Entomology and Plant Pathology

Our Ph.D. Program

Admission Requirements

The Ph.D. degree program offers concentrations in entomology, plant pathology, integrated pest management and bioactive natural products as part of the multi-departmental Plants, Soils, and Insects (PSI) program. Admission is a two step process.

1) Submit application, fee, official transcripts, scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination and TOEFL (for international students) to the Graduate Admission Office. On your application, indicate that you are applying to the Plants, Soils, and Insects program.

2) Submit your resume, three confidential letters of reference (or three Graduate Rating Forms), photocopy of GRE and TOEFL scores (if required) and a statement letter of professional goals and reasons for applying to:

EPP Ph.D. Program Coordinator
Entomology and Plant Pathology Department
2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 205 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-4560

In your statement letter and application please indicate your concentration of interest and intended major professor.

Admission to the Ph.D. program does not necessarily guarantee financial assistance. Financial aid is available to many graduate students in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) from the department or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) from the Agricultural Experiment Station and individual faculty members who have continuing grant support for particular lines of research. Applicants wishing to apply for financial support should so indicate in their statement letter.

In general, only those applicants for whom at least a potential major professor (dissertation advisor) has been identified will be accepted. Applicants are, therefore, advised to make direct contact with potential research advisors in advance of submitting an application in order to verify that they will be accepting new graduate students and have financial support for those who wish to be considered for a GRA.