The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.

30 credit hours and a thesis

Required Core (3 credit hours)

(3) PLB 502 - Perspectives in Plant Biology

Other Requirements (1 credit hour)

(1) BIO/PLB 591 - Botany

Electives/Research Area (20 credit hours)

(3 minimum) PLB 592 - Research

AND

(17 minimum) Graduate-Level Life Sciences Elective Courses

*Students should discuss elective course selection with their faculty advisor(s) to best support your research project.

*According to Graduate College policy beginning for new students admitted Fall 2025 or later, no more than 50% of the total credits applied in iPOS can be graded on a Z/Y scale (typically research and thesis). Please plan your coursework accordingly.

SOLS course prefixes to choose from: ANB, BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, NEU, & PLB - 500-level or above

*Up to 6 credits maximum can be 400-level

• Refer to the PLB MS Course Offering Guide below for an extensive list of approved elective options.

Culminating Experience (6 credit hours)

(6 exactly) PLB 599 - Thesis

*Note: it is very important you do exactly 6 thesis credit hours. These 6 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 6 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating.