1. Botany

Botany

 
Undergraduate Program Fact Sheet
 Botany

B.S. in Botany

Botany students learn about plants at all levels of biological organization, from molecular and cellular processes to the global ecosystem. In addition to addressing fundamental questions in plant biology, plant scientists in the 21st century will be called upon to provide information useful for producing food, fiber, and medicine for an increasing population, and for increasing our understanding of the diversity of plant and ecological systems and their interactions with humans.
Gillian Bergmann

Faces of AgSci

“One of the most profound skills I’ve gained is learning to communicate with people of different backgrounds, particularly when addressing the urban-rural divide that surrounds U.S. agriculture today.” -Gillian Bergman (left), Presidential Scholar

College of Agricultural Sciences

 
  2,618 |  
Total number of AgSci
undergraduate students
 
  280 |  
Number of undergraduate
students in this major
 
  $500K |  
In scholarships for
AgSci students
 
  $100M |  
In funding for AgSci
research each year

Botany Degree Options

  • Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
  • Plant Pathology
  • Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Botany
  • Comprehensive Botany
  • Customizable Option (Ecampus)

Degrees that Pay. Careers that Matter.

Job opportunities are abundant for graduates with expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or ecological sustainability. This expertise helps solve the world’s most pressing issues in the arenas of world hunger, human health, and environmental conservation. Discover how you can build a meaningful career that helps make tomorrow better.

Examples of career paths with a degree in Botany include:

  • Pathology Consultant
  • Conservation Expert
  • County Extension Agent
  • Research Botanist
  • Ecologist or Pathologist
  • Federal or State Agency Botanist
  • Museum Botanist
  • Lab Tech

Individualized Advising

Advisors help students develop their course of study. They are the students’ link to scholarships and campus resources, advise on matters of professional development, and point students toward experiential learning and leadership opportunities that will help them be successful in their agricultural or business careers after graduation. For Botany advising, contact Sushma Naithani

We're Social!

Get to know us online:

Learn more: Downloadable PDF of Fact Sheet:

B.S. in Botany Example 4-Year Plan | 2022-2023

This is a sample schedule intended for informational purposes only. Students should consult with their OSU academic advisor to create a personalized degree plan.

  FALL   WINTER   SPRING  
1st Year BI 221 Prins of Bio or BI 204 Intro Bio I 4 BI 222 Prins of Bio or BI 205 Intro Bio II 4 BI 223 Prins of Bio or BI 206 Intro Bio III 4
  CH 121 or CH 231/CH 261 (Lec/Lab) 5 CH 122 or CH 232 or CH 262 Gen Chem (Lec/Lab) 5 CH 123 Gen Chem or CH 233 Gen Chem or CH263
(Lec/Lab)		 5
  MTH 111 College Algebra or MTH 112- Elem Funct 4 MTH 112 Elm Funct or MTH-251 Diff Calc 4 MTH 252 Integral Calc 4
  WR 121 Eng Comp 3 Speech 3 Elective 3
  Total Credits 16 Total Credits 16 Total Credits 16
2nd Year BOT 220 Intro to Plant Bio 4 BB 314 Cell and Molecular Bio 4 BOT 321 Plant Systematics 4
  CH 331 Organic Chem 4 BOT 313 Plant Structure 4 ST 351 Intro to Stat Meth’s 4
  HHS 231 Lifetime Fitness 2 CH 332 Organic Chem 4 Perspectives Course 3
  WR II Course 3 HHS 241 Lifetime Fitness (or any PAC course) 1-2 Elective 3
      Perspectives Course 3    
  Total Credits 13 Total Credits 16-17 Total Credits 14
3rd Year BB 450 Gen Bio 4 BB 451 Gen BioChem 3 BB 350 Elem BioChem (if didn’t take BB 450 and BB 451) 4
  BOT 461 Mycology or Spring BOT 466 Bryology or
BOT 465 Lichenology		 4 BI 311 Genetics or PBG 430 Plant Genetics
or PBG 431 Plant Genetics Recitation		 4 BOT 341 Plant Ecology 4
  Synthesis Course 3 BOT 323 Flowering Plants of the World 3 Perspectives Courses 3
  Elective 3 BOT 331 Plant Physiology 4 Elective or Option 4
  Total Credits 14 Total Credits 14 Total Credits 15
4th Year BOT 407 Seminar (for SR Undergrads) 1 Additional Quant Skill course 4 Bot 465 Lichenology or BOT 466 4
  Additional Quant Skill course 4 Electives or Options 11-13 Electives or Options 11-14
  Electives or Options 10-12        
  Total Credits 15-17 Total Credits 15-17 Total Credits 15-18
NOTES         Total Credits 180

*BACCORE = Perspective Courses – Choose a course from each category: Western Culture, Cultural diversity, Literature & Arts, Social Processes, Difference, Power, & Discrimination (met with FW Human Dimension Course). Synthesis Courses –
Choose a course from each category: Science Tech & Society & Contemporary Global Issues.

**OPTION COURSE= Course taken depends on option student selects – see the full list of requirements and options at https://catalog.oregonstate.edu