Graduate Admissions

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To begin your journey toward the following graduate degree, you must first apply to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. After applying, you can choose
our program as your desired degree.

Master of Science
   The Department of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems offers studies leading to the Master of Science degree with specialization in crop, soil, and horticulture sciences. Areas of specialization include tissue culture, biotechnology, crop physiology or ecology; production and management of field, forage, vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops; landscape design; plant genetics and breeding; soil conservation, fertility, management, microbiology and physics; turfgrass management; and weeds and their control. Interdisciplinary graduate programs which lead to a Ph.D. degree in Plant Biology or Environmental Resources and Policy and involve the Departments of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems and Plant Biology or Environmental Resources and Policy, respectively, are available.

   The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of thirty semester hours. A thesis is ordinarily required, but a student may elect a non-thesis option with the approval of his committee. Field research centers in two locations and greenhouse and laboratory facilities operated by the department are available for graduate research studies required for the thesis. A committee composed of at least four professors will guide the candidate in coursework and research. The committee is chosen on the basis of the candidate's background and aspirations.

   Those interested in applying for graduate study in the Department of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems at Southern Illinois University Carbondale should contact the department for application forms and visit the faculty web-pages of their interest.

   Those interested in applying for graduate study in Plant Biology or Environmental Resources and Policy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale should visit their web pages here:

Plant Biology
Environmental Resources and Policy

For more information, please call or write:

John Preece - Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems
Mailcode 4415
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901-4415 USA

Phone: (618) 453-1796
Fax: (618) 453-7457
Email: plss@siu.edu
Or jpreece@siu.edu