The Department of Plant Pathology has graduated over 650 students with advanced degrees, more than from any other Plant Pathology department in the U.S. Our graduates come from over 40 countries. Graduate students studying with faculty in Plant Pathology have also received advanced degrees in Agronomy, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biometry, Environmental Studies, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Plant Breeding and Genetics. This diverse group of students contributes to the multidisciplinary approach to research in the department, which is frequently essential to solving important biological and agricultural problems.

The MS degree may serve as a terminal degree or it may be recommended as an interim degree for students working toward the PhD. The PhD is a research degree, which is granted on evidence of ability for independent investigation leading to original research in Plant Pathology. Normally, two-to-three years for an MS degree and five-to-six years of graduate work is necessary to complete the requirements for the PhD.

Areas of Concentration

Students are able to concentrate their studies in Plant Pathology in a number of different areas including:

• Plant health and disease
• Plant-microbe interactions
• Plant disease resistance
• Conventional and organic plant disease management
• Biological control and soil microbiology

Why Choose UW-Madison for Graduate Study?

Exceptional Academics

The tremendous breadth of academic programs at UW-Madison offers students a wide selection of supporting course work and interdisciplinary opportunities. 157 majors offer master’s degrees and 110 majors offer doctorate degrees. More than 30,000 doctorates have been awarded by UW-Madison!

Excellence in Research

UW-Madison ranks as one of the most prolific research universities in the world, placing second among American public universities for research expenditures.

Incredible Campus and Community

The campus rolls along Lake Mendota, with wooded hills and the busy city streets of downtown Madison. Madison is small enough to navigate easily, but with cultural resources and amenities that rival those of cities many times its size.

What is Plant Pathology?

If you would like to know more about what is Plant Pathology and how graduate education in Plant Pathology can help you make an impact on the world around you, please check out the “Plant Pathology: taking you further than you ever imagined” video from the American Phytopathological Society.