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.

Lower Division (34-37 Units)

BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology Units: 4
BOT 105 - General Botany Units: 4
CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5
CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
CHEM 228 - Brief Organic Chemistry Units: 4
MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences & Natural Resources Units: 3 *
PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics & Heat Units: 4
PHYX 107 - College Physics: Electromagnetism & Modern Physics Units: 4
or
PHYX 118 - College Physics: Biological Applications Units: 1
STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4
ZOOL 110 - Introductory Zoology Units: 4

Note:

* MATH 109 may substitute for MATH 105 .

Upper Division (38-42 Units)

BIOL 307 - Evolution Units: 4
BIOL 330 - Principles of Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 340 - Genetics Units: 4
BOT 310 - General Plant Physiology Units: 4

Botanical Diversity

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

a) BOT 350 - Plant Taxonomy Units: 4
b) BOT 354 - Agrostology Units: 4
c) BOT 355 - Lichens & Bryophytes Units: 4
d) BOT 356 - Phycology Units: 4
e) BOT 358 - Biology of the Microfungi Units: 2 and BOT 359 - Biology of the Ascomycetes & Basidiomycetes Units: 2
or

BOT 360 - Biology of the Fleshy Fungi Units: 2 and BOT 360L - Biology of the Fleshy Fungi Lab Units: 2

or

BOT 394 - Forest Pathology Units: 3

Plant Structure/Development/Evolution

Complete one course.

BOT 322 - Developmental Plant Anatomy Units: 4
BOT 372 - Evolutionary Morphology of Plants Units: 4
BOT 521 - Paleobotany Units: 3

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.

BOT 330 - Plant Ecology Units: 2 and
BOT 330L - Plant Ecology Lab Units: 1
BOT 553 - Marine Macrophyte Ecology Units: 3
BIOL 350 - Cell Biology Units: 3
BIOL 412 - General Microbiology Units: 4
BIOL 418 - Marine Microbiology Units: 3
BIOL 433 - Microbial Ecology Units: 3 and
BIOL 433D - Microbial Ecology Discussion Units: 1
BIOL 434 - Population & Community Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 448 - Biogeography Units: 3
BIOL 564 - Transmission & Scanning Electron Microscopy Units: 4
OCN 109 - General Oceanography Units: 3 and
OCN 109L - General Oceanography Laboratory Units: 1
SOIL 260 - Introduction to Soil Science Units: 3

Research Requirement

Complete one course (1 unit) from:

BIOL 490 - Senior Thesis Units: 1-2
BIOL 499 - Directed Study Units: 1-2

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.