2021-2022 Humboldt State University Catalog 
    
    Nov 09, 2024  
2021-2022 Humboldt State University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Botany, B.S.


Humboldt State University has the largest greenhouse of all the state campuses, containing an extensive collection of plants from around the world. Students also find a large collection of pressed plants in the herbarium.

Several plant growth chambers allow students to control growing conditions of plants. Native plants in nearby wilderness areas also provide excellent opportunity for study.

Our botany graduates do well in these careers: herbarium curator, naturalist, plant physiologist, technical writer, plant ecologist, environmental consultant, botanist, horticulturist, science librarian, plant pathologist.

In high school take biology, chemistry, and physics (with labs, if possible), algebra (beginning, intermediate), geometry, and trigonometry.

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. ​For a description of degree requirements to be fulfilled in addition to those listed below for the major, please see, “Bachelor’s Degree Requirements ”.

Requirements for the Major (72-79 units)

Students who receive a grade below a C- in any prerequisite course will require instructor approval for enrollment.

Note:


* MATH 109  may substitute for MATH 105 .

Botanical Diversity


Complete three of the five (a-e) options:

Plant Structure/Development/Evolution


Complete one course.

Life Science Electives


Complete one of the following or an upper division zoology (ZOOL), fisheries (FISH) or wildlife (WLDF) course with a lab for 3-5 units. The course must be approved by your academic advisor.

Research Requirement


Complete one course (1 unit) from:

Botany, B.S. Program Learning Outcomes


Students completing this program will have demonstrated the ability to:

  • apply the scientific method to questions in biology by formulating testable hypotheses, gathering data that address these hypotheses, and analyzing those data to assess the degree to which their scientific work supports their hypotheses
  • present scientific hypotheses and data both orally and in writing in the formats that are used by practicing scientists
  • access the primary literature, identify relevant works for a particular topic, and evaluate the scientific content of these works
  • apply fundamental mathematical tools (statistics, calculus) and physical principles (physics, chemistry) to the analysis of relevant biological situations
  • identify the major groups of organisms and be able to classify them within a phylogenetic framework. Students will be able to compare and contrast the characteristics of organisms that differentiate the various domains and kingdoms from one another
  • use the evidence of comparative biology to explain how the theory of evolution offers the only scientific explanation for the unity and diversity of life on earth. They will be able to use specific examples to explicate how descent with modification has shaped organismal morphology, physiology, life history, and behavior
  • explain how organisms function at the level of the gene, genome, cell, tissue, organ and organ-system. Drawing upon this knowledge, they will be able to give specific examples of the physiological adaptations, development, reproduction and behavior of different forms of life
  • explicate the ecological interconnectedness of life on earth by tracing energy and nutrient flows through the environment. They will be able to relate the physical features of the environment to the structure of populations, communities, and ecosystems
  • demonstrate proficiency in the experimental techniques and methods of analysis appropriate for their area of specialization within biology.