Program Overview

Program Overview

The graduate program in Botany plays a significant role in teaching at the graduate level of the Biological Department of the Faculty of Science, through a series of specialized mandatory and elective courses. The program builds on the foundational knowledge acquired at the undergraduate level, enabling students to gain a deeper understanding of plant organisms, their diversity, functional processes, and role in ecosystems, as well as the application of modern research methods in biology.

Program Structure

The program is designed to develop analytical and critical thinking, and to equip students with the skills necessary for independent scientific and professional work. The courses offered by the Botany Department at the graduate level cover a wide range of thematic areas, including:

• Plant ecology, protistology, and vegetation science
• Biogeography
• Geobotany
• Research on the flora of Croatia and its endangerment
  • Special emphasis is placed on understanding the structure and function of plants at the molecular, physiological, and ecological levels, through courses in:
    • Molecular biology of plants
    • Phylogeny and molecular systematics
    • Stress physiology
    • Regulatory mechanisms in photosynthesis
    • The role of plant bioactive substances and compounds

Interdisciplinary Approach

The program also introduces students to the applied aspects of botany, including:

• Invasive species
• Nature conservation
• Horticulture
• Applied algology
• The use of GIS in biological research
• The program allows students to acquire practical and methodological knowledge through laboratory practice, data analysis in biological research, and specialized areas such as:
  • Palinology
  • Archaeobotany
  • Plankton ecology
  • Microbial ecology

Career Opportunities

The graduate program provides students with the opportunity to profile their scientific interests and represents a key phase in preparation for a scientific-research career or work in applied biological and environmental structures. The interdisciplinary approach to teaching enables the connection of botany with ecology, molecular biology, environmental protection, and biotechnological applications.