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The Department of Plant Sciences

Head: Dr. Robert T. Leonard plshead@ag.arizona.edu Forbes 303C

Division of Horticulture and Crop Sciences
Chair: Dr. Dennis T. Ray dtray@u.arizona.edu Forbes 415C

Division of Plant Biology
Chair: Dr. Rod Wing rwing@ag.arizona.edu Marley 441E

Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Chair: Dr. Leland Pierson III lsp@u.arizona.edu Marley 341A
 
GRADUATE EDUCATION
The Department of Plant Sciences offers graduate training at the MS and Ph.D. level in two degree programs: Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Graduate education is a very different experience from that of undergraduate education. Merely meeting or satisfying degree requirements should not be the aim of a quality graduate program. Graduate education is an opportunity to increase knowledge, to broaden understanding, and to develop independent thinking and research capabilities. Consequently, the student’s academic program of study and achievement should reflect a commitment to the discipline and to scholarly standards. While members of the faculty and staff will serve as counselors and assistants, accomplishments as a graduate student will be primarily a result of the student’s own personal motivation and dedication. Success in graduate education depends on the ability to define goals, and to organize and execute a program of study and research to meet those goals. Recognizing that science is a cooperative enterprise, the Department of Plant Sciences works to create a sense of community, cooperation, and caring among students and between students, faculty and staff. This is facilitated through participation in seminars, colloquia, and special social functions. It is to the student’s advantage to participate fully in all of these activities.
 
Graduate Program Oversight Committee (GPOC)
The Graduate Program Oversight Committee (GPOC), a group of faculty appointed by the Department Head, acts in an oversight role for the Graduate Program. The Committee helps develop policy to govern the Program and works to improve the Program to the benefit of both faculty and students. The role of the GPOC is to advise and help direct students’ academic and research programs while in the Department. This Committee is responsible for student admissions, recommending candidates to the Department Head for Assistantships, overseeing student progress, monitoring the results of the Comprehensive Exams, moderating conflicts between advisors and students when requested, and administering other general University and Departmental policies regarding graduate student activities. One faculty member, who acts as the Graduate Program Coordinator, chairs the GPOC.
Committee Members ~ 2007/2008
Name
Phone
Email
Room
Dr. Karen Schumaker, Chair
Graduate Program Coordinator
 (520) 621-1616

 schumake@ag.arizona.edu

 Marley Bldg, Rm 441B
Dr. Rachel Pfister
Graduate Student Advisor
 (520) 621-8423

 pfister@ag.arizona.edu

 Forbes 319
Dr. Elizabeth Arnold (520) 621-7212 arnold@ag.arizona.edu Herring Hall
Dr. David Gang (520) 621-7154 gang@ag.arizona.edu Keating Building
Dr. Chieri Kubota (520) 626-8833 ckubota@ag.arizona.edu Forbes 209
Dr. Barry Pryor (520) 626-5312 bmpryor@email.arizona.edu Marley Bldg, Rm 741F
Dr. William McCloskey (520) 621-7613 wmcclosk@ag.arizona.edu Marley Bldg, Rm 541B
Dr. Zhongguo Xiong (520) 621-9869 zxiong@ag.arizona.edu Marley Bldg, Rm 741D

 
 
 


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Mailing Address: The University of Arizona
Department of Plant Sciences
Forbes Building
P.O. Box 210036
Tucson, AZ 85721