Course requirements for the PhD degree in Horticulture & Crop Science
All graduate students in HCS are required to complete our core curriculum. Graduate students may be required to take additional specialized courses as directed by their Student Advisory Committee (SAC).
Professional Development: Graduate Student Professional Development (HCS 7001 1 cr) is to be taken the first semester of enrollment (AU or SP).
Colloquium and Seminar requirement: (HCS 7890 1 cr repeatable). Students will enroll in HCS 7890 a minimum of two times: The first of these should occur by the second semester of enrollment, during which the student will present a Colloquium describing his or her research proposal. The second and subsequent enrollments can be any semester thereafter.
Current Topics in Horticulture and Crop Science: (HCS 8830 1 cr, repeatable). Doctoral students must register for a minimum of 2 times. These courses generally have a ‘journal club’ format in which students and faculty discuss current papers in the field.
Research requirement: (HCS 8998 and HCS 8999 1-12 cr, repeatable). Students undertake innovative, timely research projects as a major component of the total graduate program. Enrollment in HCS 8998 (Research) provides credit for the pre-candidacy research experience. Research Proposals are considered HCS 8998 activity and are submitted as part of enrollment in HCS 7890 (above) by the end of the third semester of enrollment for Ph.D. students. HCS 8999 is intended for post-candidacy research following completion of the candidacy exam. Enrollment in HCS 8999 (post-candidacy Research) follows successful completion of the candidacy exam and is generally for 3 cr.
Exit Seminar requirement: All students will present an Exit Seminar on the day of their final defense, just prior to the actual defense. This is a culminating event in the academic career of a student and their association with this Department. The student will be responsible for scheduling and notifying the department, SAC members, and associated units, of the time and place of their exit seminar presentation. Exit seminars will be video-linked between campuses. The exit seminar will be 40-50 minutes in duration to provide presentations that are thorough, with ample time for discussion; however, the exit seminar is not part of the final exam and should not take time from the examination.
Submission of Publication Requirement: All students will submit a publication to a peer-reviewed journal.