Frequently Asked Questions
About the Program

What is the D.P.M. Degree?

The Doctor of Plant Medicine (D.P.M.) degree is a unique professional, doctoral degree similar in concept to the Doctor of Human Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degrees. This degree is offered exclusively by the University of Florida-IFAS, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (see Why Plant Doctors).

What does it take to get into the Plant Medicine Program?

B.S. degree, good grades (3.0 or better in upper division courses), and good GRE and TOEFL (international students) scores are required. Certain undergraduate courses provide useful preparation for the D.P.M. degree, but a number of these can be taken after admission (see Recommended Undergraduate Courses).

Are students with Master's Degrees accorded advanced standing?

Yes. Students with M.S. degrees may apply up to 30 relevant graduate credits toward the D.P.M. degree.

How long does it take to complete the D.P.M. degree?

The D.P.M. degree requires 120 graduate credits (90 credits of coursework and 30 of internship), and takes between 3 to 4 years to complete.

In what topics are D.P.M. students trained?

The course of study pursued by our students trains them in all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of plant health problems. Required courses and internships are presented by faculty in all of the relevant disciplines including Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, Nematology, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, etc (see Curriculum).

Can D.P.M. students specialize?

Yes. D.P.M. students use the elective credits (18-19 elective course credits and 16 elective internship credits) to tailor their course of study to meet their career objectives. In addition, certificate programs in Tropical Agriculture and Environmental Policy Management are available to D.P.M. students and certificates in Regulatory Agriculture and Sustainable Crop Production are planned for the near future (see Certificate Programs ).

Does the D.P.M. degree require research and do graduates receive a Ph.D.?

Because research is not required, graduates receive a professional doctorate (D.P.M.) and not a Ph.D. However, D.P.M. students are commonly involved in optional research activities either through part time jobs or assistantships or through research-based internships.

Why study at the University of Florida?

Currently only the University of Florida offers the D.P.M. degree. While at the University, students can take advantage of a large and outstanding facility (see Participating Departments and Centers), a wide variety of courses, and excellent facilities. Florida provides excellent conditions for studying plant problems the whole year round in a wide variety of agronomic and horticultural crops in temperate, subtropical, and tropical environments.

Is there any funding available for D.P.M. students?

A 1-year assistantship is available to qualified in-coming students on a competitive basis. If the necessary documentation is filed in a timely manner, US students may qualify for the in-state tuition rate (approximately ¼ of the cost of that paid by out-of-state students) in subsequent years. In addition, students from Latin America and the Caribbean routinely qualify for the in-state tuition rate due to a scholarship program promulgated by the Florida Legislature. After the first year, it is the responsibility of the individual student to identify sources of funding. Low cost student loans, part time jobs, and a limited number of teaching and research assistantships within the component departments of the program are available to D.P.M. students. International students are strongly encouraged to seek funding from their countries and external granting agencies (Ford Foundation, World Bank, etc.) (see Financial Assistance)

Can the D.P.M. degree be pursued on line?

Only one of the required courses for the D.P.M. degree is available online. Because of the "hands on" nature of our program, it is not possible to offer a significant number of courses online.

What are the career possibilities for graduates?

The broad and extensive practical training that D.P.M. students receive affords graduates a wide variety of interesting and rewarding career possibilities (see Careers).