Note: 91社区鈥檚 new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
The Department offers an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Plant Science covering 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 phenotyping, plant biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Facilities include:
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): Bioinformatics (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. 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): Environment (45 credits) |
|
**This program is curerntly not offered.** 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): Neotropical Environment (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. 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) |
|
**Please note that program is currently under revision and will not be accepting applicants.** 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: 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: Environment |
|
**This program is currently not offered.** 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: 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) |
| **This program is currently under revision and will not be accepting applicants.** 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. |
General
The minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 3.0/4.0 (second class鈥搖pper division) or a minimum 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 selected subject, 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. The Qualifying year is only offered at the discretion of the Department.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available but limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. A student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided through a scholarship/award and/or by the student's supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships.
English Language Proficiency
For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.
91社区鈥檚 online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines 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 91社区 departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Plant Science (Thesis) (45 credits).
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Plant Science (Thesis): Bioinformatics (45 credits).
**This program is currently not offered.** The M.Sc. in Plant Science (thesis) Environment is a research program offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment. As a complement to the unit鈥檚 expertise, the program considers how various dimensions (scientific, social, legal, ethical.) interact to define environment and sustainability issues.
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Plant Science (Thesis): Environment (45 credits).
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Plant Science (Thesis): Neotropical Environment (45 credits).
For more information, see Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Plant Science (Non-Thesis) (45 credits).
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Plant Science.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Plant Science: Bioinformatics.
**This program is currently not offered.** ...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Plant Science: Environment.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Plant Science: Neotropical Environment.
For more information, see Graduate Certificate (Gr. Cert.) Bioinformatics (15 credits).
