Graduate Courses


Master's Program Coursework

Degree Program Requirements

M.S. students must have 30 credit hours to graduate comprised of:

21 hours of coursework, 12 of which are graduate level courses only (not from split undergraduate/graduate courses, e.g., 4100/6100). On the Program of Study form, please use * to designate 6000/7000 courses open only to graduate students.

9 hours of research (6) and thesis writing (3)

The following courses are required for graduation:

  • one course of Research Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
  • one course of Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6140)
  • one course of Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
  • one Statistics course (STAT 6315 or FANR 6750 or higher)

M.S. students can only transfer 6 graduate course credits from another institution. No more than 6 hours of research (PBGG 7000) will be counted as hours on your program of study.

Core Courses

A list of our core courses are below along with suggested electives. Students will work with their Major Professor and Advisory Committee to determine the best program of study.

Required Plant Breeding Courses:

Elective Plant Breeding Courses:

Genetics and Genomics Courses:

Plants and Their Environment Courses:

Biometry and Bioinformatics Courses:

Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Courses:

Electives for professional development:


Ph.D. Program Requirements

Ph.D. (M.S. already earned) – students must have 30 credit hours to graduate comprised of:

16 hours of coursework (a minimum of 16 hours of 8000-9000 level credits) excluding 9000/9005/9300

3 hours of dissertation writing (9300)

6 hours of research (PBGG 9000) and the remainder in research or relevant lower level courses

The following courses are required for graduation:

  • two credits of Graduate Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8860 & PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
  • Advanced Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8140)
  • Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
  • Plant Genetics (PBIO 8100 or PBGG 8890 or comparable)
  • Statistics (PBGG 8010 or STAT 8200 or comparable)

Ph.D. students can only transfer 9 graduate course credits from another institution after beginning at UGA.

Straight Ph.D. (no M.S. required) – students must have 36 credit hours to graduate comprised of:

27 hours of coursework (a minimum of 16 hours of 8000-9000 level credits), and including MS/PhD requirements

9 hours (minimum) of research (6h) and writing (3h)

The following courses are required for graduation:

  • two credits of Graduate Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8860 & PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
  • Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6140)
  • Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
  • Advanced Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8140)
  • Plant Genetics (PBIO 8100 or PBGG 8890 or comparable)
  • Statistics (STAT 6315 or FANR 6750 or higher)
  • Statistics (PBGG 8010 or STAT 8200 or comparable)

Core Courses

A list of our core courses are below along with suggested electives. Students will work with their Major Professor and Advisory Committee to determine the best program of study.

Required Plant Breeding Courses:

Elective Plant Breeding Courses:

Genetics and Cytogenetics Courses:

Plants and Their Environment Courses:

Biometry and Bioinformatics Courses:

Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Courses:

Electives for professional development: