Plan B is offered at the discretion of the graduate faculty for students who do not intend to make research in plant pathology their profession. Graduates with the MS degree find employment in research, extension industry, and business. However, most students continue their studies or teach in two-year colleges. A students must complete 12 credit hours of thesis research and a minimum of 18 additional credit hours in courses approved by a candidate's committee. In addition, at least 6 credits, but not more than 9 credits, must be for directed research in aspects of plant pathology chosen by the candidate in consultation with his or her committee and must be done in two laboratories.
All students take a diagnostic examination within their first two weeks in a degree program.
At this time the student is examined by the thesis or dissertation committee. The dissertation is expected to be an original contribution based on independent research. It is initiated by the preparation of a critical review of the literature, which becomes the basis for a dissertation proposal. Dissertation research for the PhD degree is done in an aspect of plant pathology for which a member of the graduate faculty of the field will accept responsibility as committee chair. Recipients of doctorates generally accept positions in university teaching and research, extension, industry, or government.