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Graduate Group in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry

Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry forms a field of study leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A group of faculty representing various departments in the College Natural Resources define requirements for these degrees. The Executive Committee elects one of its members to serve as Group Chair. The Chair selects Advisors with the approval of the Executive Committee. The Dean of the Graduate Division appoints the Advisors. A student representative, elected by the students in the Group, participates in Executive Committee meetings. The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology in 111 Koshland Hall administers the Graduate Group.

 UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - California poppies

Requirements for Admission

Submit applications for Fall 2009 by January 5, 2009. Please email questions to jantz@nature.berkeley.edu.
The Graduate Group conducts one admission review per year, admitting students for the fall semester only. The Graduate Group's Executive Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Graduate Group's faculty and to UC Berkeley's Graduate Division. The Committee bases recommendations on grades and coursework at the undergraduate and graduate levels, letters of recommendation, standardized examination scores, written statements of academic and professional goals, and other documentation of research and academic potential and accomplishment. The Group admits applicants directly to a research laboratory. Potential students need to make arrangements with faculty of interest before and during the Admissions cycle.

The Executive Committee reviews credentials of applicants for admission to graduate study. The Group may admit applicants to an M.S. program only, directly to the Ph.D. program, or to the Ph.D. program, contingent on successful completion of the M.S. The student's course of study after admission depends on the student's background and research interests.
Required for admission:
  • A basic background in chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology, roughly equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Biology or Chemistry at Berkeley.
  • Two official transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended.
  • Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be written by science faculty, with the reviewers familiar with the student's scholarly abilities.
  • General Aptitude test scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). We strongly recommend taking a GRE subject test in biology (B24) or biochemistry, cell and molecular biology (B22) but do not require either. The student must take the exams early enough so that scores will arrive by mid-December. To have the scores sent to the Department, put the institution code R4833 (UC Berkeley) and the department code 0112 (plant sciences) on the GRE order form.
  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for applicants who have received undergraduate degrees from institutions where English is not the language of instruction. With few exceptions (details in the Graduate Division application booklet), UC Berkeley requires a TOEFL score of at least 570 on the paper and pencil test, or 230 on the computer-based test. The student must take the TOEFL by November. Put the institution code 4833 (UC Berkeley) and the department code 37 (botany) on the TOEFL order form.
  • Completed Graduate Application for Admission and Fellowships. See the instructions for applying. The online application becomes available September 1. If you can't apply online, please email the department to discuss other arrangements.

Financial Assistance

The Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Program has limited extramural funding to support graduate students. Campus sources offer merit-based fellowships through yearly competition open to all students. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for other financial aid. Faculty members or their departments may have funds to support graduate research in their laboratories. Applicants should review the summaries of faculty research interests and email prospective major professors.

Plan of Graduate Studies

Because of the wide range of interests and research areas in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, the Group defines flexible course requirements. Students usually satisfy basic background course requirements before admission to the program. The Group appoints a three-member Guidance Committee for each student shortly after admission to the program. This committee generally consists of an advisor, the student's major professor, and a member of the Group at large. The student reviews his or her academic background, research, and career interests with the guidance committee, and selects a set of courses considered essential for preparation for the M.S. Thesis or Comprehensive Oral Examination, or the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.
The student must meet the following criteria for admission to candidacy for the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry:
  • Completion of additional coursework chosen in consultation with the guidance committee, tailored to the student's academic preparation and goals, including a year's sequence of courses in a field considered the student's area of emphasis.
  • Completion of 5 units of 200-level core courses in chemistry or biochemistry.
  • Completion of background-gap-filling requirements, with previously completed equivalent courses counted with approval of the Guidance Committee.
  • Maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average, excluding grades in graduate seminars and research.
  • Provision of a recommendation from the major professor to accompany the student's request for a Qualifying Examination.

Master of Science Programs

M.S. Plan I (Thesis)
  • 20 semester units of upper division and graduate courses, with at least 8 units at the 200 level
  • 5 of the 200-level units in graduate chemistry/biochemistry courses.
  • Students must choose all courses in consultation with an advisor.
M.S. Plan II (comprehensive oral examination)
  • 24 semester units of upper division and graduate courses with at least 12 units at the 200 level
  • 5 of the 200-level units in graduate chemistry/biochemistry courses.
  • Students must choose all courses in consultation with an advisor.
For either Plan 1 (Thesis) or Plan II (Comprehensive Oral examination), the student applies for advancement to candidacy not later than the third week of the last semester of course work. For plan I, the student must submit the title of the proposed thesis and the names of three members of the thesis committee, chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor. Two members of the thesis committee must be Group members and one a regular Berkeley faculty member outside the Group.
For plan II, the student selects a committee of three faculty to administer the oral examination. At least two of the faculty should be Group members. The Group places no requirements on the outside member.

Ph.D Program

Ph.D. requirements
  • 24 semester units of upper division and graduate courses
  • At least 12 units at the 200 level
  • 5 of the 200-level units in graduate chemistry/biochemistry courses.
  • Students must choose all courses in consultation with an advisor.
After the student completes the coursework requirements for the Ph.D.degree, with or without the M.S. degree, the student may ask his/her Major Professor to request appointment of a Qualifying Examination Committee. If the Graduate Advisor and the student's guidance committee find the student's preparation unsatisfactory this request get delayed.
The Graduate Advisor then asks the Graduate Dean to appoint the Qualifying Examination Committee. This committee consists of at least three faculty from within the Group and at least one faculty member from outside the Group. The student becomes eligible to advance to candidacy after a favorable report from the Qualifying Examination Committee.
To advance to candidacy, the Graduate Advisor must certify that the student has completed all coursework and passed the Qualifying Exam, and that a dissertation committee has been formed. The Graduate Advisor asks the Graduate Dean to appoint a committee (normally three members) to supervise the candidate's research and dissertation. The Major Professor, who normally chairs this committee, and one other member must belong to the Group. At least one member must be from outside the Group. When this committee is satisfied with the candidate's original contribution to knowledge in his/her research area, the student may complete the dissertation and file it with the Graduate Division.

Faculty

Leonard Bjeldanes lfb@nature.berkeley.edu
Bob Buchanan view@nature.berkeley.edu
John Casida ectl@nature.berkeley.edu
George Chang gwchang@uclink.berkeley.edu
John Coates jcoates@nature.berkeley.edu
Benito De Lumen nitto@nature.berkeley.edu
Lewis Feldman feldman@nature.berkeley.edu
Robert Fischer, Head Graduate Advisor rfischer@berkeley.edu
Sharon Fleming fleming@nature.berkeley.edu
Isao Kubo ikubo@uclink.berkeley.edu
Sheng Luan sluan@nature.berkeley.edu
John McColl forsoil@nature.berkeley.edu
Anastasios Melis, Chair of the Graduate Group melis@nature.berkeley.edu
Krishna Niyogi niyogi@nature.berkeley.edu
Norman Terry nterry@nature.berkeley.edu


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