Graduate Field
Integrative Plant Science
Program Description
The Master of Professional Studies in Integrative Plant Science is a one-year, STEM-designated, course-based master's degree program ideal for career-focused students. Students engage with foremost experts in plant and agricultural sciences while exploring one of our fourteen concentrations, which examine fundamental and applied aspects of plants, soils, microbes, and their interactions within natural and managed ecosystems.
A hallmark of the MPS program is the balanced portfolio of technical knowledge, analytical skills, and professional development built into the curriculum, designed to equip students with the skill set and knowledge necessary for careers in industry, government, or non-profit agencies.
Concentrations
- Agronomy
- Cannabis science
- Climate change and agriculture
- Controlled environment agriculture
- Crop science
- Geospatial applications
- Hemp science
- Plant biotechnology
- Plant breeding
- Plant protection
- Plant systems
- Public garden leadership
- Soil science
- Viticulture
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 30
Program Requirements
College-specific requirements
- 30 credits in graduate-level courses at least 20 of which must be taken in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
- Capstone project: 2 to 6 credits of the required 30 credits.
- Enrollment in a minimum of 12 credits each semester. It is advised that students enroll in 15 credits each semester to stay on track for this one-year program.
- Additional requirements:
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5
- A minimum of 18 letter-graded credits
- Completion of the degree within 1 year from admission date
Field-specific requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
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| PLSCI 5050 | Cultivating Community through Self-discovery and Skill Development | 2 |
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| AEM 5700 | MPS Management Communication | 1.5 |
| AEM 6145 | Business and Management Fundamentals for STEM Graduate Students | 1.5 |
| ALS 5211 | Career Readiness: Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students | 1 |
| HADM 6130 | Entrepreneurial Management | 3 |
| NBA 5070 | Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers | 3 |
| NBA 5640 | The Business of Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| NBA 5670 | Management Writing | 1.5 |
| NBA 5680 | Management Presentations | 1.5 |
| NBA 5690 | Management Consulting Essentials | 1.5 |
| NBA 6230 | Actualizing Your Startup - Part I | 1.5 |
| NCC 5540 | Managing and Leading in Organizations | 3 |
| PUBPOL 5431 | Fundraising, Grantmaking, and Lobbying | 1.5 |
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| ALS 5900 | Project Development: CALS Professional Master's Programs | 1-5 |
| ALS 5910 | Project Completion: CALS Professional Master's Programs | 1 |
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| AEM 5225 | Systems and Analytics in Accounting | 3 |
| AEM 5510 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| AEM 5605 | Predictive Analytics for Business Strategy | 3 |
| BTRY 5010 | Statistics I | 4 |
| BTRY 5090 | Theory of Statistics | 4 |
| BTRY 6010 | Statistical Methods I | 4 |
| CEE 5980 | Decision Framing and Analytics | 3 |
| COMM 6820 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DEA 6560 | Research Methods in Social Sciences | 4 |
| GDEV 6190 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 |
| GOVT 6019 | Introduction to Probability and Applied Statistics | 4 |
| ILRST 6100 | Statistical Methods I | 4 |
| SOC 6010 | Statistics for Sociological Research | 4 |
| SOC 6310 | Qualitative Research Methods for Studying Science, Technology, and Medicine | 3 |
| STSCI 5120 | R Programming for Data Science | 2 |
| STSCI 5150 | Introductory Statistics for Biology | 4 |
| STSCI 5200 | Statistics I | 4 |
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Concentrations
Agronomy
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5110 | Field Crop Systems | 4 |
| PLSCI 5150 | Weed Biology and Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5210 | Soil and Crop Management for Sustainability | 3 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5140 | Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5200 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Concepts and Application | 3 |
| PLSCI 5290 | Remote Sensing and Modeling for Ecosystems | 3 |
| PLSCI 5600 | Soil Science | 4 |
| PLSCI 5660 | Soil Ecology | 3-4 |
| PLSCI 5800 | Principles and Practices in Certified Organic Agriculture | 3 |
| PLSCI 6551 | Principles of Nutrition and Nutrient Management in Crops and Landscape Plants | 3 |
| PLSCI 6710 | Soil Chemistry | 3 |
Climate Change and Agriculture
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5140 | Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5200 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Concepts and Application | 3 |
| PLSCI 5210 | Soil and Crop Management for Sustainability | 3 |
| PLSCI 5290 | Remote Sensing and Modeling for Ecosystems | 3 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 6030 | Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants | 3 |
| PLSCI 6080 | Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory | 2 |
| PLSCI 6200 | | |
| PLSCI 6250 | Data-Model Fusion in Research | 3 |
| PLSCI 6450 | Urban Plants and Public Health | 3 |
Controlled Environment Agriculture
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5025 | Hydroponic Food Crop Production and Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5045 | Chemistry and Pharmacology of Cannabis | 1 |
| PLSCI 5175 | Production and Management of Greenhouse Crops | 4 |
| PLSCI 5420 | Plant Physiology, Lectures | 3 |
| PLSCI 6020 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSCI 6070 | Nutritional Quality Improvement of Food Crops | 2 |
| PLSCI 6080 | Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory | 2 |
| PLSCI 6095 | Practicum in Plant Breeding | 1-3 |
| PLSCI 6100 | Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses and Global Climate Change | 3 |
| PLSCI 6550 | Postharvest Biology of Horticultural Crops | 3 |
| PLSCI 6551 | Principles of Nutrition and Nutrient Management in Crops and Landscape Plants | 3 |
Crop Science
Geospatial
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIOEE 6550 | Data Analysis and Visualization in Ecology and Environmental Science | 3 |
| CRP 5080 | Introduction to GIS for Planners | 4 |
| CRP 5250 | Methods for Spatial Economic and Demographic Analysis | 4 |
| CRP 5530 | Land Use and Spatial Planning Methods | 4 |
| CRP 5680 | Introduction to Urban Data Science: Data, Interpretation, and Presentation | 4 |
| EAS 6540 | Ocean Satellite Remote Sensing | 3 |
| NTRES 6260 | Applied Conservation Ecology | 3 |
| PLSCI 5140 | Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5200 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Concepts and Application | 3 |
| PLSCI 5290 | Remote Sensing and Modeling for Ecosystems | 3 |
| PLSCI 6200 | | |
| PLSCI 6250 | Data-Model Fusion in Research | 3 |
| PUBPOL 6950 | Spatial Demography | 3 |
| VTPEH 6175 | Introduction to GIS for Public Health | 3 |
Plant Biotechnology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5420 | Plant Physiology, Lectures | 3 |
| PLSCI 5430 | Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants | 2 |
| PLSCI 5431 | Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants | 2 |
| PLSCI 6000 | Concepts and Techniques in Computational Biology | 4 |
| PLSCI 6020 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSCI 6030 | Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants | 3 |
| PLSCI 6410 | Laboratory in Plant Biology | 2 |
| PLSCI 6831 | Concepts and Techniques in Plant Biology | 3 |
| PLSCI 6880 | Genetic Engineering of Food Crops: Myths, Truths and Detection | 1 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 6080 | Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory | 2 |
| PLSCI 6230 | Equitable Crop Improvement: From Theory to Practice | 3 |
| PLSCI 6540 | Plant Cell Biology | 4 |
| PLSCI 6620 | Plant Biochemistry | 3 |
| PLSCI 6841 | Plant Form and Function: Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Development | 3 |
Plant Breeding
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5420 | Plant Physiology, Lectures | 3 |
| PLSCI 6020 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSCI 6030 | Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants | 3 |
| PLSCI 6080 | Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory | 2 |
| PLSCI 6095 | Practicum in Plant Breeding | 1-3 |
| PLSCI 6230 | Equitable Crop Improvement: From Theory to Practice | 3 |
| PLSCI 6831 | Concepts and Techniques in Plant Biology | 3 |
| PLSCI 6841 | Plant Form and Function: Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5110 | Field Crop Systems | 4 |
| PLSCI 5430 | Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants | 2 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 6070 | Nutritional Quality Improvement of Food Crops | 2 |
| PLSCI 6100 | Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses and Global Climate Change | 3 |
| PLSCI 6620 | Plant Biochemistry | 3 |
| PLSCI 7420 | Genotypes to Phenotypes: The Evolution of Genetic Modeling in Plant Breeding | 1.5 |
Plant Protection
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5150 | Weed Biology and Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 6010 | Molecular Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions | 3 |
| PLSCI 6610 | Diagnostic Lab Experience | 1-2 |
| PLSCI 5110 | Field Crop Systems | 4 |
| PLSCI 5290 | Remote Sensing and Modeling for Ecosystems | 3 |
| PLSCI 5800 | Principles and Practices in Certified Organic Agriculture | 3 |
| PLSCI 6100 | Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses and Global Climate Change | 3 |
Plant Systems
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LA 5910 | Creating the Urban Eden: Woody Plant Selection, Design, and Landscape Establishment | 5 |
| PUBPOL 5410 | Nonprofit Management and Finance | 3 |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5025 | Hydroponic Food Crop Production and Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5045 | Chemistry and Pharmacology of Cannabis | 1 |
| PLSCI 5110 | Field Crop Systems | 4 |
| PLSCI 5140 | Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5150 | Weed Biology and Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5200 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Concepts and Application | 3 |
| PLSCI 5210 | Soil and Crop Management for Sustainability | 3 |
| PLSCI 5290 | Remote Sensing and Modeling for Ecosystems | 3 |
| PLSCI 5430 | Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants | 2 |
| PLSCI 5431 | Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants | 2 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5660 | Soil Ecology | 3-4 |
| PLSCI 5825 | Museum and Park Interpretation | 3 |
| PLSCI 5850 | Public Garden Management | 3 |
| PLSCI 6010 | Molecular Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions | 3 |
| PLSCI 6020 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSCI 6030 | Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants | 3 |
| PLSCI 6070 | Nutritional Quality Improvement of Food Crops | 2 |
| PLSCI 6080 | Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory | 2 |
| PLSCI 6200 | | |
| PLSCI 6410 | Laboratory in Plant Biology | 2 |
| PLSCI 6450 | Urban Plants and Public Health | 3 |
| PLSCI 6831 | Concepts and Techniques in Plant Biology | 3 |
| VIEN 5204 | Principles and Practices of Growing Grapes and Making Wines | 3 |
| VIEN 5205 | Growing Grapes and Making Wines Graduate Laboratory | 2 |
| VIEN 5300 | The Science of Grapevines | 2 |
| VIEN 5400 | Wine and Grapes: Composition and Analysis | 2 |
| VIEN 5500 | Advanced Winemaking Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| VIEN 5610 | Vineyard Management I | 2 |
| VIEN 6700 | Advanced Winemaking Theory and Practice II | 2 |
Public Garden Leadership
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CRP 5072 | Land Use, Environmental Planning, and Urban Design Workshop | 4 |
| EDUC 5350 | Youth Organizations and Leadership Development | 3 |
| EDUC 5510 | Engaged Learning Through Extension, Outreach, and Instruction | 3 |
| LA 5910 | Creating the Urban Eden: Woody Plant Selection, Design, and Landscape Establishment | 5 |
| PLSCI 5010 | Biology and Management of Plant Diseases | 4 |
| PLSCI 5825 | Museum and Park Interpretation | 3 |
| PLSCI 5850 | Public Garden Management | 3 |
| PLSCI 6020 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSCI 6450 | Urban Plants and Public Health | 3 |
Soil Science
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PLSCI 5200 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Concepts and Application | 3 |
| PLSCI 5210 | Soil and Crop Management for Sustainability | 3 |
| PLSCI 5600 | Soil Science | 4 |
| PLSCI 5660 | Soil Ecology | 3-4 |
| PLSCI 6200 | | |
| PLSCI 5140 | Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| PLSCI 5800 | Principles and Practices in Certified Organic Agriculture | 3 |
| PLSCI 6250 | Data-Model Fusion in Research | 3 |
| PLSCI 6710 | Soil Chemistry | 3 |
Viticulture
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| VIEN 5204 | Principles and Practices of Growing Grapes and Making Wines | 3 |
| VIEN 5205 | Growing Grapes and Making Wines Graduate Laboratory | 2 |
| VIEN 5400 | Wine and Grapes: Composition and Analysis | 2 |
| VIEN 5500 | Advanced Winemaking Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| VIEN 5610 | Vineyard Management I | 2 |
| VIEN 6700 | Advanced Winemaking Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| PLSCI 5440 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| PLSCI 5600 | Soil Science | 4 |
| PLSCI 5800 | Principles and Practices in Certified Organic Agriculture | 3 |
| VIEN 5510 | Advanced Winemaking Theory and Practice I Laboratory | 2 |
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
