WELCOME TO THE PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM

Welcome to the Plant and Soil Science (PSS) Graduate Program in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture within the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The director of Stockbridge School of Agriculture, the Graduate Program Director, and the members of the Graduate Policy Committee are confident that the experience you will gain through course works, research, and interactions with your professors and fellow students will serve you well throughout your professional career. The present document provides a detailed description of all policies, procedures, and requirements specific to a graduate degree in PSS, inclusive of the Master of Science (MS) Thesis Degree, the MS Professional Degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). You are personally responsible for adhering to all policies and requirements of the program as detailed in this document. We strongly recommend that you do not rely on your major advisor or others to prompt you to meet these requirements.

This document is organized into several sections. It begins with an overview of the PSS graduate program and its administration. The second section details a variety of practical needs that will help you in navigating the program. The third section describes the academic program in detail, including general policies, procedures, and administrative requirements and the specific requirements for each degree concentration. For specific information regarding official Graduate School policies and regulations, you should obtain copies of the Graduate Student Handbook, and the most current Graduate School Bulletin. Together, these documents contain nearly all of the technical information you will need to know to successfully complete the program.