Lincoln, Nebraska
December 18, 2008
The
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is set to begin only the
second program in the country that will offer a doctor of plant
health degree.
The Professional Program in Plant Health has been given final
approval to begin in 2009. Gary Hein, who has served as
professor of entomology at the Panhandle Research and Extension
Center in Scottsbluff, will be program director.
"It's comparable to the doctor of veterinary medicine program
for animals and doctor of public health for humans, only it's
for plants," Hein said. "It will involve intensive course work
but also intensive practicum or internship training."
The University of Florida is the only other U.S. university with
a similar program.
The program will be different from other graduate programs in
the plant sciences that lead to a master's or Ph.D degree in
that this program will train practitioners rather than
researchers, Hein said.
Students will be broadly trained in areas of entomology,
agronomy and horticulture, plant pathology and soil science.
Hein expects most students entering the program will have
undergraduate degrees in those areas, although an undergraduate
degree in most areas of science would be acceptable to get into
the program.
The program, which Hein expects will take three to four years to
complete, will prepare students for a variety of jobs, including
those in plant health industries, crop consulting, extension
education and some state and federal agencies. The graduates
likely will be highly sought after in agricultural industries,
he said.
The program has support from the agricultural industry, which
has been asking for it for some time, Hein said.
Anne Vidaver, professor of plant pathology who has been leading
the effort to start the program, said the industry and
government have assured UNL that jobs will be available for
those who complete the program.
The National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, of which
Lincoln crop consultant Earle Raun is a member, strongly
supported the program, Raun said. Several in the organization
wrote letters of support to get the program started.
Support from the agricultural industry was key, Hein said. The
support should help provide funding that can be used to support
student scholarships and assistantships, provide internship
training opportunities, and make jobs available for program
graduates.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this new program,
one of only two in the nation," said CASNR Dean Steve Waller.
"It is an excellent example of a public/private partnership with
the industry and the university working together to provide a
curriculum that meets the needs of future professionals."
For more information on the program, contact Gary Hein at (402)
472-3345 or ghein1@unl.edu. |
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