Global Plant Breeding

Program Overview

With a need to double food production by 2050 using fewer resources, students entering the Global Plant Breeding program will be prepared to develop climate-resilient crops that can thrive in sustainable systems. New tools and technologies increase the efficiency of plant breeding, but few plant breeders are trained on new breeding tools (NBTs). Our online degree in plant breeding is accessible worldwide to students interested in utilizing these tools to hit the ground running by obtaining an advanced degree. The curriculum in the Global Plant Breeding (GPB) online masters program is designed with careers in the public and private sectors in mind. The core courses in the GPB MS use real-time plant breeding systems as case studies to showcase the use of core and cross-cutting concepts in practice.

Program Outcomes

This program is designed with a non-thesis final project within a capstone course. This allows students to apply knowledge gained in the program to improve a crop of choice with a specific location and traits in mind. The program is available to a global audience including professional plant breeders who wish to obtain a higher degree. It also provides opportunities for collaboration and networking with peers from around the world working on the same (or different) crop/s at different locations.

Through our Program You’ll:

• Complete training in plant breeding practice in less than two years with an online asynchronous option to provide greater flexibility.
• Obtain hands-on experience in plant breeding at a local university, research institution, or private company (through an internship or at your current place of employment, if applies) through an independent study.
• Complete 30 credits with 2-3 credit courses, an Independent Study, and a final Capstone course that includes defending a non-thesis project designed to apply new breeding tools in plant breeding practice.
• Learn design thinking and leadership skills to develop and manage a plant breeding program with a focus on desirable and feasible outcomes.
  Obtain a master’s degree from Michigan State University, the premier land-grant university in the US.

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Use plant breeding core concepts and cross-cutting concepts in the Plant Breeding practice.
• Survey the needs of the entire crop value chain to determine breeding objectives that are locally relevant (environmentally sustainable), biologically possible, and economically feasible.
• Effectively evaluate existing germplasm and assemble genetic variability needed to fulfill breeding objectives.
• Decide on the best tools, technologies, and collaborations necessary to achieve breeding objectives with desirable outcomes that are economically feasible.
• Adhere to regulations required for accessing germplasm, using new breeding tools for improving crops, and disseminating varieties.

Career Outlook

Plant Breeding is a rapidly evolving field with a newly developed curriculum to cater to the growing needs of the plant breeding profession and practice.

The Global Plant Breeding MS online is created for:

• Students seeking to complete a fast-track master’s degree
• Professionals currently employed at seed companies, field crop/fruit breeding companies, CGIAR centers, or National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS)
• Universities who wish to update their plant breeding knowledge with a flexible and cost-effective remote option.

With a curriculum that allows students to choose a crop, location, and traits important for their local communities or place of employment, students can focus on applying their knowledge to research projects that directly prepare them for job opportunities. Upon completion, students will have a valuable degree from a top-ranking agricultural institution. They’ll gain the necessary skills to seek employment in public and/or private plant breeding programs and/or be eligible for a promotion if already employed at an institution involved in crop improvement. All of this can be achieved in less than two years without leaving current employment, families, states, or countries!

Course Information

Complete all of the following courses (24 credits):

CSS 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (3 credits)

CSS 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics (3 credits)

CSS 815 Statistics for Plant Breeders (3 credits)

CSS 816 R Modules for Plant Breeders (2 credits)

CSS 817 Global Plant Breeding Regulations (2 credits)

CSS 818 Design Thinking and Leadership for Plant Breeders (2 credits)

CSS 830 Breeding for Quantitative Traits (3 credits)

CSS 831 Breeding for Biotic and Abiotic Stresses (3 credits)

CSS 832 Global Seed Systems (3 credits)

Complete both of the following courses (6 credits):

CSS 890 Independent Study (3 credits)

Independent study credits could be earned by working in a lab/breeding program at an institution of choice during a given semester (which could be at a CGIAR center, NARS, home universities, or a private sector institution) and write and present a paper on their experience. Based on the experience gained, students would write a paper on how new breeding tools could improve the efficiency of that specific program. Students would select three different crops to fulfill the three credits of CSS 890. The idea is for students to realize that not all breeding tools can be used to improve every crop/trait and that breeders need to decide on breeding strategies depending on the tools they have access to for the specific crops hence, it is a case-by-case process. Those seeking teaching experiences may participate in a plant breeding program/project and create a module to improve online learning through plant breeding case studies.

CSS 870 Capstone in Global Plant Breeding (3 credits)

The capstone can only be taken once a student completes all the required courses (including independent study credits). In the capstone experience, students are expected to select a local crop of interest and develop a breeding strategy to reduce the time it takes to release a variety by half using new breeding tools and by partnering with other institutions after carefully considering the needs of the value chain from growers to consumers at the given location. As such, this experience allows students to apply the knowledge gained from all the courses and experiences in the Plan B MS online.

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

• A bachelor's degree with grade point average of 3.0; completed at least one college-level introductory course in Advanced Mathematics, Biology and Genetics
• Completed 15 undergraduate credit hours in plant science coursework
• Previous work experience preferred (Résumé/CV) 
• provide a resume or test scores from a standardized graduate or professional school test such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, DAT, or LSAT, which may be waived if the applicant has a previously conferred graduate or professional degree
• TOEFL/IELTS if English is not your native language
• A written personal statement detailing your interest and experience in plant breeding and personal career goals
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all previous schools

To apply to this program:

• Complete a university graduate application.
• Submit all required materials