The Horticulture Graduate Program
It is well accepted that the most important aspect of a university's research effort is its graduate program. The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture wholeheartedly supports this viewpoint. It is our aim to ensure the best graduate education possible--not only in the classroom and in your research, but also in the many informal experiences involved during your tenure as a graduate student.
When you enroll in the graduate program in Horticulture at Washington State University, you become part of a team of students, faculty, and staff who are dedicated to the scientific and intellectual pursuit of knowledge in horticulture. We work closely with industry leaders as well as USDA researchers throughout our diverse state.
Graduate work in Horticulture may be oriented toward basic or applied areas, and includes experience in both teaching and research. Depending on your career goals, your studies may concentrate on such basic sciences as plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics, as well as horticulture. Or you might explore a variety of subjects, such as plant pathology, soils, biological systems engineering, environmental science, or the social sciences. Research projects, course requirements, and teaching experiences for your graduate work will be individualized and specifically determined with your adviser and graduate committee, keeping your interests and goals in mind.
Graduate Degrees Offered
The department offers two graduate degrees, as well as a minor:
Master of Science in Horticulture - Thesis: This is a research-based degree, involving a formal, major research project. The objectives are to train students in the experimental method and to prepare students for handling major projects after graduation or for entering a doctoral program.
Doctor of Philisophy: All doctoral candidates conduct independent research leading to a dissertation, with the objective of making a major contribution to the body of scientific knowledge in Horticulture. Portions of the dissertation research are normally published in peer-reviewed journals. Students in this degree option are expected to have completed a research-based master's degree or to have equivalent research experience prior to enrolling in the doctoral program.
Minor in Horticulture (Ph.D. only) : This option is available to graduate students from other disciplines that wish to declare Horticulture as a minor.