The Plant Health Management major at Ohio State is probably the only one of its kind in the United States. Most people do not have a proper worldview of the importance of plants in their lives. In fact, most people are totally unaware of plant health because they are unfamiliar with the many types of diseases and their causes in the environment. Although we stress plant health, and plants being healthy, all plants can contract disastrous diseases caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria and even insects. Weeds too cause health problems for plants.
Plants are extremely important to humankind.
They produce food, much of our shelter materials and clothing, and they enhance our lives with their beauty and protection of wildlife. For these reasons, we offer the Plant Health Management major for students who would like to become part of this worldview and study the natural and biological sciences to solve the many plant health problems faced by society every day. The faculty in Plant Pathology have received advanced degrees from distinguished universities and have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in teaching, research and service in the state, national and international arenas. Classroom teaching and advising are primary concerns of the Department. This results in an open-door atmosphere that gives students easy access to faculty.