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Upon graduation, students will be able to: |
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| The Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (TPSS) program at UH Manoa is unique. Students have an opportunity to take courses in tropical flower, fruit, vegetable and crop production, turf and landscape management, plant physiology, breeding and genetics, and soil science. They learn about the full spectrum of subjects and activities required to understand and responsibly manage land, water, crops, and their environments for the benefit of humankind. In addition, they learn about the adaptation and application of new technologies, such as molecular biotechnology, computer-based systems, and the Internet, to enhance plant production systems, assure a safe food supply, and protect the environment. Our students come from many backgrounds including those with little practical environmental or agricultural experience. They have in common a keen interest in applying science for the purpose of finding practical solutions to problems. Mature students are especially welcome. The comprehensive undergraduate program affords students the opportunity to study molecules to whole plants to managed or natural ecosystems, thus providing backgrounds to a host of career prospects. Students majoring in TPSS prepare for careers including plant production and management, plant breeding and genetics, services, marketing, extension, research, and teaching. UHM students trained in tropical plant and soil sciences have embarked on successful careers in international organizations and governmental agencies, in ecological and environmental protection, in agricultural extension, in individual entrepreneur including farming, and as middle and upper management in corporate agriculture. They work in increasing the food supply, improving food quality, and assuring food safety while protecting the environment and improving the quality of life. Undergraduates are encouraged to obtain practical experience, which involves research under the direction of a faculty member and work in a commercial industry via our internship program. Students have found satisfaction in applying their course work and research studies to challenging problems in business, environmental protection, land-use, and agricultural crop production. |
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Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences |
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| Students are advised by the department’s undergraduate advisors: Dr Ken Leonhardt. Undergraduate options are detailed in the following section. Each student may identify a faculty member to act as a mentor in the student’s area of interest and specialization. All students in TPSS must receive approval of their program of courses from their advisers prior to registration each semester. Graduate students are advised initially by an adviser or by the department’s graduate program chairman |
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The program offers a BS degree in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences with specializations in (1) Plant Sciences and Genetics, (2) Plant Production and Management, and (3) Environmental Soil Science. A student is required to complete 128 credits to graduate with a B.S. in TPSS. |
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| Students must complete the General Education Requirements (Core) of the University. An updated list of the courses recommended that satisfy the University General Education Requirement is available from the undergraduate adviser. The University’s Hawaiian/Second Language graduation requirement can be met by showing proficiency at the 202 level in a language, or showing proficiency at the 102 level in a language, plus one (3 Cr) course in Social Sciences and one (3 Cr) course in Natural Sciences, or taking two (3 Cr) courses in Social Sciences and two (3 Cr) courses in Natural Sciences. These courses may not be used to satisfy the University General Education Requirement. The Social Science and Natural Science courses chosen can be any 100 & 200 level courses offered at Manoa in those areas. |
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| The College has a core consisting of the following three courses that will satisfy parts of the University General Education Requirement: |
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| Students must complete the following three courses in the Department: |
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See the TPSS website for more undergraduate program information. |
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| Option in Plant Sciences and Genetics |
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| The option crosses the traditional boundaries that have separated genetics, plant physiology, molecular biology, and traditional crop production areas. The option links laboratory approaches and plant production systems through the application of plant biotechnology to solve multi-disciplinary problems. Students can select courses that allow concentration on genetic engineering to address real-world problems or to whole plant physiology and plant breeding. Students selecting this option must take Biology 171/171L, 270/270L and 406/406L (or their equivalent), and Chemistry 16l/161L, 162/162L, 272/272L and 273 (or their equivalent). Some of these courses will fulfill part of the Natural Science requirement of the UH General Education Requirement. These courses are considered prerequisite to courses in the major. |
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Major (Option Courses) |
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Take a minimum of 14 credits from the following: |
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Electives (variable number of elective credits) |
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While students may choose from the array of courses offered on the UH campus, an advising list of courses will be available to assist students in selecting courses that prepare students for a career in plant sciences and genetics. |
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| Option in Plant Production and Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This option prepares students to produce, manage, and market plants grown as crops or in landscapes. The aim is to enable graduates to perform competitively in their chosen profession and to have a sufficiently broad educational background to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by changing situations. Students selecting this option need to take Botany 101 and 101L (or their equivalent) or Biology 172 and 172L (or their equivalent) and Chemistry 15l and 151L and 152 and 152L (or their equivalent) to fulfill part of the Natural Science requirement of the UH core. These courses are considered prerequisite to courses in the major. |
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Major (Option) Courses |
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The major requires 12 credits from: |
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The student must take 12 credits from following supporting courses for this option: |
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Electives (variable number of elective credits) |
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While students may choose from the array of courses offered on the UH campus, an advising list of courses will be available to assist students in selecting courses that prepare students for a career in horticultural crop production and management. |
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| Options in Environmental Soil Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Environmental Soil Science option will prepare students to effectively manage soil for the production of agricultural commodities and preserve this important natural resource for the benefit of man and the protection of the environment. Students selecting this option need to take Botany 101 and 101L (or their equivalent) or Biology 172 and 172L (or their equivalent), Chemistry 15l and 151L and 152 and 152L or 161, and 161L and 162 and 162L (or their equivalent), Economics 130, Physics 151 and 151L, Business writing (English 209) and Calculus I - Mathematics 215. Some of these courses will fulfill part of the Natural Science requirement of the UH General Education Requirement. These courses are considered prerequisite to courses in the major. |
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Major Courses |
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The following courses need to be taken for this major: |
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Electives |
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Students must take 12 credits from following electives for this option: |
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| In order to solve the complex problems facing agricultural plant production systems, many disciplines must be integrated successfully. Candidates may specialize in genetics and breeding of tropical fruits, vegetables, or ornamentals; physiology, culture, and management of tropical fruits, vegetables, or ornamentals; morphogenesis; crop and stress physiology; post-harvest physiology; growth regulation; plant biochemical genetics; plant cytogenetics; weed science; computer modeling; or turf and landscape management, cropping systems, plant-soil relationships, soil chemistry, soil physics, soil management, soil and water conservation, soil fertility, and soil microbiology. Courses offered in botany, biochemistry, plant pathology, food science, genetics, microbiology, and zoology, combined with courses offered in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, will provide considerable flexibility in the development of a program suited to a student’s career objectives. The department offers graduate study leading to the MS (Plan A, Plan B and Plan C) and PhD degrees. The TPSS graduate program offers a degree in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and an option Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (Horticulture). The degree emphasize the development of problem-solving skills that integrate molecular, biochemical, physiological, chemical, genetic and ecological approaches to collaborative research in plant and soil sciences. The Topical Plant and Soil Sciences degree aims to provide the student with a thorough hands-on understanding of the principles and techniques in the adaptation and application of biotechnology to tropical crop plant production, and the role of soils in supporting the whole system of crop production systems. The option requires understanding of fundamental biological processes, molecular and organism biology, genetics, plant physiology, chemistry, physics, and microbiology. Soil is studied both for intrinsic properties, as well as, its role in supporting crop growth and as an environmental resource. The Horticulture option explores the many facets of tropical food and ornamental crop production and requires the understanding of agricultural systems, plant production, soil fertility, and protection of the environment, as well as supporting disciplines such as crop ecology, plant physiology, and molecular biology. The MS and PhD in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences are recognized Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) regional graduate programs. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible, upon admission, to enroll at Hawai’i-resident tuition rates. |
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Entrance Requirements |
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For admission to the TPSS graduate programs, applicants must present a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 (4.0 equals A scale) or the equivalent in the last four semesters or approximately 60 semester credits of the applicant’s undergraduate record. The GRE is required of all applicants. A minimum CBT TOEFL score of 173 is required of all foreign students. All applicants must submit 2 letters of recommendation at the time of application. |
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Transfer of Credits |
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The transfer of credits to meet the requirements of the MS or PhD is not automatic. The student must petition the Graduate Program Chairman, certifying that the transfers make programmatic sense and that the courses to be transferred are equivalent in rigor and scholastic content to graduate -level (600-level) courses offered at the University of Hawaii. The Graduate Program Chairman may consult with the Graduate Faculty as to the certification. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 12. |
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Graduate Committee |
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Upon entering the graduate program, students will meet with their adviser. If a faculty adviser has not been selected, the Graduate Chairman or his representative will perform this function. The selection of an adviser must be made before the end of the first semester in residence. The adviser, with the approval of the Graduate Chairman, shall guide the student on course selection matters, insure progression in the program, and advise the student until the permanent Graduate Program Committee is established. |
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(See the TPSS website for more graduate degree information) |
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Graduates of the Plan A program can further their graduate studies leading to the PhD degree or enter careers as researchers and technicians, while graduates of the Plan B program typically enter careers in education, agribusiness, extension service, and other agriculturally related occupations. The Plan B is regarded as terminal degree in this Graduate Program. Plan C (examination) option is open to selected students on the recommendation of their graduate program committee. Criteria for selection of Plan C candidates include previous academic records, interviews, levels of performance in the diagnostic examination, and prior research experience. |
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Requirements |
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Students will take a written diagnostic examination the week preceding the first day of instruction. The diagnostic examination consists of questions in eight areas including botany, chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, physics, crop science, statistics, and soil science. The results of this examination will be used by the student’s graduate committee, with approval of the Graduate Program Chairman, to select additional courses for the students program. |
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Graduates of the PhD program have entered careers as researchers and/or educators in institutions of higher learning and in public and private institutions. |
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Requirements |
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Students will take a written diagnostic examination the week preceding the first day of instruction of their first semester as a TPSS graduate candidate. The diagnostic examination consists of questions in eight areas including botany, chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, physics, crop science, statistics, and soil science. The results of this examination will be used by the student’s graduate committee, with approval of the Graduate Program Chairman, to select additional courses for the students program. |
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Courses Available for Each Option |
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Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences: |
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Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences – Horticulture |
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*R. E. Paull, (Chair) PhD - plant growth & development, postharvest handling |
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*R. S. de la Pena, PhD - crop management, root crops |
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*H. Albert. PhD - plant biotechnology, gene regulation |
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