Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Program
One graduate program. Two concentrations. Three degree options.
Plant Science involves course work in plant molecular biology, plant breeding, plant pathology, plant tissue culture, horticulture, crop science, plant anatomy and/or plant physiology with thesis research in one of those areas.
Soil Science involves course work and thesis research in soil chemistry, soil fertility and management, soil physics, soil microbiology and biochemistry, environmental microbiology, soil and water quality and soil formation and biogeochemistry.
Degree options:
- Ph.D. dissertation degree
- M.S. thesis degree
- M.S. non-thesis degree (full- or part-time)
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Rooted in agriculture
December 19, 2025 | Written by Molly Schafer | Photos courtesy of The Morton Arboretum and New England Botanic Garden at Tower HillUniversity of Delaware plant and soil sciences alumnus Mark Richardson is the new vice president of collections and horticulture at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, a world-renowned center for scientific research that studies trees and how to sustain them. With an eye on global plant conservation, Richardson encourages the horticulture field to fully integrate science and conservation efforts into public gardens and plant collections. -
Outdoor classroom
November 17, 2025 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photos by Evan KrapeRetired Extension specialist Gordon Johnson teaches the UD course, Vegetables, Herbs and Natural Plant Products (PLSC 302). It’s one of three courses where Students get hands-on experience growing various crops outside at UD's working farm and greenhouse on campus. The courses solidify what it takes to grow fresh vegetables and where food comes from. -
New parks, better housing and safer streets part of ideas to improve conditions along Delaware’s Route 9 corridor
October 28, 2025 | Written by Johnny Perez-Gonzalez | WHYYThe Route 9 corridor near New Castle has endured decades of flooding, industrial zoning and disinvestment. The University of Delaware Coastal Resilience Design Studio partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a report, “Neighborhoods of Nice Green Connections Framework”, which highlighted key areas of the corridor to improve. The report proposed projects that could improve the corridor’s connectivity, recreation and safety.
Important Links
Application process update: Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the program of PLSC is waiving the GRE requirement for our graduate program. If you wish to apply without a GRE score, please enter a future GRE exam date into the application. It need not be a legitimate exam date. Entering a future exam date causes the system to finish your application and send it on to our review committee where it will receive full consideration.