A Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in plants, soils, and insects and concentrations in bioactive natural products, entomology, integrated pest management, and plant pathology is offered under a multi-departmental doctoral program. Three departments participate – Plant Sciences, Entomology and Plant Pathology, and the soils faculty in Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science. Other concentrations within the plants, soils, and insects major include crop sciences, environmental and soil sciences, horticulture, plant improvement, and weed biology. Please see the doctoral program links on the homepage of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for additional information, http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/, or contact a faculty member in the area of interest.
Submit application, fee, official transcripts, and scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Submit resumé, three letters of reference (or three Graduate Rating Forms), photocopy of Graduate Record Examination scores, and a short statement of professional goals and reasons for applying to Entomology and Plant Pathology Doctor of Philosophy Program Coordinator, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 205 Plant Sciences Building, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996-4560. In the statement letter and application, the concentration of interest and intended major professor should be indicated.
The student and the major professor will select a minimum of three additional faculty, holding the rank of assistant professor or above, to serve on the student’s doctoral committee. The major professor and two committee members must be approved to direct doctoral research by the Graduate Council. At least one member of the committee must be from outside the department. The doctoral committee must be formalized by the end of the second semester of graduate study.
Submission of an approved program of study by the end of the second semester of graduate study is required. A candidate for the doctoral degree must complete a minimum of 24 hours of graduate course work numbered 503 or higher beyond the master’s degree. Candidates not having a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 48 hours of graduate course work beyond the baccalaureate degree, 24 hours of which must be numbered 503 or higher. A minimum of 12 of the 24 hours, or 30 of the 48 hours, must be graded A-F. At least 9 hours of the student’s course work must be from outside the student’s chosen concentration in the plants, soils and insects umbrella doctoral program, and a minimum of 6 hours of courses numbered 601 or higher must be taken at the University of Tennessee, excluding EPP 603 . In addition, 24 hours of course EPP 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation are required.
Satisfactory preparation of a written dissertation proposal and an oral defense to the student’s committee are required. These must be completed during the first two semesters of graduate study and before enrollment in 600.
Both written and oral sections of the comprehensive examination must be passed. The candidate will be tested on his/her knowledge of the proposed dissertation and related fields.
Presentation of at least two departmental seminars (2 hours of EPP 640 ) and an exit seminar (no credit) are required.
Satisfactory preparation of a written dissertation and an oral defense to the student’s doctoral committee are required.
See the Degree Program Requirements/Doctoral Degree section in the Academic Policies and Requirements for Graduate Students section of this catalog for additional information.
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