Botany
The botany curriculum provides a broad background in the biology of plants, from the molecular to the organismic level. Students who major in botany will take courses in anatomy, ecology, genetics, physiology, taxonomy and molecular biology of plants and biochemistry.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Hours for Degree: 120
- Specializations: Basic Science, Preprofessional Botany
- Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: www.biology.ufl.edu/undergraduates/botany.aspx
Overview
Small-sized classes are taught by faculty who enjoy teaching and have a commitment to undergraduate education. Opportunities also exist for students to perform supervised research, assisting faculty on research projects on campus and abroad. The major prepares students for careers in industry, government agencies and teaching jobs in high schools.
Combined Degree Programs
The Department of Biology offers a BS/MS (thesis or non-thesis) in botany. Admission requires a minimum score of 1100 on the GRE and a minimum 3.2 GPA. Students can have a maximum of 12 overlapping credits. Contact the undergraduate coordinator, Dr. Bernard Hauser, biouc-l@lists.ufl.edu, or call (352) 392-1175 for more information.
Coursework for the Major
Required coursework for the major will be dependent upon the specialization chosen. Coursework for each specialization can be found below under Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan.
Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
Majors in botany can minor in most other disciplines, and this is a good way to organize students' electives around areas of interest. Note that botany majors cannot minor in biology, nor can biology majors minor in botany (the curricula for the botany and biology majors are too similar).
UFTeach Program: There is a severe shortage of qualified secondary science teachers in Florida and nationwide. Students interested in becoming part of this high-demand profession should see a botany adviser or the UFTeach adviser. UFTeach students complete the UFTeach minor in science teaching with their B.S. in botany and have the coursework and preparation for professional teacher certification in Florida when they graduate.
Research
Botany majors are strongly encouraged to participate in research. Research experience is valuable on many levels: it diversifies your college experience; it teaches you how scientists apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to real world questions; it gives you the opportunity to work with and get to know researchers who are the best in their field; it introduces you to cutting edge scientific questions and techniques; it can enhance your resume/CV when applying to graduate or professional school; and finally it is essential in helping you determine if science is a good career choice for you.
CALS preprofessional botany majors may participate in research for course credit (e.g., ZOO 4905), as a scholar (e.g., University Scholar, HHMI Science for Life Scholar, Beckman Scholar), as a volunteer or (in rare cases) as a paid research assistant. If you plan to enroll for course credit, you must contact potential research mentors before the end of drop/add. If you miss the drop/add window, you should still contact potential research mentors, if only to discuss upcoming opportunities.
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Basic Science
Preprofessional Botany This program is for students who plan to attend professional (e.g., medical, dental, law) or graduate school.
Basic Science
This option is intended for students who do not plan to attend graduate or professional school. A student must achieve a minimum grade of C in all required courses (i.e., the foundation and major requirements) other than electives for the major in botany.
Required Foundation Courses
- BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) or BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3)
- BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (8 total credits) or MCB 2000 Microbiology (3)
- CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) and
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (8 total credits)
- CHM 2200 and 2200L Basic Organic Chemistry (3) and Basic Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
- MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (4)
- PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1)
Required Courses for the Basic Science Major
- AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or PCB 3063 Genetics (4)
- BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (4)
- BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy (3) or
BOT 5725C Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
- BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory (2)
- BOT 4935C or BOT 5225C Plant Anatomy (4)
- PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) or
PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3)
- Two biological or physical science electives outside of botany: Any AGR, ENY, FNR, FOR, GEO, GLY, ORH, PLP, STA, SWS or ZOO course (6-8 total credits)
- Two botany electives from BOT 2800C, BOT 3151C, BOT 5305, BOT 5625,
BOT 5655C, BOT 5685C, BOT 5695, BOT 5725C, PCB 3023, PCB 5046C and
PLP 5656C (6-8 total credits)
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Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, including labs: BOT 2010C or
BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/2011L or MCB 2000, CHM 2045/2045L,
CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 1147
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs, with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking courses
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs, with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking courses
Recommended Semester Plan
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) or
BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3) (GE-B) |
3-4 |
| HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) |
3-4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
15-17 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) or
MCB 2000 Microbiology (3) (GE-B) |
3-4 |
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1)
(GE-P) |
4 |
| ENC 1102 Argument and Persuasion |
3 |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE-M) |
4 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy (GE-B) |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) |
3 |
| BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (GE-B) |
4 |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Total |
17 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 - Economic Issues, Food and You or
AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE-S) |
4 |
| CHM 2200 and 2200L Basic Organic Chemistry (3) and Basic Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| PCB 4043C General Ecology |
4 |
| Elective in botany or science |
3-4 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory (2) |
5 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Elective in botany or science |
4 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or
PCB 3063 Genetics (4) |
3-4 |
| BOT 4935 or BOT 5225C Plant Anatomy |
4 |
| Elective in botany or science |
3-4 |
| Total |
13-15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Approved electives |
12 |
| Elective in botany or science |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Approved electives may be needed to complete the 120 hours required for graduation.
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Preprofessional Botany
This option requires a strong background in the basic sciences and is intended for students who plan to attend graduate, medical or dental school. Minimum grades of C are required in the foundation and major requirements for the botany major.
Required Foundation Courses
- BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) and
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (8 total credits)
- CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) and
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (8 total credits)
- CHM 2210 and 2211 Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (3+3) and CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory (2)
Or
CHM 3217 and 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 1 and 2 (4+4) and
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory (2) (8-10 total credits)
- MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 recommended) (4)
- PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Physics 1 Laboratory (1) and
PHY 2054 and 2054L Physics 2 (4) and Physics 2 Laboratory (1) (10 total credits)
Or
PHY 2048 and 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 (3) and Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory (1) and
PHY 2049 and 2049L Physics with Calculus 2 (3) and Physics with Calculus 2 Laboratory (1) (8 total credits)
Required Courses for the Preprofessional Major
- AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or PCB 3063 Genetics (4)
- BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (4)
- Botany elective from BOT 2800C, BOT 3151C, BOT 4905, BOT 5305, BOT 5625, BOT 5655C, BOT 5685C, BOT 5695, BOT 5725C, PCB 5046C, PLP 5656C (3-4 total credits)
- Select one course from 4 of the 6 botanical disciplines (14 or more total credits)
- BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy (3) or
BOT 5725C Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
- BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory (2)
- BOT 4935 or BOT 5225C Plant Anatomy (4)
- CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2 (4) or
BOT 4935 Plant Biochemistry (3)
- PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
- PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) or
PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3)
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Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, including labs: BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs, with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete all 5 critical-tracking courses, including labs, with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Recommended Semester Plan
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) |
4 |
| HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) |
3-4 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) |
4 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| ENC 1102 Argument and Persuasion (GE-C) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy (GE-B) * |
3 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) |
4 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (GE-B) |
4 |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 - Economic Issues, Food and You or
AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE-S) |
4 |
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 |
3 |
| PCB 4043C General Ecology * |
4 |
| PHY 2054 and 2054L Physics 2 (4) and Physics 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
5 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
| BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory (2) * |
5 |
| CHM 2211 and 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 (3) and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory (2) |
5 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) |
3 |
AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or
PCB 3063 Genetics (4) |
3-4 |
| BOT 4935 or BOT 5225C Plant Anatomy * |
4 |
| Elective in botany |
3-4 |
| Total |
13-15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Approved electives |
14 |
| Computer course or approved elective |
3 |
| Total |
17 |
* Select one course from 4 of the 6 botanical disciplines (14 or more total credits)
- BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy (3) or
BOT 5725C Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
- BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory (2)
- BOT 4935 or BOT 5225C Plant Anatomy (4)
- CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2 (4) or
BOT 4935 Plant Biochemistry (3)
- PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
- PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) or
PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3)
Approved electives may be needed to complete the 120 credit hours required for graduation.
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