PLANT PATHOLOGY MINOR
Description
The plant pathology minor is designed to provide essential knowledge
and training for careers that involve plant health management. The minor
is targeted to Biological Sciences, Grassland Systems, Microbiology,
Regional and Community Forestry, Plant Biology, and Plant and
Landscape Systems (four options: Agronomy, Horticulture, Turfgrass
and Landscape Management) majors, although it is open to all students
interested in plants and microorganisms. Students pursuing the Minor
in Plant Pathology will develop a foundational understanding of plant
pathology by completing a set of core courses in plant pathology and an
independent research or study project.
College Requirements
College Admission
Requirements for admission into the College of Agricultural Sciences
and Natural Resources (CASNR) are consistent with general University
admission requirements (one unit equals one high school year): 4 units
of English, 4 units of mathematics, 3 units of natural sciences, 3 units
of social sciences, and 2 units of world language. Students must also
meet performance requirements: a 3.0 cumulative high school grade
point average OR an ACT composite of 20 or higher, writing portion not
required OR a score of 1040 or higher on the SAT Critical Reading and
Math sections OR rank in the top one-half of graduating class; transfer
students must have a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average
and 2.0 on the most recent term of attendance. For students entering
the PGA Golf Management degree program, a certified golf handicap
of 12 or better (e.g., USGA handicap card) or written ability (MS Word
file) equivalent to a 12 or better handicap by a PGA professional or high
school golf coach is required. For more information, please visit http://
pgm.unl.edu/requirements (http://pgm.unl.edu/requirements/).
Admission Deficiencies/Removal of Deficiencies
Students who are admitted to CASNR with core course deficiencies must
remove these deficiencies within the first 30 credit hours at the University
of Nebraska–Lincoln, or within the first calendar year at Nebraska,
whichever takes longer, excluding foreign languages. Students have up
to 60 credit hours to remove world language deficiencies. College-level
coursework taken to remove deficiencies may be used to meet degree
requirements in CASNR.
Deficiencies in the required entrance subjects can be removed by the
completion of specified courses in the University or by correspondence.
The Office of Admissions, Alexander Building (south entrance), City
Campus, provides information to new students on how deficiencies can
be removed.
College Degree Requirements
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum requirements of the College consist of three areas: ACE
(Achievement-Centered Education), College of Agricultural Sciences and
Natural Resources Core, and Degree Program requirements and electives.
All three areas of the College Curriculum Requirements are incorporated
within the description of the Major/Degree Program sections of the
catalog. The individual major/degree program listings of classes ensures
that a student will meet the minimum curriculum requirements of the
College.
World Languages/Language Requirement
Two units of a world language are required. This requirement is usually
met with two years of high school language.
Minimum Hours Required for Graduation
The College grants the bachelors degree in programs associated with
agricultural sciences, natural resources, and related programs. Students
working toward a degree must earn at least 120 semester hours of credit.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)
must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for
graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point
average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its
graduation cumulative grade point average.
Grade Rules
Removal of C-, D, and F Grades
Only the most recent letter grade received in a given course will be used
in computing a student’s cumulative grade point average if the student
has completed the course more than once and previously received a
grade or grades below C in that course.
The previous grade (or grades) will not be used in the computation of the
cumulative grade point average, but it will remain a part of the academic
record and will appear on any transcript.
A student can remove from his/her cumulative average a course grade of
C-, D+, D, D-, or F if the student repeats the same course at the University
of Nebraska and receives a grade other than P (pass), I (incomplete), N
(no pass), W (withdrew), or NR (no report). If a course is no longer being
offered, it is not eligible for the revised grade point average computation
process.
For complete procedures and regulations, see the Office of the University
Registrar website at http://www.unl.edu/regrec/course-repeats (http://
http://www.unl.edu/regrec/course-repeats/).
Pass/No Pass
Students in CASNR may take any course offered on a Pass/No Pass
basis within the 24-hour limitation established by the Faculty Senate.
However, a department may specify that the Pass/No Pass status of its
courses be limited to non-majors or may choose to offer some courses
for letter grades only.
GPA Requirements
A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)
must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for
graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point
average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its
graduation cumulative grade point average.
Transfer Credit Rules
To be considered for admission, a transfer student, Nebraska resident or
nonresident, must have an accumulated average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)
and a minimum C average in the last semester of attendance at another
college. Transfer students who have completed less than 12 credit hours
of college study must submit either ACT or SAT scores.
Ordinarily, credits earned at an accredited college are accepted by the
University. The College, however, will evaluate all hours submitted on
an application for transfer and reserves the right to accept or reject
any of them. Sixty (60) is the maximum number of hours the University
will accept on transfer from a two-year college. Ninety (90) is the
maximum number of hours the University will accept from a four-year
2 Plant Pathology Minor
college. Transfer credit in the degree program must be approved by
the degree program advisor on a Request for Substitution Form to
meet specific course requirements, group requirements, or course level
requirements in the major. At least 9 hours in the major field, including
the capstone course, must be completed at the University of Nebraska–
Lincoln regardless of the number of hours transferred.
The College will accept no more than 10 semester hours of C-, D+, D, and
D- grades from other schools. The C-, D+, D, and D- grades can only be
applied to free electives. This policy does not apply to the transfer of
grades from UNO or UNK to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Joint Academic Transfer Programs
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has
agreements with many institutions to support joint academic programs.
The transfer programs include dual degree programs and cooperative
degree programs. Dual degree programs offer students the opportunity
to receive a degree from a participating institution and also to complete
requirements for a bachelor of science degree in CASNR. Cooperative
programs result in a single degree from either the University of
Nebraska–Lincoln or the cooperating institution.
Dual Degree Programs
A to B Programs
The A to B Program, a joint academic program offered by the CASNR and
participating community colleges, allows students to complete the first
two years of a degree program at the participating community college
and continue their education and study in a degree program leading
toward a bachelor of science degree.
The A to B Program provides a basic knowledge plus specialized
coursework. Students transfer into CASNR with junior standing.
Depending on the community college, students enrolled in the A to B
Program may complete the requirements for an associate of science at
the community college, transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln,
and work toward a bachelor of science degree.
Participating community colleges include:
• Central Community College
• Metropolitan Community College
• Mid-Plains Community College
• Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
• Nebraska Indian Community College
• Northeast Community College
• Southeast Community College
• Western Nebraska Community College
3+2 Programs
Two specialized degree programs in animal science and veterinary
science are offered jointly with an accredited college or school of
veterinary medicine. These two programs permit CASNR animal science
or veterinary science students to receive a bachelor of science degree
from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a degree in animal science
or veterinary science after successfully completing two years of the
professional curriculum in veterinary medicine at an accredited veterinary
school. Students who successfully complete the 3+2 Program, must
provide transcripts and complete the Application for Degree form via
MyRED. Students without MyRED access may apply for graduation in
person at Husker Hub in the Canfield Administration Building, or by mail.
Students should discuss these degree programs with their academic
advisor.
Cooperative Degree Programs
Academic credit from the University and a cooperating institution
are applied towards a four-year degree from either the University
of Nebraska–Lincoln (University degree-granting program) or the
cooperating institution (non University degree-granting program). All have
approved programs of study.
UNL Degree-Granting Programs
A University of Nebraska–Lincoln degree-granting program is designed
to provide students the opportunity to complete a two-year program of
study at one of the four-year institutions listed below, transfer to CASNR,
and complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree.
Chadron State College. Chadron State College offers a 2+2 program
leading to a grassland ecology and management degree program and
a transfer program leading to a bachelor of science in agricultural
education in the teaching option.
Wayne State College. Wayne State College offers a 3+1 program leading
to a bachelor of science in plant biology in the ecology and management
option and a 3+1 program leading to a bachelor of science in Applied
Science.
University of Nebraska at Kearney. Transfer programs are available for
students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science
degree.
University of Nebraska at Omaha. Transfer programs are available for
students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science
degree.
Non University of Nebraska–Lincoln Degree-Granting Programs
CASNR cooperates with other institutions to provide coursework that is
applied towards a degree at the cooperating institution. Pre-professional
programs offered by CASNR allow students to complete the first two or
three years of a degree program at the University prior to transferring and
completing a degree at the cooperating institution.
Chadron State College–Range Science. The 3+1 Program in range
science allows Chadron State College students to pursue a range science
degree through Chadron State College. Students complete three years of
coursework at Chadron State College and one year of specialized range
science coursework (32 credit hours) at CASNR.
Dordt College (Iowa)–Agricultural Education: Teaching Option. This
program allows students to pursue an Agricultural Education Teaching
Option degree leading toward a bachelor of science in agricultural
education. Students at Dordt College will complete 90 credit hours in the
Agricultural Education: Teaching Option Transfer Program.
Residency
Students must complete at least 30 of the total hours for their degree
using University of Nebraska–Lincoln credits. At least 18 of the 30 credit
hours must be in courses offered through CASNR
1
(>299) including
the appropriate ACE 10 degree requirement or an approved ACE 10
substitution offered through another Nebraska college and excluding
independent study regardless of the number of hours transferred.
Credit earned during education abroad may be used toward the
residency requirement if students register through the University of
Nebraska–Lincoln and participate in prior-approved education abroad
Plant Pathology Minor 3
programs. University of Nebraska–Lincoln open enrollment and summer
independent study courses count toward residence.
1
Includes courses taught by CASNR faculty through interdisciplinary
prefixes (e.g., LIFE, MBIO, ENVR, SCIL, EAEP, HRTM, ENSC) and CASNR
crosslisted courses taught by non-CASNR faculty.
Online and Distance Education
There are many opportunities to earn college credit online through
the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Some of these credits may be
applicable not only as elective credits but also toward the fulfillment of
the College’s education requirements. Credits earned online may count
toward residency. However, certain offerings may not be counted toward
scholarship requirements or academic recognition criteria.
For further information, contact:
Office of Online and Distance Education
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
305 Brace Labs
Lincoln, NE 68588-0109
402-472-4681
http://online.unl.edu/
Independent Study Rules
Students wishing to take part in independent studies must obtain
permission; complete and sign a contract form; and furnish copies of the
contract to the instructor, advisor, departmental office, and the Dean’s
Office. The contract should be completed before registration. Forms are
available in 103 Agricultural Hall or online at the CASNR website.
Independent study projects include research, literature review or
extension of coursework under supervision and evaluation of a
departmental faculty member.
Students may only count 12 hours of independent study toward their
degrees and no more than 6 hours can be counted during their last 36
hours earned, excluding senior thesis, internships, and courses taught
under an independent study number.
Other College Degree Requirements
Capstone Course Requirement
A capstone course is required for each CASNR degree program. A
capstone course is defined as a course in which students are required to
integrate diverse bodies of knowledge to solve a problem or formulate a
policy of societal importance.
ACE Requirements
All students must fulfill the Achievement Centered Education (ACE)
requirements. Information about the ACE program may be viewed at
ace.unl.edu (https://ace.unl.edu/).
The minimum requirements of CASNR reflect the common core of
courses that apply to students pursuing degrees in the college. Students
should work with an advisor to satisfy ACE outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10
with the college requirements.
Catalog Rule
Students must fulfill the requirements stated in the catalog for the
academic year in which they are first admitted to the University of
Nebraska–Lincoln or when they were first admitted to a Joint Academic
Transfer Program. In consultation with advisors, a student may choose
to follow a subsequent catalog for any academic year in which they are
admitted to and enrolled as a degree-seeking student at Nebraska in the
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Students must
complete all degree requirements from a single catalog year. The catalog
which a student follows for degree requirements may not be more than
10 years old at the time of graduation.
Requirements for Minor Offered by
Department
The plant pathology minor is designed to provide essential knowledge
and training for careers that
involve plant health management and is open to all students interested in
plants and microorganisms.
Students completing this minor will be able to distinguish the
microorganism groups that cause disease
in plants; explain the importance of the environment on disease
occurrence; describe the interactions
between pathogens and plants that determine disease; identify
appropriate disease management
strategies; demonstrate laboratory skills necessary to cause disease in
plants and to extract and/or culture
plant pathogens; and conduct plant disease related experiments.
Students who plan to pursue the minor
must consult with a minor advisor assigned by the Department of Plant
Pathology for guidance on the
development of course of study.
Core Requirements
PLPT 210 Plant Pathogens and Disease 2
PLPT 270 /
AGRO 270 /
HORT 270 /
NRES 270
Biological Invaders 3
PLPT 369L Introductory Plant Pathology Lab 1
PLPT 418 Microbial Genetics & Genomics 3
PLPT 496 Independent Study 1-5
or PLPT 498 Independent Research
Credit Hours Subtotal: 12
Elective Courses
Plant Systems
Choose one of the following: 3
PLPT 369 /
BIOS 369
Introductory Plant Pathology
AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology
BIOC 434 /
BIOS 434 /
AGRO 434 /
CHEM 434
Plant Biochemistry
AGRO 435 /
HORT 435 /
NRES 435
Agroecology
AGRO 440 /
RNGE 440 /
NRES 440 /
GRAS 440
Great Plains Ecosystem
Microbiology
Choose one of the following: 3
4 Plant Pathology Minor
AGRO 460 /
BIOS 460 /
NRES 460 /
SOIL 460
Soil Microbial Ecology
BIOS 312 Microbiology
BIOS 326 Biology of Viruses
BIOS 421 Microbial Diversity
Credit Hours Subtotal: 6
Total Credit Hours 18
Grade Rules
C- and D Grades
A grade of C or better must be earned in all courses in the minor.
Pass/No Pass
No more than 3 credit hours of coursework can be taken for Pass/No
Pass credit may count toward the minor.
PLPT 110 Molds and Man
Prerequisites: Non-science major.
Description: Impact of fungi on human welfare. Historical and current
perspective. Toxic molds and indoor air quality. Fungi as agents of human
disease. Fungi and food security. High value drugs produced by fungi.
Role of fungi in biodiversity. Fungi and the development of modern
biology.
Credit Hours: 3
Max credits per semester: 3
Max credits per degree: 3
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 210 Plant Pathogens and Disease
Prerequisites: AGRO 131, BIOS 101, ENTO 115, HORT 131, or LIFE 120.
Description: Introduction to fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses that
cause plant diseases. The impact that plant diseases can have on society
and the environment. Strategies used in managing plant diseases in
agricultural and landscape environments.
Credit Hours: 2
Max credits per semester: 2
Max credits per degree: 2
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 270 Biological Invaders
Crosslisted with: AGRO 270, HORT 270, NRES 270
Prerequisites: 3 hrs biological sciences.
Description: Impact of exotic species and invasive organisms:
agricultural and medical emerging disease; predicting biological
invasions; biological control; regulatory, monitoring, and control efforts;
ecological impact.
Credit Hours: 3
Max credits per semester: 3
Max credits per degree: 3
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 369 Introductory Plant Pathology
Crosslisted with: BIOS 369
Prerequisites: AGRO 131/HORT 131, or LIFE 120 and 120L, or BIOS 109.
Description: Relation of plant disease to crop production, the
environment, and society. Organisms that cause disease and their
interactions with plants. Strategies for plant disease management.
Credit Hours: 3
Max credits per semester: 3
Max credits per degree: 3
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 369L Introductory Plant Pathology Lab
Prerequisites: Must enroll in both PLPT 369 (lecture) and PLPT 369L (lab)
Description: Optional lab for PLPT 369.
Credit Hours: 1
Max credits per semester: 1
Max credits per degree: 1
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 414 Turfgrass Disease Management
Crosslisted with: AGRO 414, AGRO 814, HORT 414, HORT 814, PLPT 814,
TLMT 414, TLMT 814
Prerequisites: BIOS/PLPT 369 or one semester of introductory plant
pathology.
Description: Pathogens, epidemiology, and control of diseases specific to
turfgrass.
Credit Hours: 1
Max credits per semester: 1
Max credits per degree: 1
Grading Option: Graded with Option
PLPT 418 Microbial Genetics & Genomics
Crosslisted with: PLPT 818
Prerequisites: BIOS 206 or AGRO 215.
Notes: BIOS 312 recommended.
Description: Inheritance, exchange, and regulation of genes in prokaryotic
microorganisms: gene structure and function; gene transfer and the
elements (plasmids, phages, and transposons) involved; DNA mutations,
repair, and genetic analysis; genome sequencing, microbial genome
databases, and global gene expression analysis.
Credit Hours: 3
Max credits per semester: 3
Max credits per degree: 3
Grading Option: Graded
PLPT 495 Internship in Plant Pathology
Prerequisites: Junior standing.
Description: Experience in a work place setting that is directly related to
Plant Pathology.
Credit Hours: 1-3
Min credits per semester: 1
Max credits per semester: 3
Max credits per degree: 5
Grading Option: Pass No Pass
PLPT 496 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Advanced approval of the plan of study and permission.
Description: Research, literature review, extension of course work, or
preparation of teaching materials.
Credit Hours: 1-5
Min credits per semester: 1
Max credits per semester: 5
Max credits per degree: 5
Grading Option: Graded with Option
More details at: http://microbiology.unl.edu