Graduate Degrees Offered

The Department of Plant Pathology’s graduate program is now part of the Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences program.  This interdepartmental graduate program offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with specializations in Crop Science, Horticultural Science, Forest Science, Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, and Soil Science. For more information, refer to the IPSS website. 

Director of Graduate Studies 

Plant Pathology (previously enrolled students)

Dr. Nicole Gauthier
201F Plant Science Building
1405 Veterans Drive
Lexington, KY 40546-0312 
Email: ngauthier@uky.edu

Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences (IPSS students)

Director of Graduate Studies
105 Plant Science Building
1405 Veterans Drive
Lexington, KY 40546‐0312
IPSS webpage

Dual Degree with Brazil

Students can also take advantage of a new and exciting opportunity to simultaneously obtain Doctoral degrees in Plant Pathology from the University of Kentucky and from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Brazil. This dual degree is the first of its kind for a Plant Pathology program in the United States, and it offers a unique bicultural educational experience to interested and highly motivated students.

Mentoring & Career Focus

The department promotes a tradition of close interaction among students, postdoctoral scholars, visiting scientists, staff specialists, and faculty. We maintain a high faculty-to-student ratio to ensure that every student receives individualized attention and support. Every student has a primary research mentor (the Major Professor) and an Advisory Committee devoted to helping the student reach her or his professional goals. We have an outstanding record of placing graduates in academia, biotechnological industries, agricultural Extension, and government and private research institutions.