Plant Sciences
Admission Requirements
Plant Science graduate programs are open to all qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. Applications must be submitted directly to the NDSU Graduate School. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must meet Graduate School and department admission requirements.
B.S. to M.S. and M.S. to Ph.D. Eligibility:
For program admission requirements visit https://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/apply
B.S. to Ph.D. Eligibility:
For admission requirements visit https://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/apply
Additionally, for the B.S. to Ph.D. in Plant Sciences, at the time of application, the applicant must:
- Have or be working toward a B.S. degree in the same or a closely-related field
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or greater
Applicants interested in the B.S. to Ph.D. track must:
- Use the Statement of Purpose portion of the application to succinctly describe qualifications for applying to the Ph.D. program as an undergraduate student, including describing preparation for an advanced degree in the chosen area of study and detailing a focused research interest
- Use the Statement of Purpose to identify a Department of Plant Sciences faculty member who has shown definite, written interest in serving as advisor and providing financial and academic support of Ph.D. studies
- Support the Statement of Purpose with a CV listing previous academic and research experiences
- Request three letters of support to accompany the application, two of which will be written by persons able to specifically provide support of the student’s potential to complete a Ph.D. program and why the B.S. to Ph.D. track is warranted
Financial Assistance
Correspondence with one or more departmental faculty members before and during the application process is not compulsorily but is encouraged. Applicants will not be considered without a department faculty member who has agreed to serve as the major advisor and can offer a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA). To read more about our research teams and find faculty contact information, please visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/academics/academic-units/plant-sciences/research.
A twenty-hour (half-time) GRA is provided to each accepted M.S. and Ph.D. student based on scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study and research. The annual stipend varies based on the research project and will not be less than $24,000 annually for a M.S. or $28,000 annually for a Ph.D. position.
In addition to the stipend, graduate assistants who meet the hours worked and training requirements each semester receive a graduate tuition waiver. Students are responsible for differential tuition, student and course fees, and tuition for non-graduate level credits taken.
A limited number of Ph.D. Graduate Fellowships are available.
The Plant Science program has numerous annual scholarships ranging from $400 to $2,200 each for outstanding Plant Sciences graduate students.
Degree Requirements
In the first year, each M.S. or Ph.D. student, in conjunction with their advisor, will form a supervisory committee, create a plan of study that meets disciplinary requirements below as well the goals of the student, and develop a research proposal paper for submission to the department.
Master's Program
The M.S. program requires the completion of at least 30 credits, during which an overall GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained. The M.S. degree may be earned by either of two options. The Plan A: Thesis Option emphasizes completion of a research project. The Plan B: Comprehensive Study Option requires more course work and instead of conducting research and presenting a thesis, the candidate presents a paper or papers to the supervisory committee, demonstrating ability for scholarly study and written expression.
Candidates working toward either Plan A or Plan B must pass an oral defense, present a public Exit Seminar on the thesis research or comprehensive study, and have their thesis/paper accepted by the Graduate School to complete the degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. Plan A - Thesis Option | 30 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| PLSC 724 | Field Design I | 3 |
| PLSC 790 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| PLSC 798 | Master's Thesis | 10 |
| Additional Credits (13 credits must be didactic**) | 16 | |
Students focusing on Plant Breeding and Genetics must take and earn a B or better in | ||
| Genetics & Plant Improvement | ||
| Intermediate Genetics | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. Plan B - Master's Paper Option | 30 | |
| PLSC 724 | Field Design I | 3 |
| Additional 600-700 level courses (18 credits must be didactic**) | 21 | |
| PLSC 790 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| PLSC 797 | Master's Paper | 3 |
** Didactic credits are graduate courses numbered 601-689, 691; 700-789, 791; and 800-889, 891.
Doctoral Program
The Ph.D. program requires completion of at least 90 credits, during which time an overall GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained. A maximum of 20 doctoral dissertation credits may be used to fulfil the total credit requirement. A Plant Breeding and Genetics subplan is available for doctoral students wishing to complete specific coursework, as listed below. To become a Ph.D. candidate, students are required to pass preliminary written and oral examinations directed to academic subject matter. Degree completion follows an oral defense of the dissertation, public Exit Seminar, and acceptance of the dissertation by the Graduate School.
Master of Science Doctoral Track
Qualifying M.S. students accepted will be allowed to use 30 credits from their completed Master’s degree toward the Ph.D., thereby completing at least 60 Ph.D. graduate credits rather than 90. No undergraduate courses (100-400) may be counted toward a Ph.D. degree.
Bachelor of Science Doctoral Track
Qualifying B.S. students accepted will be required to complete 90 graduate credits toward the Ph.D. degree. No undergraduate courses (100-400) may be counted toward a Ph.D. degree.
All B.S. to Ph.D. track students must create, defend, and submit a manuscript to a scientific journal by the end of their sixth semester (spring/fall). This manuscript may be used as a chapter in the dissertation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. (thesis option) to Ph.D. | 60 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| PLSC 724 | Field Design I (if not part of M.S. Must earn B or better) | 3 |
| PLSC 790 | Graduate Seminar | 2 |
| PLSC 892 | Graduate Teaching Experience | 2 |
| PLSC 899 | Doctoral Dissertation | 20 |
| Additional didactic credits ** (12 credits must be 700-level) | 24 | |
Students focusing on Plant Breeding and Genetics must take and earn a B or better in | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Intermediate Genetics | ||
| Genetics & Plant Improvement | ||
| Additional credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. (thesis option) to Ph.D. - Plant Breeding and Genetics Option | 60 | |
| 600 - 800 level graduate courses including: | 36 | |
| Genomics | ||
| Intermediate Genetics | ||
| Genetics & Plant Improvement | ||
| Field Design I (if not part of master's degree) | ||
| Plant Molecular Genetics | ||
| Advanced Plant Genetics | ||
| Advanced Plant Breeding | ||
| Population and Quantitative Genetics | ||
| PLSC 790 | Graduate Seminar | 2 |
| PLSC 892 | Graduate Teaching Experience | 2 |
| PLSC 899 | Doctoral Dissertation | 20 |
** Didactic credits are graduate courses numbered 601-689, 691; 700-789, 791; and 800-889, 891.
Marisol Berti, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2007
Research Interests: Forage and Biomass Crop Production
Bingcan Chen, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts, 2012
Research Interests: Cereal and Food Chemistry
Michael J. Christoffers, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998
Research Interests: Weed Science/Genetics
David Wenhao Dai, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2001
Research Interests: Woody Plant Physiology, Biotechnology
Elias M. Elias, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1987
Research Interests: Durum Wheat Breeding, Genetics
Greta Gramig, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Interests: Weed Biology and Ecology
Andrew J. Green, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2016
Research Interests: Hard Red Spring Wheat, Genetics
Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1993
Research Interests: High-Value Crop Production
Richard D. Horsley, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1988
Research Interests: Barley Breeding, Genetics
Kirk A. Howatt, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, 1999
Research Interests: Weed Science, Annual Weeds
Joseph Ikley, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2018
Research Interests: Weed Control
Shahidul Islam, Ph.D.
University of Western Australia, 2013
Research Interests: Grain End-use Quality of Hard Wheat
Zhao Jin, Ph.D.
Jiangnan University, 2014
Research Interests: Malting, Food Fermentation
Burton L. Johnson, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1993
Research Interests: Crop Production
Thomas J. Kalb, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1988
Research Interests: Extension Horticulture
Clair Keene, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University, 2015
Research Interests: Small Grain Agronomy
Chiwon W. Lee, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1977
Research Interests: Vegetables, Floriculture, Biotechnology
Deying M. Li, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2001
Research Interests: Sports Turf Management
Xuehui Li, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 2009
Research Interests: Statistical Genomics
Zhikai Liang, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019
Research Interests: Multiomics of Wheat and Other Crops
Frank A. Manthey, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1985
Research Interests: Durum Wheat Quality, Pasta/Noodle Processing
G. Francois Marais, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1979
University of Stellenbosch, 1992
Research Interests: Hard Red Winter Wheat Breeding, Genetics
Phillip E. McClean, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, 1982
Research Interests: Dry Bean Genetics, Biotechnology
Esther E. McGinnis, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2013
Research Interests: Extension Horticulture, Native Plants, Perennial Hardiness, Floriculture
Michael S. McMullen, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1976
Research Interests: Oat Breeding, Genetics
Carrie Miranda, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, 2018
Research Interests: Soybean Breeding, Molecular Genetics
Juan Osorno, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2006
Research Interests: Dry Edible Bean Breeding
Thomas Peters, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1990
Research Interests: Sugarbeet Agronomy, Weed Science
Mukhlesur Rahman, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba, 2007
Research Interests: Canola Breeding
Jiajia Rao, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts, 2013
Research Interests: Food Chemistry, Ingredient Technology
Andy Robinson, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2012
Research Interests: Potato Production
Kalidas Shetty, Ph.D.
University of Idaho, 1989
Research Interests: Food Safety
Asunta L. Thompson, Ph.D.
University of Idaho, 1998
Research Interests: Potato Breeding
Anuradha Vegi, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2008
Research Interests: Teaching Techniques
Todd West, Ph.D.
Southern Illinois University, 2004
Research Interests: Woody Plant Improvement
Minwei Xu, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2019
Research Interests: Food Processing Technology
Qi Zhang, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2007
Research Interests: Turfgrass Stress Physiology
Alan J. Zuk, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2005
Research Interests: Sports and Urban Turfgrass Management
Adjunct and Affiliate
James V. Anderson, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytech Institute, 1990
Research Interests: Plant Biochemistry
James Beaver, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, 1980
Research Interests: Dry Bean Genetics
David Bonnett, Ph.D.
University of Sydney, 1997
Research Interests: Wheat Breeding
Craig Carlson, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 2018
Research Interests: Cereal Crops
Patrick M. Carr, Ph.D.
Montana State University, 1989
Research Interests: Sustainable Agriculture
Wun Shaw Chao, Ph.D.
University of California-Davis, 1996
Research Interests: Perennial Weeds
Chenggen Chu, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2008
Research Interests: Sugarbeet and Potato Research
Munevver Dogramaci, Ph.D.
Cukurova University/North Dakota State University, 2000
Research Interests: Sugarbeet and Potato Research
Linda Dykes, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University, 2008
Research Interests: Food Science and Technology
Justin D. Faris, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 1999
Research Interests: Wheat Molecular Genetics
Jason Fiedler, Ph.D.
Scripps Research Institute, 2012
Research Interests: Cereal Crop Genetics
Shana M. Forster, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2017
Research Interests: Crop Production
Jose G. Franco, Jr., Ph.D.
Texas A&M University, 2015
Research Interests: Agroecology, Sustainable Food Systems
Karen L. Fugate, Ph.D.
Ohio State University, 1995
Research Interests: Sugarbeet Physiology
Russell Gesch, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University, 1995
Research Interests: Physiology of Oilseed Crops
Salvador Alejandro Gezan, Ph.D.
University of Florida, 2005
Research Interests: Statistic and Quantitative Genetics
Michael Grusak, Ph.D.
University of California-Davis, 1985
Research Interests: Crop Nutrient Quality
Yong Q. Gu, Ph.D.
University of California, Riverside, 1994
Research Interests: Wheat Genetics
Rajeev Gupta, Ph.D.
University of Cambridge, UK, 1997
Research Interests: Cereal Crops
Darrin Haagenson, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2001
Research Interests: Crop Physiology and Ecology
Brent Hulke, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2007
Research Interests: Flax and Sunflower Genetics
Brian Jenks, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1996
Research Interests: Integrated Weed Management
Blaine Johnson, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska, 1986
Research Interests: Quantitative Genetics
Audrey Kalil, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015
Research Interests: Pulse Crops
Edward C. Lulai, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1978
Research Interests: Potato Physiology
Kevin McPhee, Ph.D.
University of Idaho, 1995
Research Interests: Pulse Crops
Grant Mehring, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2016
Research Interests: Agronomy; Wheat and Corn Research
Mohamed Mergoum, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, 1991
Research Interests: Hard Red Spring Wheat Breeding
Raj S. Nandety, Ph.D.
University of Delaware, 2011
Research Interests: Small Grains Genotyping
Jae-Bom Ohm, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 1996
Research Interests: Grain Science
Michael Ostlie, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, 2012
Research Interests: Weed Science
Timothy Porch, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 2012
Research Interests: Dry Bean Breeding and Genetics
Gautam Pradhan, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2011
Research Interests: Crop Physiology
Lili Qi, Ph.D.
Nanjing Agricultural University, 1997
Research Interests: Wheat Genetics
James Rogers, Ph.D.
Clemson University
Research Interests: Forage Crop Production
Gerald J. Seiler, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1980
Research Interests: Sunflower and Sugarbeet Germplasm
Senay Simsek, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2006
Research Interests: Cereal Chemistry and Technology
Brent Trela, Ph.D.
Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, 2006
Research Interests: Viticulture, Enology
Jochum Wiersma, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1995
Research Interests: Small Grains
Steven S. Xu, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1994
Research Interests: Hard Red Spring Wheat Development
Shengming Yang, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1994
Research Interests: Hard Red Spring Wheat Development