Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Undergraduate Education

The Department of Plant Biology offers two Bachelor of Science degree programs: one in plant biology and one in environmental biology/plant biology. In addition to course work, students experience scientific research through an independent research project that is part of the graduation requirements.

 

 


Plant Biology

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)


Environmental Biology/Plant Biology

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)