• Botany is not just about flowers and trees. Nearly all natural science disciplines involve plant biology in some way. Botanists study organisms ranging in size from microscopic algae in thermal springs to giant redwood trees in California and fungal organisms an acre or more in size. Botanical science ranges from the molecular to the organismal, and from individual organisms to the world biosphere.
  • Botany is the study of plants, including a wide range of organisms from microscopic algae to the tallest trees.  Plant scientists approach the study of plants from several different levels of the organization.  Molecular plant biologists study the structure and function of biological molecules in plants, including biochemical and molecular aspects of genetics.  Plant physiologists study the functions and vital processes of plants, including photosynthesis and mineral nutrition.  Plant systematists study the evolutionary history and relationships among plants.  Plant ecologists study the relationships between plants and the environments in which they live, both individually and in communities.
  • The Botany major is chosen by many students seeking a career in environmental assessment, agriculture, or horticulture.  It is also selected by those who wish to teach in the biological sciences or to conduct research in environmental science.
  • Learning Outcomes for the BA/BS in Botany are to
    1. Demonstrate how to collect, summarize, analyze and interpret scientific data
    2. Develop the skills to communicate research findings and scientific knowledge to experts and non-specialists
    3. Understand the structure and functions of plants, how they interact with other organisms, and how they function within ecological and global systems