Plant Breeding at ISU
Introduction
Iowa State University offers both on-campus and online graduate programs in Plant Breeding.
1. On-Campus Programs
On campus Plant Breeding programs are offered to obtain the terminal degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MS). These programs are designed based on the Learning Goals defined by the ISU Plant Breeding faculty.
The general requirements for a PhD degree include:
a minimum of 72 credits from academic courses and research activities;
at least 36 of these credits earned at ISU;
completion of a uniform written preliminary examination that consists of five topical areas;
completion of a preliminary oral examination;
a written PhD dissertation; and
completion of a comprehensive final oral examination.
For more information about requirements and PhD program, visit the ISU catalog. The academic courses to satisfy requirements for a graduate degree compose the Program of Study (POS). The POS must be approved by the student’s POS Committee (composed of five faculty members) but in general, PhD students in Plant Breeding take the following courses.
AGRON 521: Principles of Cultivar Development
R.F. Baker Plant Breeding Field Day organized by graduate students - AGRON 522: Field Methods in Plant Breeding
- AGRON 523: Molecular Plant Breeding
- AGRON 524: Applied Plant Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology
- GDCB 510: Transmission Genetics
- STAT 587: Statistical Methods for Research Workers
- AGRON 526: Field Plot Techniques
- AGRON 561: Population and Quantitative Genetics for Breeding
- AGRON 600A: Seminar: Plant Breeding
- AGRON 698: Agronomy Teaching Practicum
- AGRON 621: Advanced Plant Breeding
The general requirements for an MS degree include:
a minimum of 30 credits from academic courses and research activities;
at least 22 credits earned at ISU;
two–thirds or more of earned credits related to the major; and
completion of a final oral examination.
Both non–thesis and thesis options for an MS degree. For more information about requirements and MS program, visit the ISU catalog.
Admission requirements: Academic Records, GPA, Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, and GRE.
To apply for admission, please visit the Office of Admission.
Contact for admission inquiries: MaryAnn Grapp
Phone: 515-294-1361
E-mail Address: agrongradprograms@iastate.edu
2. Online Program
The online MS in Plant Breeding covers four major areas: breeding, genetics, statistics, and crop production. The program culminates in a “creative component,” which is intended to be an in-depth application of the knowledge and skills acquired from the MS in Plant Breeding curriculum. The creative component can take many forms, but it always includes a written report related to your area of specialization and approved by your advisory committee. The program is designed based on the Learning Goals defined by the ISU Plant Breeding faculty, and requires 30 credits. For more information, please visit the online MS in Plant Breeding website.