Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Program

MS student, Emily Kennebeck
MS student, Emily Kennebeck, is working on a NASA project to grow hydroponic lettuce and mustard greens under different CO2 levels and light qualities.

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)
Latest News
  • The UD Botanic Gardens spring plant sale will feature Acer and Geranium.

    Get ready for Ag Day

    April 18, 2024 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photos by Katie Young and Monica Moriak
    UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources gears up for annual showcase for the community.
  • Meet our new faculty: Yin Bao

    April 03, 2024 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    New faculty member Bao focuses his research on digital agriculture, creating novel technologies to help plant scientists, animal scientists and farmers improve their efficiency and efficacy. He lends his expertise to everything from measuring plant performance and livestock performance to monitoring water quality.
  • Horticulture Homage

    March 18, 2024 | Written by Nya Wynn (UDaily)
    At the Philadelphia Flower Show, UD students partner with community organization for inspiration.

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.