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)
-
The U.S. Forest Service wants to move west and close regional offices
May 26, 2026 | Written by Alan Yu | WHYYThe U.S. Forest Service plans to move its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, and will consider closing regional offices around the country, including four in Pennsylvania. Scientists, foresters, and some in the lumber industry are concerned about losing important programs that only the Forest Service can do. -
UD landscape architecture students install pollinator garden at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School
May 15, 2026 | Written by Josh Shannon | Newark PostA new pollinator garden at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School aims to bring more nature to the virtually windowless building. University of Delaware landscape architecture students helped design and install the 6,000 square foot garden consisting of 1,050 native plants across 15 species, which will beautify the school’s campus. -
Lewes living shoreline aims to combat rising seas and coastal storms
May 06, 2026 | Article by Emma Aken and Matt Hipsman | WDELResearchers and engineers installed a “hybrid” living shoreline in Lewes on Tuesday, aiming to protect Delaware’s coast from erosion, flooding and stronger storms. The project, led by UD in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, combines engineered structures with natural materials, including reef balls, shellfish mattresses, biodegradable mats and native marsh grasses to stabilize the shoreline while supporting marine habitat.
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.