​​The program in plant protection strives to provide a holistic theoretical and practical approach to study and apply environmentally sound and sustainable integrated pest management strategies. It applies classical and modern biotechnology and molecular techniques to diagnose, study, and manage plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, and phytoplasmas, insect pests, weeds, and their respective host interactions.

Core Courses for the MS Degree in Plant Protection

AGSC 301             Statistical Methods in Agriculture                                                      2.3; 3 cr.

An investigation of the statistical techniques needed to design experiments and analyze and interpret agricultural research data. Prerequisites: STAT 210 or EDUC 227 and CMPS 209. Fall and spring.

AGSC 311             Advanced Principles and Methods in Plant Pathology                   2.3; 3 cr.

Serological and molecular diagnostic techniques, nucleic acids hybridization, PCR, marker assisted selection, brief review of physiology of host-pathogen relationships, and current methods of research including cloning and transgenic plants. Prerequisite: AGSC 232 or consent of instructor.

AGSC 322           Plant Parasitic Fungi and Bacteria                                                      2.3; 3cr.

Morphology, taxonomy, and identification of fungi and bacteria parasitic on plants.  Prerequisite:       AGSC 232.  Alternate years.

AGSC 332             Plant-Pest Interactions                                                                        3.0; 3 cr.

Principles and factors involved in interactions between pests and their host plants; application of perspectives in chemical ecology to agricultural systems; effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the physiology, adaptation, and survival of pest populations in agroecosystems.  Prerequisites: AGSC 221, AGSC 232, and AGSC 284.

AGSC 388           Integrated Pest Management                                                              3.0; 3 cr.

Principles and concepts of integrated pest management; monitoring and forecasting of pest population, tactics, strategies, and implementations of IPM in the agricultural ecosystems; and environmental, economic, and social implications of IPM. Prerequisites: AGSC 221, AGSC 232, and 
AGSC 284.

AGSC 395             Special Topics in Agricultural Science                                              1.0; 1 cr.

AGSC 396/396A   Comprehensive Exam                                                                                 0 cr.

AGSC 399             MS Thesis

Elective Courses for the MS Degree in Plant Protection

AGSC 300             Graduate Tutorial                                                                                     1–3 cr.

Directed Study.

AGSC 307             Advanced Crop Production                                                                3.0; 3 cr.

Theories and principles of plant growth, development, and responses to the environment, with an integrated approach to understanding crop productivity. Prerequisites: AGSC 220 and AGSC 231.

AGSC 319             Advanced Vegetable Production                                                        3.0; 3 cr.

Physiological and genetic control of growth and management of vegetable plants and their products; effects of nutrition, irrigation, and other variables on crop performance and quality of produce; presentation and interpretation of recent research progress in vegetable production.

AGSC 323             Plant Virology                                                                                        2.3; 3 cr.

Fundamental and practical aspects of plant virology including isolation, characterization, identification replication, and management of plant pathogenic viruses, including gene silencing and transgenic plants. Prerequisite: AGSC 232. Alternate years.