Plant Biology

Head of the Department: Evan H. DeLucia
265 Morrill Hall
505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3261
Fax: (217) 244-7246
E-mail: plants@life.uiuc.edu

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 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In addition, students can participate 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, computer modeling, conservation biology, development, ecology (temperate and tropical), environmental physiology, evolution, genetics, genomics, molecular biology, mycology, paleobotany, paleoecology, photosynthesis, physiology, phytochemistry, population biology, and systematics. Graduate students acquire reasonable breadth in their botanical backgrounds as well as depth in their areas of specialization.

The departmental website provides additional information about the department and its degree requirements, its facilities, and the research interests of its faculty.

Admission

Prospective students are encouraged to correspond directly with the faculty member(s) whose research specialty(ies) most closely coincide(s) with their interests.

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; 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.

Graduate Teaching Experience

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 in this program.

Master of Science

Candidates for the M.S. degree are expected to complete at least 32 semester hours of graduate coursework and research agreed upon with a faculty adviser. A thesis may be required at the option of the candidate’s adviser. The master’s degree program is normally completed within two years.

Doctor of Philosophy

Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to complete a minimum of 96 hours of graduate coursework and research. A formal evaluation of the student’s academic progress is made prior to the end of the second year of study. 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). This consists of an oral examination of general knowledge in three of nine broadly-defined areas of plant biology and defense of a written 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 last stage 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 normally completed within five years.

Research Facilities

Outstanding teaching and research laboratories encompass both molecular and organismal plant biology and are complemented by growth-chamber facilities, environmentally controlled greenhouses, two herbaria, a paleobotanical center for collections, and a diversity of field sites. The University also offers exceptional and broadly based research support services, such as the Biotechnology Center, the Institute for Genomic Biology, and the world's largest public university library collections.

Financial Aid

Fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available for qualified students. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis.