Plant and Soil Sciences
Department Head: Dr. J. Mike Phillips
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Michael Cox
117 Dorman Hall
Box 9555
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-2311
E-mail: mcox@pss.msstate.edu
Graduate study offered in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences leads to the Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences degree with concentrations in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science and also to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Plant and Soil Sciences with a concentration in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science. The Horticulture concentration within the Plant and Soil Sciences degrees also offers a minor in Floral Management. The department has an extensive research program which provides a diversity of problems for thesis and dissertation research under the supervision of experienced and highly trained scientists. The Department of Plant and Soil Sciencesoffers graduate programs in Plant Breeding and Genetics, Molecular Biology, Crop Modeling, Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Physiology, Weed Science, Turfgrass Science, Remote Sensing, and Horticulture. A Precision Agriculture Certificate is also offered.
Graduate programs are designed to develop skills in research techniques in reference to the individual needs of each student. This program is developed and administered by a departmental committee within the student’s area of specialization and may include courses in mathematics and statistics, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, remote sensing, etc., as well as agronomic, horticultural, and weed science courses. Graduate assistantships are provided, subject to availability of funds. An undergraduate grade average of B or better is required to be eligible for an assistantship. Requests for additional information should be addressed to:
Department Head
Plant and Soil Sciences
Box 9555
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Highly qualified undergraduates at Mississippi State University are encouraged to consider applying to the Accelerated Program. This program permits enrollment in graduate courses in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science during the student’s final year of undergraduate studies. Enrollment of up to 9 hours of graduate courses is approved for students admitted to the Accelerated Program. Upon completion of the graduate course(s), undergraduate credit is also awarded for the course. Students need to consult with a potential graduate advisor to ensure graduate credit could be applied to a program of study for the M.S. degree. Application to this program may be made as early as the end of the junior year (i.e., after completion of 90 or more hours of graded undergraduate courses). This option is only available for students pursuing a thesis-based Master of Science degree in Plant and Soil Sciences with a concentration in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science.
Precision Agriculture Certificate
There is a need to train students in the broad array of precision agriculture technologies. This certificate program complements majors taught across College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) departments. This certificate features emerging technologies in decision-based agricultural planning and implementation. The certificate requires a minimum of 16 hours with at least 10 credit hours specific to Precision Agriculture coursework and 6 additional hours of electives or optional courses. Graduate requirements: PSS/ABE 2543 may be required as a leveling course and graduates may need a combination of Option 1 and Option 3 (below) to meet graduate credit requirements.
To obtain a Precision Agriculture Certificate, students are required to complete the following 16 hours.
| Option 1: Choose from the following. | 6-8 | |
| Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies | ||
| The Global Positional System and Geographic Information Systems in Agriculture and Engineering | ||
| GIS for Natural Resource Management Lab | ||
| AND | ||
| GIS for Natural Resource Management | ||
| Geospatial Agronomic Management | ||
| Principles of GIS | ||
| Survey of Geospatial Technologies | ||
| Option 2 (Community/Junior College AGT courses) : Any TWO transfer courses from the following in a Precision Agriculture Technology Concentration with the Postsecondary Agriculture Business and Management Technology program | 6-8 | |
AGT 1163 Introduction to Spatial Information Systems | ||
AGT 2154 Geographic Information Systems I | ||
AGT 1254 GPS Data Collection | ||
AGT 2164 Variable Rate Technology | ||
AGT 1354 Remote Sensing | ||
AGT 2474 Site Specific Pest Management | ||
AGT 2154 Geographic Information Systems I | ||
AGT 1254 GPS Date Collection | ||
AGT 2164 Variable Rate Technology | ||
AGT 1354 Remote Sensing | ||
| OR Completion of the UAV Training Program courseork at Hinds Community College | ||
| Option 3: Discipline Specific Electives | 6-8 | |
| Bioinstrumentation I | ||
| Machinery Management for Agro-Ecosystems | ||
| Soil and Water Management | ||
| Sustainable Communities | ||
| Bioinstrumentation II | ||
| Introduction to Food Marketing | ||
| Economics of Food and Fiber Production | ||
| Agribusiness Firm Management | ||
| Analysis of Food Markets and Prices | ||
| Advanced Farm Management | ||
| General Plant Physiology | ||
| Forest Pest Management | ||
| Plant Disease Management | ||
| Diseases of Crops | ||
| Field Crop Insects | ||
| Principles of Insect Pest Management | ||
| Financial Management | ||
| Soils Laboratory | ||
| Soils | ||
| Introduction to Weed Science | ||
| Agricultural Crop Physiology | ||
| Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | ||
| Soil Conservation and Land Use | ||
| Controlled Environment Agriculture | ||
| Herbicide Technology | ||
| Turfgrass Weed Management | ||
Departmental Admission Criteria
M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences with concentrations in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science:
- GPA—
For Master of Science: 2.75
For Doctor of Philosophy: 3.00 on graduate work - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) score—
Agronomy: TOEFL score of 500 PBT (61 iBT) or IELTS score of 5.5
Horticulture: TOEFL score of 500 PBT (61 iBT) or IELTS score of 5.5
Weed Science: TOEFL score of 550 PBT (79 iBT) or IELTS score of 6.5 - GRE—All graduate programs require submission of GRE scores.
- A non-thesis M.S. does not qualify toward admission to a Ph.D. program in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University.
Requirements for entrance into the Accelerated Program in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science for undergraduates are:
- a GPA of 3.50 or higher for all undergraduate work;
- submission of a standard application for graduate studies in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences;
- three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic performance;
- submission of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test prior to enrolling in graduate courses, and
- a statement of professional interests and goals from the applicant, including specification of one or more potential major professors.
For students enrolled in Accelerated Program, the MSU Graduate Council has established these guidelines in cooperation with the Registrar’s Office:
Once the student is accepted into the combined program, the student and the advisor may select up to 9 hours that will satisfy both undergraduate and graduate requirements. These courses may be split-level (i.e., 4000-6000 level) or 8000 level classes, and the student should take the courses for graduate credit (i.e., 6000-level or higher). To do so, he/she must submit a completed form to the Office of the Graduate School requesting such permission: http://www.grad.msstate.edu/forms/pdf/accel.pdf . The OGS will notify the student by MSU email when the request is approved. The combination of undergraduate and graduate credit hours may not exceed 16 hours within a semester. After successfully completing the graduate-level classes, the student and undergraduate advisor will submit a request to the Registrar’s Office to grant credit for the course also at the undergraduate level with the same grade awarded as received for the graduate course. In the case of a split-level class, the transcript will show credit for both the 4000- and 6000-level on the transcript. In the case of an 8000-level class, a special topics undergraduate course of the same title will be entered on the transcript to allow dual credit.
Students are permitted to opt out of the combined program at any time, at which point they could complete only the undergraduate portion of the program. No additional dual counting of courses would occur after the student leaves the combined program.
Students will receive the bachelor’s degree once the requirements for that degree are met. Students will be required to complete all of the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in order to receive both degrees, and those requirements will be identical to the requirements for students enrolled in the traditional B.S. and M.S. programs. Students will be classified as undergraduates until they fulfill at the requirements for the undergraduate degree. At that time they will be classified as graduate students and will be subject to the guidelines pertaining to the M.S. degree. Students admitted to this program should read and understand the guidelines in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Student Handbook before registering for any courses for graduate credit.
Provisional Admission
A student who has not fully met the GPA or other requirements stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis. The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C). The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. Academic departments may set higher standards for students to fulfill provisional requirements; a student admitted with provisional status should contact the graduate coordinator for the program’s specific requirements. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.
Leveling Courses
The Department of Plant and Soil sciences recognizes that many students who hold bachelor degrees from other educational areas may wish to study toward an advanced degree within the department. These students may come from areas with different requirements than those normally associated with Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science. To increase the possibility of success in attaining the advanced degree, the department requires all graduate students to have a fundamental understanding of soil and plant science. To this end, all graduate students must have had at least one course in soil science equivalent to Soils (PSS 3303), a plant science course covering basic plant physiology, college mathematics, college chemistry, and college-level biology. Graduate students who do not possess these courses upon acceptance will be required to complete these courses during the first or second semester of their attendance at Mississippi State University.
General Department Completion Requirements
M.S.-- A thesis and an oral thesis defense are required. The graduate committee must approved the thesis topic, research proposal, program of study, and final thesis. A thesis defense is required.
M.S. Non-Thesis -- A research paper approved by the student's graduate committee and an oral comprehensive exam are required.
Ph.D. -- The dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctorate degree. Original research, a written examination, an oral preliminary examination, and an oral dissertation defense and examination are required. At least one semester of teaching experience is strongly encouraged. The graduate committee must approved the dissertation topic, research proposal, program of study, and final dissertation.
Academic Performance
Students in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs must maintain a 3.00 GPA after admission to the program. No grade below C will be accepted for graduate credit. More than two grades of C or below not exceeding 8 credit hours constitute grounds for dismissal. Note: A C grade for a course that is retaken and inwhich the student earns a grade of B or higher will not be included in the 8 total hours. However, the original grade is included as part of the calculation of the GPA. At any time, the student will lose any departmental assistantship should his/her cumulative drop below a 3.00. Students with alternative sources of funding (scholarships, fellowships, etc.) must follow the rules and regulations of the funding source.
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Agronomy Concentration - Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 2 | 4 |
| 8000-level coursework 3 | 7 | |
| Research/thesis 4 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 2 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | The total 8000-level coursework credits must equal a minimum of 12 hours. |
| 4 | A thesis defense is required. |
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Agronomy Concentration - Non-Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| PSS 7000 | Directed Individual Study in Plant and Soil Sciences 1 | 3 |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 3 | 4 |
| Additional 8000-level coursework 4 | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | The student must develop a research paper approved by the student's graduate committee. In addition, a comprehensive examination over coursework is required. |
| 2 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 4 | The total 8000-level coursework must equal a minimum of 15 hours. |
Doctor of Philosophy in Plant and Soil Sciences with Agronomy Concentration
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| PSS 8821 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| PSS 8831 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 3 | 4 |
| Additional graduate-level coursework 4, 5 | 14 | |
| PSS 9000 | Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Plant and Soil Sciences | 20 |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
| 1 | The first seminar should be done within the first year of the student's program and should present the research proposal and include a review of relevant literature. |
| 2 | An exit seminar will describe the results of the student's dissertation research. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 4 | The minimum coursework required for a PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences is 20 hours beyond the Master's degree requirements. |
| 5 | Mississippi State University requires all students earn at least 53 hours graduate credit beyond the bachelor's level to include a minimum of 20 dissertation credits. |
A qualifying examination may be administered at the beginning of the student's program. The student must successfully complete a program of study as approved by the major advisor and graduate committee. The student must pass a preliminary examination. a written and oral preliminary examination will be administered by the graduate committee after completion or within 6 hours of completing coursework. Original research and a dissertation are required of all candidates for the doctoral degree.
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Horticulture Concentration - Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean. In addition, graduate students accepted into the Horticulture concentration are expected to have complete a course in General Plant Physiology or will be required to include this course on their graduate program of study.
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 2 | 4 |
| Additional 8000-level coursework 3 | 7 | |
| Research/thesis 4 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 2 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | The total 8000-level coursework must equal a minimum of 12 hours. |
| 4 | A thesis defense is required. |
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Horticulture Concentration - Non-Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.In addition, graduate students accepted into the Horticulture concentration are expected to have complete a course in General Plant Physiology or will be required to include this course on their graduate program of study.
| Graduate-level coursework | 7 | |
| PSS 7000 | Directed Individual Study in Plant and Soil Sciences 1 | 3 |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods 3 | 4 |
| Additional 8000-level coursework 4 | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | The student must develop a research paper approved by the student’s graduate committee. An oral comprehensive examination is required. |
| 2 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 4 | The total 9000-level coursework must equal a minimum of 15 hours. |
Doctor of Philosophy in Plant and Soil Sciences with Horticulture Concentration
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.In addition, graduate students accepted into the Horticulture concentration are expected to have complete a course in General Plant Physiology or will be required to include this course on their graduate program of study.
| BCH 6013 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| PSS 8821 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| PSS 8831 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8214 | Design and Analysis of Experiments (or other graduate-level statistics course) 3 | 4 |
| Additional graduate-level coursework 4, 5 | 15 | |
| PSS 9000 | Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Plant and Soil Sciences | 20 |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
| 1 | The first seminar should be done within the first year of the student's program and should present the research proposal and include a review of relevant literature. |
| 2 | An exit seminar will describe the results of the student's dissertation research. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours; two graduate-level statistics courses beyond the B.S. degree are required for the Ph.D. in the Horticulture concentration. |
| 4 | The minimum coursework required for a PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences with a Horticulture concentration is 24 hours beyond the master's degree requirements. |
| 5 | Mississippi State University requires all students earn at least 53 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor's level to include a minimum of 20 hours dissertation credits. |
A qualifying examination may be administered at the beginning of the student’s program. The student must successfully complete a program of study as approved by the major advisor and graduate committee. The student must pass a preliminary examination. A written and oral preliminary examination will be administered by the graduate committee after completion or within 6 hours of completing coursework. Original research and a dissertation are required of all candidates for the doctoral degree.
Horticulture (Floral Management) Graduate Minor
| PSS 6013 | Principles of Floral Design | 3 |
| PSS 6023 | Floral Management | 3 |
| PSS 6033 | Case Studies in Floral Management | 3 |
| PSS 6043 | International Horticulture | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
The Horticulture concentration within the Plant and Soil Sciences degrees also offers a minor in Floral Management. The minor is available for graduate students seeking training in this field to complement their graduate degree. Students seeking the minor are required to complete the 12-hour program. The student's graduate committee must include a minor committee member from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Weed Science Concentration - Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 2 | 4 |
| Additional 8000-level coursework 3 | 7 | |
| Research/thesis 4 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 2 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | The total 8000-level coursework must equal a minimum of 12 hours. Up to 9 hours of PSS 8701-8771. Current Topics in Weed Science may be included to meet these requirements. |
| 4 | A thesis defense is required. |
Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences with Weed Science Concentration - Non-Thesis
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| PSS 7000 | Directed Individual Study in Plant and Soil Sciences 1 | 3 |
| PSS 8811 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods 3 | 4 |
| Additional 8000-level coursework 4 | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | The student must develop a research paper approved by the student's graduate committee. A comprehensive examination is required. |
| 2 | An exit seminar describing the thesis research is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 4 | The total 8000-level coursework must equal a minimum of 15 hours. |
Doctor of Philosophy in Plant and Soil Sciences with Weed Science Concentration
Prerequisites - as stipulated by the major professor, the departmental graduate coordinator, and the dean.
| PSS 8821 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| PSS 8831 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| ST 8114 | Statistical Methods (or other graduate-level statistics course) 3 | 4 |
| Additional graduate-level coursework 4, 5 | 14 | |
| PSS 9000 | Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Plant and Soil Sciences | 20 |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
| 1 | To be done in the early stages will present the research proposal and include a review of relevant literature. |
| 2 | Exit seminar will describe the dissertation research. |
| 3 | A graduate-level statistics course is required as part of the credit hours. |
| 4 | The minimum coursework required for a PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences is 20 hours beyond the master's degree requirements. Up to 9 hours of PSS 8701-8771. Current Topics in Weed Science may be included to meet these requirements. |
| 5 | Mississippi State University requires all students earn at least 53 hours graduate credit beyond the bachelor's level to include a minimum of 20 hours dissertation credits. |
A qualifying examination may be administered at the beginning of the student's program. The student must successfully complete a program of study as approved by the major advisor and graduate committee. The student must pass a preliminary examination. a written and oral preliminary exam will be administered by the graduate committee after completion or within 6 hours of completing coursework. Original research and a dissertation are required of all candidates for the doctoral degree.
Weed Science Concentration Prerequisite and Core Courses
As specified by the student’s major professor and graduate committee.
PSS 6013 Principles of Floral Design: 3 hours.
Online course. 2hours lectures, 2 hours lab. Focus on design principles, value-added products and longevity
PSS 6023 Floral Management: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Online course. To identify and understand the basic principles necessary to operate wholesale and retail floral businesses
PSS 6033 Case Studies in Floral Management: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Online course. (Prerequisites: PSS 2343 or PSS 6013 and graduate standing). Identification of current problems in floral management and the development of strategies for their resolution
PSS 6043 International Horticulture: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 1313). Three hours lecture. Online course. Worldwide overview of horticultural export, marketing, and international trade issues and individual country analyses of specific fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops
PSS 6073 Sympathy Floral Design: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite PSS 2343). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Application of design theory and principles used in sympathy work
PSS 6083 Floral Design for Special Events: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 2343). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Planning and preparing of floral design compositions for use in special events
PSS 6093 Post-harvest Care of Cut Floral Crops: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Identification, postharvest care and handling, sourcing and distribution of cut floriculture plant materials
PSS 6103 Forage and Pasture Crops: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor). Two hours lecture . Two hours laboratory. Origin, uses, and ecology of forage plants, establishment, nutritive value, use, yield and maintenance of forage plants as related to morphology, physiology and pasture management
PSS 6113 Agricultural Crop Physiology: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Online course. Physiology of agricultural plants, including water relations, respiration, photosynthesis and growth and development
PSS 6123 Grain Crops: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing). Two hours lecture . Two hours laboratory. Corn, small grain, practice in commercial grading given in laboratory
PSS 6133 Fiber and Oilseed Crops: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Production and utilization of fiber and oilseed crops. Emphasis on cotton and soybean production in Mississippi
PSS 6143 Advanced Fruit Science: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3043 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. A study of the latest advances in pomology and interpretation of current research findings and their application to modern fruit growing
PSS 6223 Seed Production: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing). Two hours lecture . Two hours laboratory. Principles and practices, special emphasis on production of varietally pure seeds; agronomic factors in harvesting, drying, storage, treating and marketing seed
PSS 6313 Soil Fertility and Fertilizers: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PSS 3303 and Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Fundamentals and concepts of soil fertility; sources and responses of crops to plant nutrients; soil fertility evaluation and maintenance through fertilization
PSS 6314 Microbiology and Ecology of Soil: 4 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303). The study of diverse soil microbial communities and how they influence the structure and function of ecosystems (natural and managed) and the global biosphere (same as BIO 4324/6324)
PSS 6323 Soil Classification: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303). Three hours lecture. Origin, development, and classification of soils including identification and field mapping
PSS 6333 Soil Conservation and Land Use: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Soil identification, topographic relationships and soil-water resources; their characteristics, quality, suitability, and management; conservation practices; using soil maps to determine land use
PSS 6341 Controlled Environment Agriculture Laboratory: 1 hour.
(Co-requisite: PSS 4343 for horticulture majors). Two hours laboratory. Online course. An experiential study of the principles and practices of controlled environments operation and management
PSS 6343 Controlled Environment Agriculture: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: BIO 2113 and PSS 3303; Co-requisite for horticulture majors: PSS 4341). Three hours lecture. Online Course. A detailed review and explanation of principles and practices of controlled environments operation and management
PSS 6353 Arboriculture and Landscape Maintenance: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Care of ornamental trees and shrubs, including pruning, bracing, surgery, transplanting, and fertilization
PSS 6363 Sustainable Nursery Production: 3 hours.
Prerequisites: PSS 2423 and PSS 3303). Three hours lecture. Online course. Nursery crop production including site selection and planning, plant nutrition, water relations and irrigation, shipping, and managing people and resources
PSS 6373 Geospatial Agronomic Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PSS 3303 and PSS 3133). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. This class will utilize the basic tools of geographical information systems and geographical positioning systems technologies to analyze agronomic case studies
PSS 6411 Remote Sensing Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. (Prerequisite: Junior Standing). Lectures by remote sensing experts from industry, academia, and governmental agencies on next-generation systems, applications, and economic and societal impact of remote (Same as ECE 4411/6411, FO 4411/6411,GR 4411/6411)
PSS 6413 Turfgrass Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 2113). Three hours lecture. An advanced comprehensive study of turfgrasses and the varied management strategies employed for golf and sports turf, home lawns, commercial turf, and sod production
PSS 6423 Golf Course Operations: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 4413/6413). Two hours lecture . Two hours laboratory. Scheduling maintenance practices, golf course construction and renovation with emphasis on operation and care of specialized turf equipment
PSS 6443 Athletic Field Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303, PSS 4413, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. A comprehensive study of athletic fields, including construction, maintenence, renovation and management. Emphasis will be placed on interactions between soil properties and sports turf performance
PSS 6453 Vegetable Production: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303 and PSS 3301 or BIO 4204). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Principles and practices of commercial vegetable production
PSS 6483 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing, or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Electromagnetic interactions, passive sensors, multispectral and hyperspectral optical sensors, active sensors, imaging radar, SAR, Lidar, digital image processing, natural resource applications (Same as ECE 4423/6423 and ABE 4483/6483)
PSS 6503 Plant Breeding: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PO 3103). Three hours lecture. Application of genetic principles to the improvement of economic crop plants; history, methods and procedures of plant breeding
PSS 6553 Plant Growth and Development: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Online course. Structure of plant developmental processes and how environmental factors interact to affect and control plant growth and development
PSS 6603 Soil Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3303). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Fall semester, even-numbered years. Introduction to the basic chemistry of soils, including: mineral weathering/formation, ion exchange; adsorption, oxidation/reduction, acidity, salinity/alkalinity, and soil reactions of environmental importance
PSS 6613 Floriculture Crop Programming: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 4343/6343). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. A detailed study of the techniques involved in the production of the major commercial flower crops
PSS 6633 Weed Biology and Ecology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: BIO 2113. PSS 3133. Junior standing or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory . Weed identification and population responses to agricultural production systems
PSS 6813 Herbicide Technology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PSS 3133 and junior standing). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Classification and use of herbicides. A detailed look at herbicide application-field use and factors influencing herbicide activity. Credit may not be given for this course and PSS 4823/6823
PSS 6823 Turfgrass Weed Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 3133 and Junior standing). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Classification and use of herbicides with emphasis on herbicides and emphasis on herbicides used in turfgrasses. Credit may not be given for this course and PSS 4813/6813
PSS 6833 Temperature Stress Physiology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 4214/6214 or BCH 4013/6013). Three hours lecture. Online course. The course focuses on cellular structures and stress metabolites, thermodynamics, and signal transduction before addressing plan responses to heat, chilling, and freezing stresses
PSS 6990 Special Topics in Plant and Soil Sciences: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
PSS 7000 Directed Individual Study in Plant and Soil Sciences: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
PSS 8000 Thesis Research/ Thesis in Plant and Soil Sciences: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
PSS 8103 Pasture Development: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Utilization systems for forage crops in the southeast; adaption, morphology, identification, and physiology of grasses and legumes;analyses of forage quality;interpretation of forage research
PSS 8123 Crop Ecology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 4213/6213 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. The geographical distribution, use, and adaptation of field crops as influenced by soil, climate, and other environmental factors
PSS 8163 Environmental Plant Physiology: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The influences of physical factors of the environment on growth and development of crop plants
PSS 8203 Seed Physiology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 4243/6243 or approval of instructor). Three hours lecture. Physio- logy of seed maturation, germination, dormancy, and deter- ioration, relation of seed quality to growth and development of plants
PSS 8333 Advanced Soil Fertility: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Advanced course in soil fertility; special emphasis on all soil conditions affecting plant growth. Experimental techniques in plant nutrition and in soil fertility will be utilized
PSS 8343 Soil Plant Atmosphere Relationships: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:PSS 3301 and PSS 3303 or consent of instructor). Three hour lecture. Relationship of physical factors, water and heat, within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Field-scale regimes including inputs, movement, and storage;empasis on crop producution
PSS 8513 Advanced Plant Breeding: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 4503/6503 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. An intensive review of methods of plant improvement and the application of these methods to modern plant breeding. (Same as PSS 8573, GNS 8113.)
PSS 8553 Phytohormones and Growth Regulations: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: BIO 4214/6214 and CH 2503). Three hours lecture. Plant growth regulating compounds: synthesis, metabolism, and effects on plant growth and development
PSS 8563 Post-Harvest Physiology of Horticultural Plants: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry and BIO 4214/6214 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. The nature, evaluation, and control of chemical and physiological changes that occur after harvest of horticultural products
PSS 8573 Morphology of Horticultural Plants: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 4204/6204). Three hours lecture. An intense review of methods of plant One hour lecture. Four hours improvement and the application of these methods to modern laboratory. Development of the floral and vegetative organs of horticultural plants. (Same as PSS 8513 and GNS 8113)
PSS 8631 Topics in Genomics: 1 hour.
(Prerequisites:PSS/BCH 8653 BCH 4713/6713 or BCH 8643 or consent of instructor). Review and discussion of classic and current genomics literature;individual presentation of a seminar highlighting an area of genomics research. (Same as BCH 8631)
PSS 8634 Environmental Fate of Herbicides: 4 hours.
(Prerequisites: CH 4513/6513, PSS 4813/6813). Three hours lecture. Three hours labatory. Fate of herbicides, including of drift, volatility, metabolism, environmental factors that influence these processes
PSS 8645 Field Applications of Weed Sciences Principles I: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 6633 and PSS 6813 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Four hours laboratory. Field weed identification; herbicide symptomology; problem solving in cotton soybean, and vegetables; application equipment calibration
PSS 8653 Genomes and Genomics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites:BCH 4113/6113 or BCH 4713/6713 or BCH 8643 or consent of instructor) Overview of genome structure and evolution with emphasis on genomics, the use of molecular biology, robotics, and advanced computational methods to efficiently study genomes. (Same as BCH 8653)
PSS 8655 Field Applications of Weed Science Principles II: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: PSS 8645 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Four hours laboratory. Field weed identification; herbidice symptomology; problem solving in turf, field corn, rice, sorghum and pastures; application equipment calibration
PSS 8701 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
(Prerequisites: Graduate standing, PSS 4813/6813 or consent of instructor). Lecture, discussion and readings in selected areas of current interest in weed science. Maximum total credits in graduate program allowed, 4 hours-M.S.; 6 hours-Ph.D
PSS 8711 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing). Review of literature on assigned topics; preparation of formal papers and presentation of them at staff seminars
PSS 8721 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
(Prerequisites: Graduate standing, PSS 4813/6813 or consent of instructor). Lecture, discussion and readings in selected areas of current interest in weed science. Maximum total credits in graduate program allowed, 4 hours-M.S.; 6 hours-Ph.D
PSS 8724 Herbicide Physiology and Biochemistry: 4 hours.
(Prerequisites: PSS 4813/6813, BIO 4214/6214 and CH 4513/6513 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Herbicide, plant growth regulator and allelochemic chemistry, mode of action, and effects on plants and plant constituents: fate/ persistence of herbicides in the environment
PSS 8731 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing). Review of literature on assigned topics; preparation of formal papers and presentation of them at staff seminars
PSS 8741 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
PSS 8751 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
PSS 8761 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
PSS 8771 Current Topics in Weed Science: 1 hour.
PSS 8811 Seminar: 1 hour.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing). Review of literature on assigned topics; preparation of formal papers and presentation of them at staff seminars
PSS 8821 Seminar: 1 hour.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing). Review of literature on assigned topics; preparation of formal papers and presentation of them at staff seminars
PSS 8831 Seminar: 1 hour.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing). Review of literature on assigned topics; preparation of formal papers and presentation of them at staff seminars
PSS 8990 Special Topics in Plant and Soil Sciences: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years). offerings under one title within two academic years)
PSS 9000 Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Plant and Soil Sciences: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged. Hours and credits to be arranged