Graduate Field Requirements: Horticulture

Newly admitted graduate students should correspond with the Director of Graduate Studies in their field to clarify program details. Upon arrival to campus, students should report to their major advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Field Coordinator. New graduate students should take the responsibility of meeting professors, other graduate students, office staff, technicians, and greenhouse, test garden, orchard, and field staff. Students should also become familiar with campus buildings, laboratories, and staff offices. The director of graduate studies, as well as other faculty members and staff, can provide assistance to become familiar with university and Section policies. An orientation program for all incoming graduate students is held during the week of registration in August. View the Cornell Graduate School’s orientation information here. The SIPS orientation information will be emailed to all incoming students.

This handbook will help you understand how the field operates, what is expected of you, and what you may expect from the field. The faculty, Director of Graduate Studies, and the Section chair have an open-door policy and make every effort to address student needs. This handbook provides supplemental information that applies specifically to the Field of Horticulture and should be used in conjunction with information published by the Graduate School (www.gradschool.cornell.edu). Please feel free to ask questions as you adjust to your new surroundings.

The faculty person who directs your thesis work is usually considered the major advisor or chairperson of your special committee. This advisor is most often identified prior to your arrival and will guide you through your graduate study. Your chair should be updated in Student Center within the first three weeks of matriculation and the remaining members of your committee should be assigned pre A-exam. Use the online Special Committee Selection and Change form to assign your chairperson. 

Other members of the special committee represent the minor fields chosen. Students pursuing an M.S. Degree should select at least 1 minor member and Ph.D students should select at least two minor members.  The minor members should represent concentrations that are different than their major advisor or a different field. 

Choosing a Special Committee

The committee should be selected in consultation with the major advisor/chairperson with the aim of enhancing your research project, as well as providing you with information useful in your future career. Feel free to interview various members of the graduate faculty before making your decision. Tell them of your goals and find out what interests you have in common.

MS Degree Requirements

General Requirements

• All MS students are required to be a full-time student for at least 2 semesters. 
• MS degree candidates generally complete degree requirements in two to three years but have up to 4 years to complete requirements. After 4 years a student is required to petition the Graduate School to extend degree timeline. Funding is contingent on the original offer letter.

Courses

• Coursework required for the MS degree is determined by the student’s Special Committee.
• At least two semesters of PLSCI 7000: Seminar in Horticulture.
• To be a full-time student, enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester. After consulting the special committee, students enroll in courses appropriate to their academic program. All research students, except those taking a vacation from research activities and work toward degree progress, must be registered and enrolled in 6 credits of Graduate Summer Research (GRAD 9016) for the summer term. Summer registration is especially critical for students receiving financial aid (fellowships, summer loans, assistantships, travel grants, or tuition awards) during the summer. There is no charge for summer registration.

Exams

• Schedule an exit seminar during one of the PLSCI 7000: Seminar in Horticulture lectures, or one-hour prior to the final exam using the M exam scheduling form available on the Graduate School’s Forms page. The scheduling form must be approved by all committee members and the DGS at least 7 days prior to the exam. We recommend you start this process at least 2 weeks prior to the exam date. 
• M Exam: This is a formal exam composed of an oral defense of your thesis. The student’s committee determines the result of the exam but all field faculty are invited to attend.
• See below for details of M Exam

Thesis and Dissertation

• You must submit a complete thesis draft to all members of your Special Committee at least six (6) weeks before the final Master’s exam. (Your Special Committee may modify this requirement). At least five (5) days before the exam, you must provide all members of your Special Committee with a complete, formatted, and editorially acceptable copy of the thesis or dissertation for final approval. (Your examining committee may still require modifications.) Final Examinations may not be scheduled until this requirement has been met. Code VI.G.4, Guide to Graduate Study 
• See below for details of thesis and dissertation

PhD or MS/PhD Degree Requirements

General Requirements

• All PhD students are required to be a full-time student for at least 6 semesters, 2 of these between the A and B exam. For students completing an MS/PhD, they must pass their M Exam and submit the Masters thesis to the Graduate School before moving into their PhD. 
• The Ph.D. must be completed within seven calendar years of starting the PhD or MS/PhD program.
• One semester of Teaching experience is required and can be satisfied by receiving a Teaching Assistantship or an Extension Outreach Assistantship (if approved by the student’s committee).

Courses

• Four semesters of PLSCI 7000: Seminar in Horticulture for credit.
• Other coursework and credits required for the Ph.D. degree are determined by the student’s Special Committee
• In order to be a full-time student, enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester. After consulting the special committee, students enroll in courses appropriate to their academic program. All research students, except those taking a vacation from research activities and work toward degree progress, must be registered and enrolled in 6 credits of Graduate Summer Research (GRAD 9016) for the summer term. Summer registration is especially critical for students receiving financial aid (fellowships, summer loans, assistantships, travel grants, or tuition awards) during the summer. There is no charge for summer registration.

Exams

• Pass the Q Conference, an oral qualifying conference that includes critical examination of proposed research and an evaluation of qualifications. Used to determine courses. See below for details of Q conference.
• Pass the A exam; an oral exam reviewing the student’s mastery of subject matter related to their thesis topic and the course work taken. Must be taken at least two semesters before the B Exam. Schedule an A exam using the A exam scheduling form available on the Graduate School’s Forms page. The scheduling form must be approved by all committee members and the DGS at least 7 days prior to the exam. We recommend you start this process at least 2 weeks prior to the exam date. See below for details of A Exam.
• Give your Exit Seminar
• Pass the B Exam (defense of your thesis)

All PhD students and most MS students are guaranteed funding which is detailed in their original offer letter. We make every effort to ensure support through completion as long as academic progress is being made. Funding typically comes from many sources.

Assistantships

Most graduate students in the Section of Horticulture are supported on Teaching Assistantships (TA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), Graduate Assistantship (GA), Research Assistantships (RA), or Extension Outreach Assistantships (EOA). The assistantship provides a stipend, tuition remission and health insurance. In exchange, assistants are expected to work an average of 15 hours per week on assistantship duties. Those duties may be completely distinct from the research project; the Section strives to have them contribute in some way to the overall training. 

The assistantship is intended to allow graduate students to spend most of their time on courses and research. 

For full details of Graduate Assistantship’s expectations, pay, and time away, please visit the Graduate School's Assistantships page.

Graduate TA Policy 

Background

Teaching assistantships fulfill two roles. They meet the educational requirement of developing teaching competence, and they provide financial support for graduate study. 

Students anticipating being a teaching assistant must apply each academic year. This application is for the purpose of matching students with courses, and is done SIPS-wide. TA solicitation for the coming academic year is released in mid- November. TA applications are due January 31st. For more information and the TA application please visit the SIPS Teaching Assistantships page.

Policies

• All PhD students, regardless of funding source, have an educational requirement to serve as a TA at least once during their time at Cornell.
• PhD students may have funding packages that include teaching assistantships in many semesters. That expectation is explicit in the acceptance letter. Faculty advisors shall accommodate the need for their graduate students to TA, and adjust research and coursework expectations accordingly. Every effort will be made to ensure that teaching or Section curriculum assignments are distributed fairly and that any special circumstances of individual graduate students are considered. Instructors will advise students whether they need to take or audit a course in order to have sufficient expertise in the subject for which they will be a TA.
• Students supported by a Graduate School Fellowship shall not be required to serve as TA during their fellowship year.
• Graduate students who are funded on external sources during a semester in which they serve as a TA should enroll in PLSCI 7980: Graduate Teaching Experience for the number of credits equal to that of any course they are a TA. This may be taken for a letter or S/U grade.
• If a student’s limited proficiency in English prevents them from serving as a TA in the classroom the student may be required to developing their English proficiency through course at the English Language Support Office and courses in teaching skills in order to teach in the future. Review the Graduate School's information on English Language Proficiency Requirements for detailed information on who should participate in a language assessment. 
• All instructors should meet with and discuss what is expected of the TA prior to the beginning of the course. Students should also discuss what they want to gain during the TA experience with the instructor.
• Any dispute regarding the assignment of TAs may be addressed to the student’s major advisor in consultation with the SIPS DGS/GFA Council.

TA Application Process

Section I: Application Timeline

• Mid-November: TA solicitation for the coming academic year is released.
• January 31: TA applications due.

Selection Process

Section II: Application, Selection, and Notification Procedures    

A. Application
All students who are planning to TA or who would like to request TA support must submit an application by the stated application deadline. Even those students who have been promised a TA position in their appointment letter must submit a TA application in order to be assigned to a TA appointment in the coming academic year. You can check on the status of your application by contacting the GFC for your home Field. Only SIPS Graduate students in non-professional degree programs (i.e. MS and PhD) are eligible to apply. SIPS TA Application Form

B. Selection Process and Selection Criteria
All assignments for each Section will be approved by the DGS of your field. Your application will initially be reviewed by the DGS home Section/Field to be considered for TA assignments within your home Section. Following initial review by your DGS, your application may also be considered by members of the SIPS Graduate Field Council to be considered for TA assignments in other SIPS Sections. In some cases, your application may also be reviewed by course instructors. Each year some number of TA appointments are declined by students, due to the adventitious availability of grant and fellowship funding. A new application needs to be made for each new academic year in which TA support is requested.

C. Notification Procedures
If you are offered a TAship, you must accept it or reject it by the deadline specified in the contract letter 

• Only your DGS and/or GFC can make an official offer and supply a contract.
  • All conversations with course instructors or others members of the Cornell community are purely a preliminary review, and those entities cannot make an offer.
  • If your funding situation changes before and/or after you are offered a TA contract, e.g., your NSF GRFP, USDA-NIFA or other proposal is awarded or your advisor is awarded funding, please let us know IMMEDIATELY so that we can either remove your application or assist in finding a suitable replacement. Bear in mind that some fellowships (e.g. NSF GRFP/USDA-NIFA) can be deferred or paused to enable you to take on a TAship. (See Graduate School Stipend Rates page.)  Also, even if funded separately, a student can TA for credit. These options should be explored in a good faith effort to fulfill your obligation to TA once you accept an assignment.

Fellowships & Other Funding Sources

While the field commits to fully funding graduate students for the anticipated duration of their study, getting independent funding provides more flexibility for the student and is a valuable demonstration of ability to get external funding. We encourage and assist students in obtaining such funds. 

Annual Graduate Review

Each year graduate students present a brief oral summary of their research to the entire Graduate Field. Each student presents once a year, regardless of where they are in their research.  Sharing research progress with faculty and other graduate students encourages the exchange of ideas and the possibility of modifying research directions. Students who have not started their thesis research present a research plan. Students are encouraged to share their accomplishments, goals, frustrations, and projected completion dates. 

The current format is a “pitch and poster” that includes a four-minute presentation followed by discussion at a poster. This format has found favor for crafting succinct and exciting explanations of the subject, and then for feedback on the work at the poster. For students near the end of their study, a standard 15-minute conference presentation is an option. Students presenting submit an abstract and review form in advance that is then shared with participants. 

Time will be allocated at the end of the program for students to discuss topics of their interest with the Graduate Field Faculty. 

Student Progress Review

The Student Progress Review (SPR) is an interactive process intended to support the regular exchange of constructive, written feedback between advisees and advisors. It codifies a process for research degree students and their special committees to have at least one formal conversation per year about academic progress and future plans. 

Using the SPR form, students are asked to reflect on their recent accomplishments, identify challenges, and set goals. Committee chairs then review their students’ SPR forms and enter constructive feedback. Chairs indicate whether progress has been excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, or is unsatisfactory. Feedback that is documented on the SPR will be made available to the student, all members of the student’s special committee, and the DGS/GFA of the student’s field.

The deadline for students to complete the SPR is April 1st.

All M.S., and doctoral students in their first year are encouraged to complete the SPR. All M.S., and doctoral students who are in the second year of their program or beyond must complete a SPR form each academic year. Students on leave of absence are excluded from this requirement.

Field Appointed Committee Member

The Director of Graduate Studies may assign an additional member of the Field of Horticulture to participate in your M, A or B exam. This person would be recorded on your Special Committee as: Field Appointment Member for Exam.

In Absentia

You may register in absentia to conduct approved research or study 100 miles or more away from the Cornell campus while still under the guidance of your special committee. This status is available to research degree students whether registered in Ithaca (including Geneva).

Approval by the Graduate School is required. In absentia students are charged $200 tuition/semester.

When you are in approved in absentia status you are eligible for fellowships, assistantships, the student health plan, and educational loans as in on-campus registration status. The same limitations on employment apply for in absentia students as for on-campus students; time away from campus is expected to focus on making academic progress.

Common reasons students change their status to in absentia:

• Conducting research for an extended period of time at a location far from campus.
• Traveling to another institution for an extended period of time to use library, archival, laboratory, or other resources to advance your scholarship.
• Taking courses at another university that are not available at Cornell.

In absentia status will not be approved for reasons related to immigration or finances; there must be an academic justification for holding in absentia status.

While in approved in absentia status you may not take classes or engage in research at another Cornell Graduate School campus location.

Leave of Absence

Visit the Graduate School Leaves of Absences page or full details of leave options.

You may request a leave of absence for health, parental, or personal reasons. A leave pauses your student status, with the opportunity to return to your program at a set time.

• For health reasons, medical or mental health, request a health leave, available for up to a maximum of four years.
• Leave of absence may be requested for personal reasons other than health and parental accommodation for up to 12 months and renewable for a maximum of four years.
• Maternity and paternity accommodations (parental accommodation). To initiate the parental accommodation, complete and return the Parental Accommodation Request form.

Q Conference (MS-PhD and PhD)

Q Conference is a requirement of the Field of Horticulture for MS-PhD and PhD candidates, it is not required by the Graduate School. This should take place before the beginning of the third semester of the PhD.

The purpose of the Q Conference:

• To convene the committee members and the student to discuss and evaluate the student’s proposed research plan. Students should schedule the Q Conference when they have a clear focus on what they are going to work on and have had a chance to put together a written outline or research proposal on the topic. The expectation is for the student to have read much of the literature directly relating to his/her research project and be prepared to answer questions justifying his/her approach to the research. This should take place before the beginning of the third semester of the Ph.D.
• To determine what courses still need to be taken or discuss ways the student can gain the necessary background to accomplish their research program. Students should bring a list of courses they have taken at Cornell and relevant course work from their MS or undergraduate days. They should write down their goals for the research work and any other academic goals they might have (e.g. getting teaching credentials, getting extension experience, writing for various audiences, etc.).

An outline of the proposed research or research proposal, list of relevant classes, and academic goals should be given to each of the committee members and the DGS at least two weeks before the Q Conference.  This will provide a clear focus and discussion on the proposed research project. Is it well thought-out? What have others done in this area? Is it doable in the time frame given? Are there adequate facilities and support to carry it out? Is the student ready to take on this project? Does his/her background allow for critical thinking in this subject area? Are there courses that are missing and should be added?

A minimum of two hours should be scheduled.

In rare instances, if the Special Committee determines that the Q conference results indicate that the student is not prepared to undertake a PhD program, the student may be found to be not in good academic standing. The committee chair shall write a detailed evaluation and counsel the student with their options.

M Exam (MS)

Thesis Defense Exam for MS. 

For a student pursing an independent MS:

This oral exam will discuss the student’s research and thesis manuscript. The exact format varies by committee, so it is good to have the members agree on the format well in advance. In general, students start the exam with an oral presentation of the main methods and results of the project to set the stage for the discussion and to demonstrate the ability to present their work. Questions may address the scientific background of the research and hypotheses, the general approaches and specific methods used, the results, and the interpretation of the results. At least 2 hours should be scheduled for the MS thesis defense. The Special Committee often requires changes in thesis after the exam and these may require from a few days to a few weeks to complete.

For a student pursing a MS/PhD:

An MS-PhD student continuing with the same project and Special Committee, and with that committee’s approval, combine the M exam and A exam. If combined the first hour will be dedicated to the M exam followed by the A exam (see details below).

This oral exam will discuss the student’s research and thesis manuscript. The exact format varies by committee, so it is good to have the members agree on the format well in advance. In general, students start the exam with a brief (10-15 minutes) oral presentation of the main methods and results of the project to set the stage for the discussion and to demonstrate the ability to present their work. Questions may address the scientific background of the research and hypotheses, the general approaches and specific methods used, the results, and the interpretation of the results. The Special Committee often requires changes in thesis after the exam and these may require from a few days to a few weeks to complete.

A Exam (PhD)

Exam for Admission to Doctoral Candidacy for PhD students. Normally, the A exam is taken in the fall or spring of the third year of the Ph.D. program. The A exam must be taken before starting the 7th semester of registration. The A exam is a comprehensive exam given by the student’s committee to test their general knowledge in the areas of plant sciences and related fields relevant to the student’s PhD program in Horticulture and minor fields. It is designed to determine your ability to begin research. It does not necessarily focus on your specific research topic or research results. Although questions of specific factual nature are common, emphasis is also placed on your ability to utilize and synthesize your knowledge to address more complex problems. A minimum of 3 hours should be scheduled; although there is no time limit. It is typically an oral exam and some written questions are allowed if a faculty member so chooses. It is appropriate and useful to discuss examination expectations with your committee members well in advance of the exam. Other faculty members in the Field are invited to participate, are allowed to ask questions. Each exam is unique. Therefore others’ experiences only represent what can happen, not what will happen.

The student generally provides a list of courses they have taken as a graduate student. Questions relating to these classes as well as background information relating to the student’s current research are fair game. You are encouraged to chat with each of the committee members to get a sense of topics that the committee member may ask about.

As a result of the A Exam committee members may require additional coursework that they believe will be needed for sufficient preparation in a particular subject area. 

Potential A Exam Outcomes:

Passing

If you pass an exam, all members of the examining committee should report this decision to the Graduate School within three business days. No further action is required.

Conditional Passing

You may conditionally pass an exam; in which case the examining committee provides you and the Graduate School with the conditions for passing. Once these conditions are met, you pass the exam. (One common scenario is if you have significant edits to your thesis, the special committee may choose to conditionally pass you until those edits are accepted by the committee.)

Failing

If you fail an exam, re-examination is allowed only with the approval of the special committee. At least three months must pass from the time of the failed exam to the reexamination.

If a student fails the A Exam, but performs at a level considered equivalent to a Master’s Degree the special committee may nominate the student for a terminal M.S. degree without completion of a thesis; such non-thesis master’s degrees are not automatically awarded but must be designated at the time of the A exam and the student must withdraw from the Ph.D. program.

If the minor members, but not the chair, oppose allowing a reexamination or terminal MS; or the chair, but not all of the minor members oppose a reexamination or terminal MS, you must petition the Graduate School General Committee to continue study.

Graduate faculty members who attend the exam, but are not on the examination committee, may inform the dean in writing if they disagree with the results of the exam.

B Exam

Final Defense for PhD (B Exam). PhD students must be registered for at least 2 semesters between passing the A exam and scheduling the B exam.

See Thesis and Dissertation for detailed instructions and procedures including resource list of typists, editors, and couriers.

This oral exam will discuss the student’s research and dissertation manuscript. The Special Committee will determine the exact format, which should be discussed well in advance. A common approach is for the student to begin with a brief oral presentation of the main methods and results of the project to set the stage for the discussion and to demonstrate the ability to present their work. Questions may address the scientific background of the research and hypotheses, the general approaches and specific methods used, the results, and the interpretation of the results. At least 3-hours should be scheduled for the PhD defense. Normally, changes are required in the dissertation after the exam that may require from a few days to a few weeks to complete.

Many committees prefer that those thesis chapters intended for publication be written as manuscripts for the intended journals. Rewriting dissertation chapters for journal publications after a student has left to assume new duties elsewhere is very difficult. 

Potential B Exam Outcomes:

Passing

If you pass an exam, all members of the examining committee should report this decision to the Graduate School within three business days. No further action is required.

Conditional Passing

You may conditionally pass an exam; in which case the examining committee provides you and the Graduate School with the conditions for passing. Once these conditions are met, you pass the exam. (One common scenario is if you have significant edits to your thesis, the special committee may choose to conditionally pass you until those edits are accepted by the committee.)

Failing

If you fail an exam, re-examination is allowed only with the approval of the special committee. At least three months must pass from the time of the failed exam to the reexamination.

If the student does not perform at a level considered equivalent to a passed Final Examination for the Doctoral Degree, you must petition the Graduate School General Committee to reexamine. If the minor members, but not the chair, oppose allowing a reexamination; or the chair, but not all of the minor members oppose a reexamination, you must petition the General Committee to continue study.

Graduate faculty members who attend the exam, but are not on the examination committee, may inform the dean in writing if they disagree with the results of the exam.

The School of Integrative Plant Science holds a Graduation Recognition and Hooding Ceremony on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Cornell University also holds a PhD recognition ceremony on the Saturday evening of Memorial Day weekend. These events celebrate students who graduate in August of the prior year, December of the prior year, and those who expect to graduate in May and August. 

Find information on degree conferral dates, commencement and diploma distribution from the commencement page at the graduate school website.

Orientation of Facilities Use

We are required by law to make certain that all users of chemicals, equipment, and facilities are familiar with potential hazards and appropriate safety precautions. Graduate students are required to attend orientation and training sessions before using any of the laboratory, growth chamber, greenhouse, or field research facilities. All students who will be working in a lab are required to complete the EHS 2555- Laboratory Safety training in CULearn. If you are unable to attend, please contact the person in charge of orientation to make other arrangements. Do not use a facility or hazardous equipment if you have not been through the appropriate training session!

Right to Know

Federal and New York State law mandates and the university requires that all graduate students and employees attend an orientation on the “Right to Know” Act. This introduces the law, the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), general toxicology and laboratory safety. You will receive a memo with times and locations of the orientation meetings. 

Society of Horticulture (SoHo)

The field of horticulture has a dynamic graduate student association called, The Society for Horticulture (acronym: SoHo). All graduate students are automatically members. SoHo promotes fellowship among peers and future colleagues with food at regular meetings, cook-outs, and a holiday party. Events during the year promote professional growth by giving members the opportunity to develop communication, inter-personal, and future career skills. They raise funds to maintain and acquire common resources (e.g., a computer lab and lunch room). They represent graduate students on several Section committees. Once a year they invite a speaker to deliver a key Section seminar. Participation in SoHo is an excellent means to learn about and prepare for success within the field and as graduate students at Cornell.

Special Events

There are several events that occur throughout the year and are open to all members of the Section. You are encouraged to get involved in planning and participating in all of them. Some of the standard events are listed below. Watch for notices!

• Summer Picnic – July
• Horticulture Section Picks (cherries, blueberries, etc.) – for the Section community and immediate family members
• SoHo Welcome BBQ – July or August
• SIPS Holiday Party– early December 
• Annual Banquet and Dance in Geneva – wintertime

 Update history  Updated 08/06/2025 Josh Balles/Taryn Bauerle