Core Course Requirements (15 units total)

  • PBI 200A Core Course Series – Fall Quarter (5 units) *taken the first year
  • Course Description: The first of three PBGG graduate core courses. Coverage includes (1) plant genes, (2) biotechnology, (3) genomes and gene flow, (4) principles of plant systematics, and (5) the evolution of flowering plants.

    Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; a broad background of undergraduate level coursework in Plant Biology is recommended.

  • PBI 200B Core Course Series – Winter Quarter (5 units) *taken the first year
     
  • Course Description: The second of three PBGG graduate core courses. Coverage includes (1) embryo development, (2) cytoskeleton and vesicle trafficking, (3) cell walls, (4) cell growth, (5) secondary metabolism, (6) plastids and (7) senescence 

    Prerequisite(s): PBI 200A.

  • PBI 200C Core Course Series – Spring Quarter (5 units) *taken the first year
     
  • Course Description: The third of three PBGG graduate core courses. Coverage includes (1) plant water relations, (2) cellular & long distance transport processes, (3) mineral nutrition, (4) environmental impacts on growth & development, (5) stress perception & responses, (6) canopy processes, and (7) plant interactions with other organisms.

    Prerequisite(s): PBI 200A; PBI 200B.


Elective Coursework

Each student will complete their degree in one of 4 areas of specialization in (a) Cell and Developmental Biology; (b) Environmental and Integrative Biology; (c) Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Genomics; or (d) Systematics and Evolutionary Biology.

When choosing elective courses that fit your area of specialization, please consult with your Graduate Program Advisor. 

Find Elective Courses Here

Specialization Change Requests

M.S. students will also choose an area of specialization. Students may request a specialization area change to Master Advisor. Requests and approvals must be made in writing or via email. The area of specialization will determine which electives are taken.

For Ph.D. students, the area of specialization determines the nature of the student’s elective coursework and the topics covered in the qualifying examination. The student chooses their area of specialization. A change in a student’s area of specialization requires approval from the Ph.D. program’s Master Adviser the student submits a written email request to the Master Adviser.

Please see the UCD Catalog for more information regarding courses including course descriptions