Graduate
program overview
We offer both
MS and Ph.D. degrees in all aspects of Plant Pathology and a
diversity of related topics in microbiology, including genomic,
epidemiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of microbes and
their interactions with plants and other organisms.
Our graduate
program is housed within the Department of Plant Sciences,
which also offers a degree program in Plant Sciences (plant genomics,
genetics, development, systematics, horticulture, controlled
environment agriculture). Members of our Plant Pathology graduate
program are part of the Department of Plant Sciences community and
can be affiliated with faculty in any of our department's three areas
of focus: Plant Biology; Horticulture and Crop Sciences; and Plant
Pathology and Microbiology.
Our
graduate students benefit from outstanding facilities, campus-wide
support for biological research, and a strong infrastructure for
graduate education. Incoming students are encouraged to engage in
laboratory rotations, providing an excellent opportunity to learn
about many aspects of our outstanding and nationally recognized
department. Most of our graduate students are supported either by
competitively awarded departmental research assistantships, by
teaching assistantships, or by funds from individual faculty
grants.
Application information
The target
date for Fall admission is December 1. Applicants who apply by this
date are most likely to be considered for departmental funding. The
target date for Spring admission is June 1. The Graduate Program
Oversight Committee will review applicants at other dates, but the
opportunity for departmental funding may be limited except in special
circumstances (contact us for more information).
Students
applying to our graduate program first must submit an application to
the University of
Arizona Graduate College. Be sure to indicate that you are
applying for the Plant Pathology program when you submit your
application to the Graduate College. Requirements for all
applications for graduate programs at the University of Arizona are
summarized by the Graduate College; you can obtain forms from their website
(linked above) or ask Rachael Mattull (below) to send you this
material.
In
addition to the application required by the University of Arizona
Graduate College, all applicants to the Plant Pathology graduate
program must provide the following to our department:
1. A copy of
your paper application submitted to Graduate College (not necessary
for online applications; see
http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Apply_Now/).
2. A letter
of application/statement of interest describing your research
interests and professional goals. This letter/statement is a crucial
part of your application, as it provides the information we need to
judge the ways in which our program can fit your career plans.
3. TOEFL
score (international students only).
4. Three
letters of recommendation (in sealed envelopes; as needed, those
writing your letters may send them directly to Rachael).
5. Official
transcripts.
6. Graduate
Record Examination test scores (GRE) for the General Test, with one
advanced test recommended in an area related your
interests/background. (Codes: Institution, 4832; Department,
0112).
Please
send these items to:
Rachael Mattull
Department of Plant Sciences
319 Forbes Building
University of Arizona
P.O. Box 210036
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036 USA
Thank you for
your interest! If you would like to know more about graduate
studies in Plant Pathology or Plant Sciences at the University of
Arizona, please feel free to contact Dr. Betsy Arnold (Chair,
Graduate Recruitment Committee; arnold@ag.arizona.edu), Dr.
Karen Schumaker (Chair, Graduate Program Oversight Committee, schumake@ag.arizona.edu),
or Ms. Rachael Mattull (520-621-1219; rmattull@email.arizona.edu).
