植物病理学是由病原体和环境因素引起的植物病害的研究，涉及真菌学，细菌学，线虫学，病毒学，疾病生理生化，宿主-寄生虫分子生物学的分子生物学，植物病害，病因，生态学和流行病学的研究。抗性，以及使用文化，化学，生物和生物技术方法进行的综合疾病管理。由于其广泛的使命，植物病理学系与该州以及国家和国际范围内的所有其他以植物和生物学为导向的部门以及商品团体有着密切的联系。该部门的任务通过创新的研究和奖学金促进植物病理学知识的发展，通过对研究生的培训将其知识扩展到世界各地，并通过应用知识来保护华盛顿州立大学的质和量，从
Plant Pathology is the study of plant diseases caused by pathogens and environmental factors, it involves study in mycology, bacteriology, nematology, virology, disease physiology and biochemistry, molecular biology of host-parasite relationships, etiology, ecology and epidemiology of plant diseases, disease resistance, and integrated disease management using cultural, chemical, biological and and biotechnological approaches. Because of its broad mission, the Department of Plant Pathology has strong interrelationships with all other plant- and biology-oriented departments and commodity groups within the state and nationally and internationally. The mission of the department reflects the strategic goals of Washington State University by advancing knowledge of plant pathology through creative research and scholarship, by extending that knowledge worldwide through the training of graduate students, and by applying the knowledge to protect the quality and quantity of the local and global food supply.