Plant Pathology Minor

The Plant Pathology minor is designed for students who wish to learn more about the causes and control of plant disease, including students pursuing careers in commercial crop production, industrial sales, private consulting, extension, and industry or government research. Increasing emphasis on biological control, integrated pest management, and sustainable agricultural practices requires knowledge of plant pathogen biology, host-parasite interactions, and environmental parameters influencing disease severity. The Plant Pathology minor focuses on these areas and gives students the background necessary to develop or utilize environmentally sound disease control strategies. This program can be designed to supplement majors in any field of the biological sciences and also can be used to prepare students for graduate studies in Plant Pathology.

Requirements
A minor in Plant Pathology requires 19 credits in approved courses in addition to the major requirements of the student's choice. Appropriate course substitutions may be considered with minor adviser approval.

Prescribed courses for the minor are as follows:

PPATH 405 Microbe-Plant Interactions: Plant Disease and Biological Control

Students must select a minimum of 10 credits from the following list:

BIOL 230W Biology: Molecules and Cells
E R M 430 Air Pollution Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems
PPATH 318 Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees
PPATH 416 Plant Virology: Molecules to Populations
PPATH 417 Phytopathogenic Bacteriology
PPATH 419 Nematodes Causing Plant Disease

Students must select a minimum of 3 credits from:

PPATH 496 Independent Studies

Students must select a minimum of 3 credits from the following departmental list:

BIOL 222 Genetics
BIOL 414 Taxonomy of Seed Plants
BIOL 441 Plant Physiology
HORT 402W Plant Nutrition
HORT 407 Plant Breeding
HORT 445 Plant Ecology

Procedures for Enrollment
Students may apply for admission to the Plant Pathology minor by submitting an Application for Admission to a Minor form in 210 Buckhout Laboratory. The approval of the student's major program adviser is also required. For additional information, contact the Department of Plant Pathology at 814-865-7448.