The interdepartmental graduate program in Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with specialization in Crop Science, Horticultural Science, Forest Science, Plant Biology, and Soil Science. Our faculty belong to the Departments of Forestry, Horticulture, and Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. IPSS builds strength in the current graduate M.S. and Ph.D. research areas of Crop Science, Horticulture, Forest Science, Plant Biology, and Soil Science. The integrated program provides a unique opportunity to cultivate and exploit the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education and research. The IPSS program provides a dynamic environment that can evolve interdisciplinary credentials, programs, and projects tailored to suit the needs of current and future graduate students in the plant and soil science disciplines, and develop options responsive to developing scientific trends in agricultural science.
Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky
The Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences is a Master degree offered by University of Kentucky at its main campus in Lexington, United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 2 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 21, 2027.
About Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky
Entry Requirements
- Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a baccalaureate degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by the appropriate regional agency (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern or Western Association of Colleges and Schools). A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation's Ministry of Education or similar authority as a postsecondary, academic degree-granting institution.
- An overall grade point average of 2.75 on undergraduate work and 3.00 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School. Individual departments may require higher grade point averages.
- Submission of scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless their chosen program indicates otherwise. The Graduate School has no minimum GRE score requirement; individual programs may set specific score requirements and in some cases may require the advanced portion of the GRE.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. The University of Kentucky requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based). For IELTS, a minimum mean band score of 6.5 is required. Students may also use the Duolingo English Test (only tests taken after July 15, 2019 will be accepted. The minimum score will be 115, and students recommended for admission may also be interviewed by a CESL evaluator. TOEFL essentials may also be used and the minimum overall score is 9.
- Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens or resident aliens) must pay a $65 application fee; international applicants must pay a $75 fee. The application fee is non-refundable.
English Requirements
- IELTSMin 6.5
- TOEFLMin 79
Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences
With over 80 participants in three departments, the graduate faculty in IPSS program routinely produces over 130 books, journal articles, and other types of publications on an annual basis. This research and teaching activity is fueled by extramural grants that have averaged more than $5 million over the past 5 years.
Our diversity lets us span the range of agricultural research from cellular molecular biology and nanoparticles to landscape scale watershed hydrology to ecosystem modeling on a regional and global scale. Our scientists grow the grapes and the grain and study the products in the bottles and the barrels. Whether cells, crops, forests, rangeland, or soils, our faculty and graduate students are involved in a vast array of laboratory and field-based research projects that address such topics as: Biofuels, Biotechnology, Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling, Cell Wall Synthesis, Crop Management, Crop Physiology, Developmental Biology, Ecosystems Modeling, Enzymology, Genetics and Genetic Regulatory Mechanisms, Forest, Range, and Wildland Soils, Grassland Ecology, Hemp Production, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Natural Products, Plant Physiology, Plant Production and Quality, Rhizosphere Science, Seed and Fruit Biology, Soil Biogeochemistry, Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Soil and Water Environmental Quality, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Soil Genesis and Classification, Soil Management and Conservation, Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry, Soil Mineralogy, Soil Physics, Spatial Analysis and Precision Resource Management, Sustainable/Organic Production Practices, Tobacco Science, Turfgrass Science, Weed Science, Wheat Science.
Our latest research in the news includes:
- Nanoparticles in the environment
- Novel flavonoids
- Agriculture and global climate change
- New technologies in nutrient analysis
- Agronomic practices that destroy soil fragipans and improve soil water holding capacity
- Developing and releasing a new non-toxic tall fescue variety - Lacefield MaxQII
Our faculty excels in Teaching (two Great Teacher Awards from the UK Alumni Association in the past four years – John Grove and Mark Coyne), Extension (Service to American/World Agriculture from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents – Lloyd Murdock), and Research:
- D.B. Pal Distinguished Chair Award - Bruce Downie
- Thomas Poe Cooper Award - Seth DeBolt
- Tobacco Research Lifetime Achievement Award - George Wagner
- University of Kentucky Research Professorship - Art Hunt
With over 60 M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students, we have great diversity domestically and internationally. Domestic students come from Virginia to California; international students from China to Venezuela. Students come straight out of a Bachelor's program, after years in the work force, or as part of continuing education programs at the University of Kentucky. Each graduate student identifies a specific research mentor to work on a thesis or dissertation project and each student works with a graduate committee to prepare an individualized program of academic study that will best prepare them to succeed in their project and in their career aspirations.
Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky
How to Apply for Master of Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky
1. Complete UK Graduate Application
2. $75 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
- TOEFL: 79 iBT
- IELTS: 6.5
- Duolingo: 115
Deadline to Apply
- April 15 for Fall semester
- August 22 for Spring semester
- Some programs have earlier deadlines
United States of America, Lexington