Plant Science

Location

Department of Plant Science
Macdonald Campus
21,111 Lakeshore Road
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue QC H9X 3V9
Canada
Telephone: 514-398-7838
Email: gradstudies.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca
Website: www.mcgill.ca/plant

About Plant Science

The Department offers an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Plant Science with options in Bioinformatics, Environment, or Neotropical Environment, and provides for study in all fields of plant science. Research facilities鈥攂oth field and laboratory鈥攁re available for investigations in plant breeding, crop physiology, crop management, crop quality, plant ecology, the epidemiology and biology of plant diseases, epigenetics, biosystematics, recombinant DNA technology, mycology, weed biology, tissue culture, plant biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Facilities include:

Horticultural Research Centre;
Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre;
greenhouses;
growth cabinets;
黑料不打烊 University Herbarium;
Applied Biotechnology laboratory;
CT Scanning laboratory;
Level 2 Quarantine Facility.

An advisory committee is named for each student and has the responsibility of developing the program of study appropriate to the student's background and area of specialization.

Master of Science (M.Sc.); Plant Science (Thesis) (45 credits)
This M.Sc. in Plant Science requires approximately two years for completion. Overall, the program consists of two graduate-level courses, seminars, and a research project leading to a thesis. The courses and the research project are chosen and defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, the private sector, or further graduate studies in a related field.
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Plant Science (Thesis) 鈥� Bioinformatics (48 credits)
This M.Sc. in Plant Science requires approximately two years for completion. Overall, the program consists of two graduate-level courses, seminars, and a research project leading to a thesis. The courses and the research project are chosen and defined with the help of an advisory committee. The goal of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics, which lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. This option has an added emphasis on bioinformatics, including additional seminars. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, the private sector, or further graduate studies in a related field.
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Plant Science (Thesis) 鈥� Environment (48 credits)
This M.Sc. in Plant Science requires approximately two years for completion. Overall, the program consists of two graduate-level courses, seminars, and a research project leading to a thesis. The courses and the research project are chosen and defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, the private sector, or further graduate studies in a related field. This Environment graduate option has an added emphasis on environmental sciences, including additional courses and seminars. It is aimed at students who wish to take an interdisciplinary approach in their graduate research on environmental issues and who wish to benefit from interactions with students from a wide range of disciplines.
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Plant Science (Thesis) 鈥� Neotropical Environment (48 credits)
This M.Sc. in Plant Science requires approximately two years for completion. Overall, the program consists of two graduate-level courses, seminars, and a research project leading to a thesis. The courses and the research project are chosen and defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, the private sector, or further graduate studies in a related field. This option has an added emphasis on neotropical environments, including additional courses and seminars. Part of the program takes place in Panama.
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.); Plant Science (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
This M.Sc. in Plant Science requires about 18 months or four to five terms for completion. Overall, the program consists of graduate-level courses, seminars, and a research project. The courses and the research project are chosen and defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, the private sector, or further graduate studies in a related field.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Plant Science
This Ph.D. in Plant Science requires approximately three years for completion. Overall, the program consists of seminars and a research project leading to a thesis. Students must also complete a comprehensive examination within their first year of study. The research project is defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, universities, or the private sector.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Plant Science 鈥� Bioinformatics
This Ph.D. in Plant Science requires approximately three years for completion. Overall, the program consists of seminars and a research project leading to a thesis. Students must also complete a comprehensive examination within their first year of study. The research project is defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, universities, or the private sector. This Bioinformatics option has an added emphasis on bioinformatics, including additional courses and seminars. The goal of this option is to train students to become researchers in the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics, which lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Plant Science 鈥� Environment
This Ph.D. in Plant Science requires approximately three years for completion. Overall, the program consists of seminars and a research project leading to a thesis. Students must also complete a comprehensive examination within their first year of study. The research project is defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, universities, or the private sector. This Environment graduate option has an added emphasis on environmental sciences, including additional courses and seminars. It is aimed at students who wish to take an interdisciplinary approach in their graduate research on environmental issues and who wish to benefit from interactions with students from a wide range of disciplines.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Plant Science 鈥� Neotropical Environment
This Ph.D. in Plant Science requires approximately three years for completion. Overall, the program consists of seminars and a research project leading to a thesis. Students must also complete a comprehensive examination within their first year of study. The research project is defined with the help of an advisory committee. Subsequent career paths are varied, but include work with government agencies, universities, or the private sector. This option has an added emphasis on neotropical environments, including additional courses and seminars. Part of the program takes place in Panama.
Graduate Certificate (Gr. Cert.); Bioinformatics (15 credits)
The Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics is a new cross-disciplinary program that teaches students the foundations of bioinformatics thinking, methodology, and applications through hands-on experience with computers and bioinformatics tools. The program introduces students to many areas of application such as medicine, agriculture, and chemistry. Required courses include basic UNIX skills, genomics data, common bioinformatics software, relational databases, and web resources. The Certificate is completed in one term (Winter term only) after which graduates may go on to pursue successful careers in the biomedical, biotechnology, and biosciences fields.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2016-2017 (last updated Jul. 15, 2016) (disclaimer)

Plant Science Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

General

The minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 3.0/4.0 (second class鈥搖pper division) or a GPA of 3.2/4.0 during the last two years of full-time university study. High grades are expected in courses considered by the academic unit to be preparatory to the graduate program.

Ph.D.

Ph.D. candidates are required to have an M.Sc. degree in an area related to the chosen field of specialization for the Ph.D. program. Outstanding M.Sc. students may be permitted to transfer to the second year of the Ph.D. program following one year of study.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year is permitted. Successful completion of a qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is very limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided by the student and/or the student鈥檚 supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships or other funds.

Application Procedures

黑料不打烊鈥檚 online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See University Regulations and Resources > Graduate > Graduate 黑料不打烊 and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

Acceptance to all programs depends on a staff member agreeing to serve as the student鈥檚 supervisor and the student obtaining financial support.
The GRE 鈥� not required, but highly recommended.

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines listed here are set by the Department of Plant Science and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate 黑料不打烊 departmental website; please consult the list at www.mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Canadian	International	Special/Exchange/Visiting
Fall: May 31	Fall: March 15	Fall: Same as Canadian/International
Winter: Oct. 15	Winter: Aug. 31	Winter: Same as Canadian/International
Summer: N/A	Summer: N/A	Summer: N/A

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.

International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of these dates because immigration procedures may be lengthy.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2016-2017 (last updated Jul. 15, 2016) (disclaimer)

Plant Science Faculty

Chair
Martina V. Stromvik
Emerita Professor
Deborah J. Buszard; B.Sc.(Bath), Ph.D.(Lond.)
Professors
Pierre Dutilleul; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Univ. catholique de Louvain)
Anja Geitmann; Diplom(Konstanz), Ph.D.(Siena)
Donald L. Smith; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Acad.), Ph.D.(Guelph)
Alan K. Watson; B.Sc.(Agr.), M.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Sask.)
Associate Professors
Jacqueline C. Bede; B.Sc.(Calg.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.)
Sylvie de Blois; B.Sc.(Agr.)(McG.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.)
Jean-Benoit Charron; B.Sc.(Montr.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(UQAM)
Danielle J. Donnelly; B.Sc.(Agr.)(McG.), M.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(S. Fraser)
Suha Jabaji; B.Sc.(Beirut), M.Sc.(Guelph), Ph.D.(Wat.)
Ajjamada C. Kushalappa; B.Sc., M.Sc.(B'Lore), Ph.D.(Flor.)
Philippe Seguin; B.Sc.(Agr.), M.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Minn.)
Jaswinder Singh; B.Sc.(Agr.), M.Sc.(Punjab), Ph.D.(Syd.)
Martina V. Stromvik; B.A., M.Sc.(Stockholm), Ph.D.(Ill.)
Assistant Professors
Val茅rie Gravel; B.Sc.(Agr.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval)
Olivia Wilkins; B.Sc.(Manit.), Ph.D.(Tor.)
Faculty Lecturers
Caroline Begg; B.Sc.(Agr.)(McG.), M.Sc.(Sask.), Ph.D.(McG.)
David Wees; B.Sc.(Agr.), M.Sc.(McG.)
Associate Members
Gregory Brown (Department of Biology)
Timothy A. Johns (School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition)
Adjunct Professors
Annick Bertrand
Bao-Luo Ma