UC Davis Postgraduate Programs

Postgraduate Certificate in Postharvest Biology & Technology

The Postharvest Program, University of California, Davis, in collaboration with University Extension, offers a 6 to 12 month certificate program. The program is designed for students desiring specialized training through course, laboratory, and field work in Postharvest Biology and Technology and related disciplines. The program has considerable flexibility and can be tailored to an individual's interest, prior experience, and may emphasize vegetables, fruits, or ornamentals. Training will include courses in postharvest biology and technology, and may include a diversity of related courses in marketing, food safety, instrumentation, plant pathology and economic entomology. Direct experience in a research laboratory can be arranged provided a member of the Postharvest Program has sufficient space and resources to make this accommodation. Students will normally begin their study in the summer.

Master of Science Degree Programs

A Master of Science degree in Horticulture and Agronomy is offered by the Departments of Plant Sciences, and Viticulture and Enology.
Students affiliated with any of the four horticultural departments may also obtain a Master of Science degree in Plant Biology, pursuing their research under the direction of any postharvest faculty member who is affiliated with the interdepartmental Plant Biology Group.
A Master of Science degree in International Agricultural Development or Food Science may be earned with an emphasis on postharvest technology.
Students enrolled in the M.S. degree program in Plant Pathology, or Biological Systems Engineering can include postharvest biology and technology in their programs and can carry out their research under the guidance of a faculty member in the departments which offer these degrees together with one of the faculty members in the Postharvest Biology Program.

Doctoral Degree Programs

Most postharvest biology students enroll in the Plant Biology or Horticulture and Agronomy Ph.D. programs and after completing the "core" course work requirements of either program, emphasize postharvest biology in their course work and thesis research.
Students who are interested specifically in postharvest pathology or biochemistry can pursue a Ph.D. degree in Plant Pathology or Biochemistry, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology.
Students interested in Food Science can pursue a Ph.D. degree in Food Science.

Admission Requirements

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required by UCD Graduate Studies; some departments and graduate groups have higher minimum GPA requirements.
GRE scores and letters of recommendation are also required.
In addition, students from non-English speaking countries are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and attain a specified minimum score (now set at 550) before admission is approved.
Application deadline is April 1 (for international students, it is March 1). Some programs have earlier deadlines; check with the specific program.

Financial Aid

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Nonresident Tuition Fellowships are available on a merit basis. Application deadline is Janurary 15. Most departments have research assistantships (RA's) which are offered to the most qualified students.

For more information, contact the chairperson of the department and/or graduate group that you are interested in. Also some faculty members may have RA's available (funded by extramural sources, e.g. grants). For information about these RA positions and other employment opportunities contact the faculty members directly. Files of applicants are directed from Graduate Studies to the various graduate groups for individual faculty member review.

More Information

For more information about admissions, requirements for degrees, fees and expenses, financial aid, etc. contact:

Mikal Saltveit, Program Coordinator
Postharvest Program
Department of Plant Sciences
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8746 USA
mesaltveit@ucdavis.edu