Faculty and graduate students contribute to interdisciplinary research in systematics and evolutionary biology, plant ecology and conservation biology, and plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Flexible degree programs reflecting these three active areas of plant science research are offered. The faculty includes two NSF Presidential Young Investigators and members who have served as presidents of three national botanical societies Society of America, Mycological Society of America, and Phycological Society of America. Faculty members are presently serving as president of the Organization for Tropical Studies and secretary-general of the International Mycological Association. In addition to graduate course work, the Ph.D. requires formulation and execution of original research, as demonstrated by production of a dissertation.
Course work is at the discretion of the committee.
At least one-half of the minimum required credit in the M.S. program must be in courses at or above the 7000 level. The M.N.S. with a major in plant biology does not require a thesis and is designed for elementary and secondary school science teachers. Participation in the departmental teaching program is required. Recent graduates have obtained positions in research and teaching institutions and in nationally recognized botanical gardens. Research assistantships are available through individual faculty members.