This PPAS awards a doctoral degree upon completion of a minimum of 24 credits of course work and 12 credits of dissertation work. Students come from agricultural or related disciplines may seek their advisers and take courses from one of the following departments: Agronomy, Horticulture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Wood Based Materials and Design, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Biotechnology. Landscape Architecture and Plant Medicine.

Due to the comprehensive coverage of different research topics in this program, the course requirement for a learning plan will be determined and organized by student and his/her adviser. Students taking courses from College of Life Sciences on the same campus is also allowed and encouraged.