Academic Programs Catalog

The Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in plant biology is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in related disciplines.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Biology

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Biology.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Plant Biology  major is met by completing Plant Biology 498 and 499 and  Integrative Biology 355L or 445.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3.  below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.			One of the following groups of courses (9 or 10 credits):
   			(1)	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   				BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology					3
   				BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   				BS	172	Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory					2
   			(2)	LB	144	Biology I: Organismal Biology					4
   				LB	145	Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology					5
   			(3)	BS	181H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   				BS	182H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology					3
   				BS	191H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   				BS	192H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory					2
   b.			One of the following groups of courses (8 to 10 credits):
   			(1)	CEM	141	General Chemistry					4
   				CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry					3
   				CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   			(2)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry					4
   				CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry					3
   				CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   			(3)	LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I					4
   				LB	171L	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   				LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II					3
   			(4)	CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I					4
   				CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II					4
   				CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I					2
   c.			Both of the following courses (6 credits):
   			CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I						3
   			CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II						3
   d.			One of the following groups of courses (8 or 10 credits):
   			(1)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					4
   				PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					4
   			(2)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I					3
   				PHY	232	Introductory Physics II					3
   				PHY	251	Introductory  Physics Laboratory I					1
   				PHY	252	Introductory Physics Laboratory II					1
   			(3)	LB	273	Physics I					4
   				LB	274	Physics II					4
   			(4)	PHY	221	Studio Physics for Life Scientists I					4
   				PHY	222	Studio Physics for Life Scientists II					4
   			(5)	PHY	241	Physics for Cellular and Molecular Biologists I					4
   				PHY	242	Physics for Cellular and Molecular Biologists II					4
   			(6)	PHY	173	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					5
   				PHY	174	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					5
   e.			One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			LB	118	Calculus I						4
   			MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I						3
   			MTH	132	Calculus I						3
   			MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I						3
   f.			One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			LB	119	Calculus II						4
   			MTH	126	Survey of Calculus II						3
   			MTH	133	Calculus II						4
   			MTH	153H	Honors Calculus II						4
   			STT	231	Statistics for Scientists						3
   g.			All of the following courses (23 credits):
   			IBIO	355	Ecology						3
   			IBIO	355L	Ecology Laboratory (W)						1
   			IBIO	341	Fundamental Genetics						4
   			IBIO	445	Evolution (W)						3
   			PLB	203	Biology of Plants						4
   			PLB	415	Plant Physiology						3
   			PLB	416L	Plant Physiology Laboratory						2
   			PLB	418	Plant Systematics						3
   h.			One of the following options (4 or 6 credits):
   			(1)	BMB	401	Comprehensive Biochemistry					4
   			(2)	BMB	461	Advanced Biochemistry I					3
   				BMB	462	Advanced Biochemistry II					3
   i.			One of the following, either (a) or (b) (4 credits):
   			(a)	PLB	498	Undergraduate Research				3
   				PLB	499	Senior Seminar (W)				1
   			(b)	PLB	495	Internship in Plant Biology
   				PLB	499	Senior Seminar (W)
   j.			Two 300–400 level courses relating to plant biology approved by the Department of Plant Biology (6 to 8 credits)

The Bachelor of Science degree program in environmental biology/plant biology is designed for students who plan to pursue careers involving plants and the environment or who plan to pursue graduate study in the biological sciences.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology/ Plant Biology

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Biology/Plant Biology.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Environmental Biology/Plant Biology  major is met by completing the following courses:  Plant Biology 498 and 499 and Integrative Biology 355L.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.			One of the following groups of courses (8 to 10 credits):
   			(1)	CEM	141	General Chemistry					4
   				CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry					3
   				CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   			(2)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry					4
   				CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry					3
   				CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory					1
   			(3)	LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I					4
   				LB	171L	Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   				LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II					3
   			(4)	CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I					4
   				CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II					4
   				CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I					2
   b.			One of the following groups of courses (9 or 10 credits):
   			(1)	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   				BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology					3
   				BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   				BS	172	Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory					2
   			(2)	LB	144	Biology I:  Organismal Biology					4
   				LB	145	Biology II:  Cellular and Molecular  Biology					5
   			(3)	BS	181H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   				BS	182H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology					3
   				BS	191H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   				BS	192H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory					2
   c.			One of the following groups of courses (8 or 10 credits):
   			(1)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					4
   				PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					4
   			(2)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I					3
   				PHY	232	Introductory Physics II					3
   				PHY	251	Introductory Physics Laboratory I					1
   				PHY	252	Introductory Physics Laboratory II					1
   			(3)	LB	273	Physics I					4
   				LB	274	Physics II					4
   			(4)	PHY	221	Studio Physics for Life Scientists I					4
   				PHY	222	Studio Physics for Life Scientists II					4
   			(5)	PHY	241	Physics for Cellular and Molecular Biologists I					4
   				PHY	242	Physics for Cellular and Molecular Biologists II					4
   			(6)	PHY	173	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					5
   				PHY	174	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					5
   d.			One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I						3
   			MTH	132	Calculus I						3
   			MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I						3
   			LB	118	Calculus I						4
   e.			One of the following courses (3 credits):
   			STT	231	Statistics for Scientists						3
   			STT	224	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists						3
   f.			One of the following, either (1) or (2) (4 or 6 credits):
   			(1)	CEM	143	Survey of Organic Chemistry					4
   			(2)	CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I					3
   				CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II					3
   g.			All of the following courses (23 credits):
   			CSS	210	Fundamentals of Soil Science						3
   			FW	417	Wetland Ecology and Management						3
   			GEO	221	Introduction to Geographic Information						3
   			IBIO	355	Ecology						3
   			IBIO	355L	Ecology Laboratory (W)						1
   			PLB	203	Biology of Plants						4
   			PLB	415	Plant Physiology						3
   			PLB	418	Plant Systematics						3
   h.		Both of the following (4 credits):
   			(1)	One of the following (3 credits):
   				PLB	495	Internship in Plant Biology			3
   				PLB	498	Undergraduate Research			3
   			(2)	PLB	499	Senior Seminar (W)			1
   i.			One of the following courses: (3 or 4 credits):
   			CSS	350	Introduction to Plant Genetics						3
   			IBIO	341	Fundamental Genetics						4
   j.			One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			ENT	404	Fundamentals of Entomology						3
   			PLP	405	Plant Pathology						3
   			PLP	407	Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees						4
   k.			One of the following courses (3 credits):
   			FW	410	Upland Ecosystem Management						3
   			FW	444	Conservation Biology						3
   l.			Two 300–400 level courses relating to environmental biology approved by the Department of Plant Biology (6 to 8 credits)

Graduate students in plant biology may emphasize one or more of a number of special areas, including anatomy, bryology, cell biology, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, morphology, mycology, paleobotany, physiology, and taxonomy. Students are urged to take courses which provide a broad background in biological and physical sciences in addition to training in specialized areas.

Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Regular admission may be granted to those students who have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, a 3.00 grade–point average, one year each of chemistry, mathematics, and physics, and appropriate training in the biological sciences.

Provisional admission may be granted to those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Plant Biology

The master's degree program in plant biology is available under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). The student's program of study is arranged by a guidance committee which includes the major professor.

For either Plan A or Plan B, the student must complete at least 30 credits including:

1. The following course:
   PLB    801    Foundations of  Plant Biology  (3)
2. Acquire teaching experience by assisting in at least one course.
3. Completion of the Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop series offered by The Graduate School.

A reading knowledge of a foreign language may be required.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Regular admission may be granted to those students who have a master’s degree or its equivalent, a 3.00 grade–point average, and appropriate training in the biological sciences.  Outstanding students without a master’s degree may be accepted.

Provisional admission may be granted to those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Plant Biology

All doctoral students in plant biology must meet the requirements specified below:

 Additional requirements, such as reading knowledge of one or two foreign languages, may be specified.

The Graduate Certificate in Computational Plant Science provides interdisciplinary training that intersects plant biology and computational and data sciences. The certificate address pressing problems in their respective fields and synthesizes these disciplines to address vast challenges in plant biology.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Computational Plant Science

Students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from the following: