DPM Student Admission Process
The University of Florida (UF) Plant Medicine Program (PMP) is a professional doctoral program leading to a Doctor of Plant Medicine (D.P.M.) degree. Students study a comprehensive multidisciplinary curriculum in the fields of Agronomy, Horticulture, Entomology/Nematology, Plant Pathology and Soil/Water Science, etc.
Prospective students who are admitted into the PMP will choose a program of study that includes a minimum requirement of 90 credit hours of coursework and 30 hours of internships. Students who complete the D.P.M. degree will have the opportunity to pursue numerous interesting careers as Plant Doctors. Therefore our program encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
Application Deadlines
- Fall semester – June 01
- Spring semester – September 15
After the applicant's file is complete, an Admissions Committee reviews the file and makes an admission decision to the PMP. If the applicant is accepted, a letter of acceptance will be submitted to the applicant. The applicant will be required to provide a signature accepting the assistantship. If an applicant does not meet all of the minimum requirements, such as below minimum GPA or GRE scores, the applicant may petition the Graduate School through the program director to be accepted on a conditional basis. If the conditional admission is accepted, the applicant is, thereafter, required to maintain a 3.0 GPA (a "B" average) or better.
Admission Requirements to the PMP
To be admitted to the PMP, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Possess a B.S. (or B.A.) degree from an accredited college or university, preferably but not necessarily, in an agricultural science or related biological discipline. (The background of students coming into the PMP program is expected to vary greatly.)
- Have earned a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of B (3.0) in all upper-division graduate coursework taken.
- Have an acceptable score on both the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
- Applicants from countries where English is not the native language must also achieve a satisfactory score on one of the following: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language: computer=213, paper=550, web=80), IELTS (International English Language Testing System: 6), MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery: 77) or successful completion of the University of Florida English Language Institute program.
If the applicant meets all of the above requirements, he/she must submit the following paperwork to be considered for admission into the program:
- A Statement of Purpose written by the applicant that provides a brief description of his/her background, career and educational goals and future plans (include a resume or curriculum vitae).
- An official transcript of the B.S. degree and any other degrees claimed by the applicant.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons (preferably faculty and employers) who are familiar with, and can evaluate, the applicant's training and academic background.
Besides submitting the paperwork mentioned above, the applicant must also complete the University of Florida online application form.
International Students
If the applicant is from a country other than the United States, in addition to submitting all of the paperwork mentioned above, the applicant must also submit:
- An Assistantship / Fellowship application form (unless the student can indentify source of funding from an institution, government, a granting agency or the student is self-funded). Assistantships are granted for one year. Students must access other funding after the first year for the duration of their program of study.
- A Certificate of Responsibility International students must identify source of funding from self-funds, an institution, government, a granting agency or other source of funding.
All of the information given above is just a general guideline on what it takes to be considered for admission into the program. For step by step details on how to apply to the program, see the Application Process web page.
