Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science

As a graduate program within the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES), the core mission of the Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science (PPWS) program is to optimize plant productivity and quality by limiting the impact of biotic and abiotic stresses on the profitability of crops and other plant enterprises, as well as the impact of these stresses on natural and agricultural ecosystems. The program offers a Ph.D. degree in several areas of concentration within SPES: plant pathology, the study of diseases, plant pathogens and their management; plant physiology, the study of plant function, growth and development and response to environmental stresses; weed science, the study of weed biology, ecology and management; and molecular plant sciences, basic biology, biochemistry and genetics of plant and plant pathogen systems. At the master's level, PPWS students participate in the M.S. program in Life Sciences, which also allows flexibility among the different options. For the M.S., students apply to the MSLFS degree type and select PPWS as the program.

What You'll Need

Transcripts

Include a scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Check to see whether your department requires letters of recommendation from references. If so, you can include the letter writers' email addresses in your online application, or have the people you ask to write those lettes send paper copies directly to your program’s department.

Graduate School Testing Requirements

The Graduate School does not require entrance tests, but check to see whether your department requires you to submit GRE, GMAT, or subject test scores with your application. If so, have the testing agency send official scores to Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859. 

International students may be required to submit TOEFL scores. 

Application Fees

Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though check to see if you qualify for a waiver or reduced fee. All application fees are non-refundable.

Refund procedure

All application fees are non-refundable.