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First Year Graduate Program

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Rotations Program

During the first year of study, TPSC graduate students are provided with a unique opportunity to study with up to 4 different labs before finding their "home lab" to complete their degree. At the end of each rotation, students present their research findings during a community event to help strengthen public speaking skills and research communication skills. Students are supported by senior students and faculty throughout the rotations process. 

Coursework

The following first-year plan of study is suggested for students entering the TPSC program in the 2022-2023 academic year:

Fall 2022 & Spring 2023: Students must register for required courses and 1-2 courses from additional suggested courses each term. Other additional courses may be selected after consulting with the TPSC graduate coordinators. Total semester course load should be 12-15 hours.

Course Number         Title                     (Credits)

Required

  • ALS 5324 Research Ethics Ag & Life Sciences     (P/F = 1h)
  • GRAD 5515 Molecular Plant Science Rotations    (A/F = 3h)
  • ALS/BCHM/BIOL/PPWS 5064 Seminar in Mol Cell Biology & Biotech (VTLSS)    (P/F = 1h)
  • GRAD 7994 Research and Dissertation    (EQ= variable)


Suggested

  • GRAD 5004 Graduate Teaching Workshop     (P/F = 1h)
  • BCHM 5124 Biochemistry for the Life Sciences     (3h)
  • STAT 5605 Biometry     (3h)
  • STAT 5615 Statistics in Research   (3h)
  • BIOL 5884 Molecular Biology of the Cell   (3h)
  • ALS 5224 Introduction to Genomic Analysis  (3h)

[A/F = letter grade assigned for course; P/F = graded pass fail]

Course Number         Title                     (Credits)


Required

  • GRAD 5134 Topics in Interdisciplinary Research - Trans Plant Sci   (A/F = 3h)
  • GRAD 5516 Molecular Plant Science Rotations   (A/F = 3h)
  • ALS/BCHM/BIOL/PPWS 5064 or BIOL5174   Seminar in Mol Cell Biology & Biotech (VTLSS) or Seminars Across the Sciences   (P/F = 1h)
  • GRAD 5134 Translational Plant Science   (3h)
  • GRAD 7994 Research and Dissertation    (EQ = variable)

Suggested

  • GRAD 5004 Graduate Teaching Workshop     (P/F = 1h)
  • BCHM/PPWS 5344 Molecular Biology for the Life Sciences   (3h)
  • BIOL 5344 Advanced Chemical Ecology   (3h)
  • CSES 5844 Plant Genomics   (3h)
  • PPWS 5234 Applied Statistics for Plant and Environmental Sci   (3h)
  • PPWS 5534 Advanced Plant Physiology and Metabolism II   (3h)

[A/F = letter grade assigned for course; P/F = graded pass fail]