A research experience can be very rewarding to students in Plant and Soil Sciences. Such research can be oriented to laboratory, greenhouse or field activities and can be scheduled for one or two semesters. All students are encouraged to enroll in an independent study class during their undergraduate years in the Department. Graduate Research Back to top Graduate students enrolled in the Department graduate program at the masters of science or doctoral level are expected to do original research as part of the degree requirement. Such research is conducted in cooperation with the Graduate Advisor of the student and after approval by the Graduate Advisory Committee.
Students have the opportunity to do research in a number of areas involving plants and soils.
Students interested in plants may choose to work with agronomic, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic, orchard, turf, or vegetable crops. Students interested in soils may work in environmental soil chemistry, soil fertility, soil genesis and classification, soil microbiology and biochemistry, soil remediation and waste disposal, soil physics, or wetland delineation and protection. The Department feels that research is important in the learning process. In research, the graduate student learns the scientific procedures and acquires the skills necessary to become a leader in disciplines associated with plants and soils. Upon completion of a research project, students should plan to publish the results of the experimental work in a peer-reviewed journal and to make a formal presentation about the work to other scientists.