What can I do with a degree from the Department of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology? 

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Why choose PSPP? 

Our department offers a rich curriculum taught by award-winning researchers and supplemented by world-class facilities. As a student, you will have the opportunity to influence the future of crop production, play an essential role in maintaining the nation's food supply, develop new technology to manage pests and study the genetics of crops to influence their management and quality. Most of our programs offer hands-on research and internships, so you will learn as much out of the classroom as in it. 

What do plant scientists do? 

Plant scientists ensure crop productivity and food safety, look for ways to improve yield with less labor, control pests and weeds safely and effectively and conserve soil and water. We also study ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seed, often through biotechnology. Some plant scientists study breeding, physiology and management of crops and develop crops that are resistant to pests and drought. They also develop technologies to control or eliminate pests and prevent their spread in environmentally safe ways. 

What can I do with my degree? 

Our plant sciencegraduates find careers in farming and ranching; as production specialists; in pest management; in seed, fertilizer and chemical industries; Extension Service and government agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service or USDA. Graduates are also well-prepared for further studies.

Environmental horticulture graduates are employed by nurseries, landscape contractors and planning agencies; others become self-employed as landscape designers. Graduates in Sustainable Crop Production are prepared for careers in agricultural systems; community nutrition and food security, public health, Extension, policy, culinary arts and management, community supported agriculture, food processing and marketing, distribution and more. 

Additional Careers:

  • Agronomist
  • Botanist
  • Crop Scientist
  • Entomologist
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Horticulturist
  • Naturalist 
  • Plant Geneticist
  • Plant Pathologist
  • Research Assistant
  • Science Teacher