We strive to provide personalized education and experience to enable students to reach their intellectual and professional potential. Recognizing that students have a variety of academic and professional goals, the department espouses the philosophy that graduates are provided a strong foundation in plant pathology as well as in-depth education and experience in those areas that best fit the goals of the student and the science. Plant pathology is recognized as an integrated science composed of contributions from many specialties put together in an unique discipline. Coursework in plant pathology and related disciplines provides students with a foundation upon which to build their own concepts and hypotheses on the nature of plant diseases and their management. Research projects may focus on pathosystems at the genomic, cellular, organismal, population, or ecosystem levels.
Students learn teaching skills by assisting instructors with laboratory or lecture sessions.
A strong extension program and the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic add further dimensions to the graduate experience. Students develop communication skills that inform the scientific community, growers, and other clientele through publications, presentations, and outreach activities. The Department of Plant Pathology is recognized nationally and internationally for excellence. The climatic and ecological diversity within the state allows cultivation of a rich assortment of crop, horticultural and forest species. Sixteen research experiment stations located throughout the state reflect the unique soils, crops and climate.