The Division of Plant Sciences maintains excellent graduate programs with classroom instruction and research supervision provided by leading scientists in the field. The DPS offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences. A student can select training from a wide range of courses and research programs to prepare for a career in research, teaching, industry and extension work. Students can follow a traditional curriculum or take advantage of the cross-disciplinary expertise that exists within the division.

Students also benefit from interaction with closely allied academic units on and off campus. Students work with scientists in two campus-based USDA research units associated with the division: the Plant Genetics Unit and the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory. Additional opportunities exist for interaction with scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis. Numerous USDA and Danforth Center scientists hold adjunct appointments in the DPS. Students in the DPS are encouraged to interact with interdisciplinary programs on campus such as the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, the Molecular Biology Program, the Genetics Area Program, the Center for Agroforestry and the Missouri Precision Agriculture Center.