Master of Plant Biology at Pennsylvania State University

The Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology includes faculty from nine departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Engineering, and Eberly College of Science. Each student becomes associated with the adviser's department, which may provide financial support, research facilities, and office space. Applicants are encouraged to explore opportunities by contacting faculty who may be prospective advisers.

The objective of this program is to educate and train plant biologists using the most modern techniques available today. Graduates from this program have gone on to a diverse range of careers, including positions in colleges and universities, research institutes, industry, and government. Research interests of the program faculty span the breadth of scientific areas ranging from molecular, cell, and evolutionary biology, biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, and functional genomics to whole-plant physiology and ecology. Student training includes a comprehensive set of team-taught courses that reflects this breadth of scientific approaches.

1. Know: Students will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of essential background and key developments in diverse areas of plant biology, and demonstrate knowledge of modern techniques/methodologies used in plant biology research.
2. Apply/Create: Students will demonstrate ability to design and carry out a major research project in the chosen area of plant biology, including formulating hypotheses based on previous work in the field, and assembling new findings into a written work that advances understanding in the field.
3. Think: Students will demonstrate ability to critically analyze work by others in their specialty area.
4. Communicate: Students will demonstrate ability to convey scientific ideas and results in clear, concise, and well-organized writing, as well as in formal oral or poster presentations at professional conferences/meetings.
5. Professional Practice: Students will demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of research ethics issues, including ethical principles related to authorship, research reporting, data fabrication, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, peer review, data sharing.
6. Teach: Students will demonstrate effective skills in undergraduate teaching using effective pedagogical practice.