PhD Plant Breeding at Iowa State University

Programme overview

Preparation in the art and science of enhancing crop genetics, combining coursework, hands-on experience and research, designed for aspiring plant breeders and agricultural scientists. The PhD offers an area of specialization in Predictive Plant Phenomics.

Faculty: Graduate College | Department: Agronomy (programme homepage hosted by Department of Agronomy) | Intake: Continual review; no admission deadlines | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ames, IA, United States

What you will study

Coursework, hands-on experience and research with learning goals in literature comprehension, original research and communicating findings.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate College requirements: 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) Academic Records/Transcripts Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.) Proof of English Proficiency. Programme-specific requirements: Potential campus based students (not distance) must have a faculty commitment to serve as major professor and provide assistantship. Potential students should locate faculty whose work aligns with their educational and career goals and contact them directly BEFORE completing the application to inquire about open graduate positions and funding. Only applicants who are in contact with faculty and receive a faculty commitment will be admitted into the program. Click here for FAQ. Resume and publications list should be submitted as PDFs in the online application system Publications list, if applicable, should be submitted as a PDF in the online application system DISTANCE PLANT BREEDING PROGRAM DOES NOT REQUIRE GREs. Program Requires GRE: Yes Program Requires GMAT: No

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants include Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. International undergraduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted up to one year before the intended start date; applying at least six to eight weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Graduate application fee: $60 for domestic applicants and $100 for international applicants (nonrefundable), a separate fee for each program applied to; some programs postpone fee collection until after review. Deadlines are set by each graduate program.

Apply through the official page: https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/

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