Interdepartmental Genetics

Degree Options and Requirements

The Genetics Graduate Program offers MS and PhD degrees in Genetics. Both degrees involve intensive, multi-year research experiences that are largely planned and executed by the student with guidance by a major professor and supervisory committee. Genetics Program students are also required to meet the seminar requirements of the students in their host departments (i.e., the primary department of their faculty advisor).

Masters of Science

A minimum of 30 credits is required with 6 to 8 research hours.
Courses must include:

Doctor of Philosophy

A minimum of 90 credits is required, with typical course programs of 25 to 40 credit hours. At least 30 hours of research credits are required. Courses must include:

Additionally, students must take two or more of the courses listed below according to their degree emaphsis.

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Genetics Course Requirements

  • BIOL 707 Advanced Cell Biology.
  • PLPTH 880 Plant Molecular Biology
  • BIOCH 911 Molecular Signal Transduction
  • BIOL 860 Modern Molecular Approaches
  • BIOCH 920 Nucleic Acids
  • PLPTH 911 Plant Tissue Culture and Regeneration
  • BIOCH 907 Advanced Topics in Insect Biochemistry
  • BIOL 868 Advanced Cellular and Developmental Biology
  • BIOL890 Top/Ecological Genomics

Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions Course Requirements

  • PLPTH 635 Introduction to Plant Resistance to Pests
  • PLPTH 755 Plant Resistance to Diseases
  • PLPTH 880 Plant Molecular Biology
  • PLPTH 910 Molecular Plant–Microbe Interactions
  • PLPTH 927 Fungal Genetics
  • PLPTH 905 Ecology and Epidemiology of Plant Pathogens
  • BIOL 802 Advances in Plant Stress Signaling

Arthropod Genetics Course Requirements

  • PLPTH 635 Introduction to Plant Resistance to Pests
  • ENTOM 745 Plant Resistance to Insects
  • ENTOM 910 Insect Genetics
  • BIOCH 907 Advanced Topics in Insect Biochemistry
  • ENTOM 799 Molecular Entomology
  • ENTOM 950 Conceptual Issues in Evolution (co-taught with BIOL 875)
  • ENTOM 875 Insect Anatomy and Physiology
  • ENTOM 830 Molecular Entomology

Quantitative Genetics Course Requirements

  • PLPTH610/AGRON 610 Biotechnology
  • AGRON 630 Principles of Crop Improvement
  • AGRON 770 Plant Genetics
  • AGRON 830 Quantitative Genetics in Relation to Plant Breeding
  • ASI 749 Advanced Animal Breeding
  • AGRON 860 Applied Plant Breeding
  • AGRON 910 Topics in Plant Breeding
  • AGRON 930 Topics in Plant Genetics
  • AGRON 970 Advanced Plant Breeding I
  • AGRON 980 Advanced Plant Breeding II
  • PLPTH 890 Introduction to Genomic Bioinformatics
  • PLPTH 915 Chromosome and Genome Analysis
  • BIOL 870 Advanced Plant Systematics
  • BIOL 875 Evolutionary Ecology
  • ENTOM 930 Conceptual Issues in Evolution (co-taught)
  • ASI 655 Behavior of Domestic Animals
  • PLPTH 905 Ecology and Epidemiology of Plant Pathogens, BIOL 604
  • BIOL890 Top/Ecology Of Fungi
  • BIOL890 Top/Ecological Genomics
  • PLPTH 905 Ecology and Epidemiology of Plant Pathogens