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, service laboratories in the Institute for Genomic Biology and the Beckman Institute and the University Library, one of the world's largest.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available for qualified students. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis.