Program Overview

Major in Biological Science, Botany Concentration

The Major in Biological Science with a concentration in Botany is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of plant biology, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. The program covers a wide range of topics, including plant anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolution, and systematics.

Overview

Botany is the general study of plants and plant-like organisms, encompassing topics such as plant growth and development, plant-environment interactions, and the diversity of plant species. The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in plant ecology, taxonomy, forestry, plant pathology, or other related fields.

Requirements

To complete the Major in Biological Science with a concentration in Botany, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 42 credits at the upper-division level (300- to 400-level).
• Maintain a minimum grade of C- in all BZ, LIFE, and BC courses used to meet requirements for the major, as well as all Upper Division Botany Concentration Electives.
• Complete the following core courses:
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry Lab I
  • LIFE 102: Attributes of Living Systems
  • LIFE 103: Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants
  • MATH 155: Calculus for Biological Scientists I
  • MATH 160: Calculus for Physical Scientists I
• Complete the following botany concentration courses:
  • BZ 220: Introduction to Evolution
  • BZ 325: Plant Systematics
  • BZ 331: Developmental Plant Anatomy
  • BZ 440: Plant Physiology
  • BZ 441: Plant Physiology Laboratory
• Complete a minimum of 9 credits of Upper Division Botany Concentration Electives, chosen from a list of approved courses.
• Complete a minimum of 5 credits of electives, which can be chosen from any department.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing the Major in Biological Science with a concentration in Botany, students will be able to:

1. Attain a solid foundation in the natural sciences, with emphasis on biological processes and phenomena.
2. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of biological concepts, processes, and phenomena that are broadly applicable to organisms, as well as more detailed understanding of multiple aspects of biological concepts, processes, and phenomena applicable to plants and allied organisms.
3. Demonstrate strong analytical, mathematical, and statistical skills, and the ability to apply these appropriately in botanical contexts.
4. Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, integrate, and evaluate material from botany and related fields, and effectively communicate such information.

Upper Division Botany Concentration Electives

The following courses are approved as Upper Division Botany Concentration Electives:

• ATS 350: Introduction to Weather and Climate
• BSPM 308: Ecology and Management of Weeds
• BSPM 361: Elements of Plant Pathology
• BSPM 365: Integrated Tree Health Management
• BSPM 450: Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction
• BZ 223: Plant Identification 2
• BZ 240: Synthetic Biology-Principles and Applications
• BZ 320: Biogeographic Approaches to Conservation
• BZ 333: Introductory Mycology
• BZ 339: Biology Field Practicum
• BZ 342: Exploring Range Shifts in a Changing World
• BZ 348/MATH 348: Theory of Population and Evolutionary Ecology
• BZ 349: Tropical Ecology and Evolution
• BZ 360: Bioinformatics and Genomics
• BZ 415: Marine Biology
• BZ 424/BSPM 424: Principles of Systematic Science
• BZ 425: Conservation and Population Genomics
• BZ 449A: Study Abroad--Ecuador: Ecology/Conservation–Ecuadorian Biodiversity
• BZ 460: Genome Evolution
• BZ 471: Stream Biology and Ecology
• BZ 472: Stream Biology and Ecology Laboratory
• BZ 476/BZ 576: Genetics of Model Organisms
• BZ 477: Genome Editing Laboratory
• BZ 492B: Seminar: Ecology
• BZ 492C: Seminar: Genetics
• BZ 492F: Seminar: Evolution
• BZ 525: Advanced Conservation & Evolutionary Genomics
• BZ 526/BSPM 526: Evolutionary Ecology
• BZ 540: Translocation in Plants
• BZ 541: Hemp Biology
• BZ 560: Teaching and Communicating Science
• BZ 562: Computational Approaches in Molecular Ecology
• BZ 568/FW 568: Sustaining River Ecosystems in Changing World
• BZ 570: Molecular Aspects of Plant Development
• BZ 572: Phytoremediation
• F 311: Forest Ecology
• F 313/RS 313: Dendrology and Herbaceous Plant ID
• F 324: Fire Effects and Adaptations
• F 325: Silviculture
• F 421: Ecological Forest Management
• F 430: Forestry Field Practices
• F 466/HORT 466: Urban and Community Forestry
• F 510: Ecophysiology of Trees
• GR 348: Biogeography
• HORT 401: Medicinal and Value-Added Uses of Plants
• HORT 476: Environmental Plant Stress Physiology
• PHIL 325: Philosophy of Natural Science
• RS 331: Wildland Plants and Plant Communities
• RS 351: Wildland Ecosystems in a Changing World
• RS 378: Disturbance Ecology
• RS 420: Grass Taxonomy
• SOCR 210: Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)
• SOCR 335: Applied Plant Genetics
• SOCR 375: Soil Biogeochemistry
• SOCR 440: Pedology
• SOCR 441: Soil Ecology
• SOCR 442: Forest and Range Soils

Major Completion Map

The following is a sample major completion map for the Major in Biological Science with a concentration in Botany:

• Semester 1:
  • CO 150: College Composition
  • LIFE 102: Attributes of Living Systems
  • MATH 155: Calculus for Biological Scientists I
  • Arts and Humanities
• Semester 2:
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry Lab I
  • LIFE 103: Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants
  • 1C
• Semester 3:
  • BZ 220: Introduction to Evolution
  • CHEM 113: General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 114: General Chemistry Lab II
  • Historical Perspectives
• Semester 4:
  • Select one group from the following:
    • CHEM 245: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
    • CHEM 246: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM 341: Modern Organic Chemistry I
    • CHEM 343: Modern Organic Chemistry II
    • CHEM 344: Modern Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • Select one course from the following:
    • STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
    • STAT 307: Introduction to Biostatistics
• Semester 5:
  • BZ 331: Developmental Plant Anatomy
  • Select one course from the following:
    • BC 351: Principles of Biochemistry
    • BC 401: Comprehensive Biochemistry I
  • Upper Division Botany Concentration Elective
• Semester 6:
  • BZ 325: Plant Systematics
  • BZ 440: Plant Physiology
  • BZ 441: Plant Physiology Laboratory
• Semester 7:
  • BZ 310: Cell Biology
  • Advanced Writing
  • Upper Division Botany Concentration Electives
• Semester 8:
  • BZ 350: Molecular and General Genetics
  • BZ 450: Plant Ecology
  • Upper Division Botany Concentration Elective