Botany

Botany is the study of plant biology. As the first multi-cellular organisms to live on land, plants paved the way for life above the water. They produce the oxygen we breathe, purify the air and affect the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, which acts as an insulating blanket around Earth. The contribution of plants to life on Earth is enormous, yet they require little more than sunlight and water to grow and flourish. Most food chains begin with plants as primary producers. Plants provide wood for furniture and homes, cotton for clothing, ingredients for medicines and much more.

Students of Botany study photosynthesis, the chemicals plants produce to protect themselves from micro-organisms and animals. They also learn about plant anatomy (arrangement of cells), morphology (body organization), physiology (function of cells, tissues and organs), biochemistry, molecular biology and development.

Why Study Botany?

Plants are essential in our lives as sources of food, shelter, medicines, clothing, furniture, pigments, flavours and pesticides. The life of all higher organisms, including animals, is at least partly dependent on plants. As photosynthetic organisms, plants are the primary producers in many food webs and contribute to the maintenance of the levels of several important atmospheric gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. Botany is a diverse, exciting and continually expanding field that concerns the study of the biology of plants.

All modern biological disciplines can be applied to the field of plant biology, including biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and biotechnology. The importance of an improved understanding of plant biology has become apparent in recent years with the emergence of plant biotechnology and genetic engineering as a branch of science that has begun to affect fundamental aspects of our lives, especially the food we eat. We need to be able to make informed decisions about the risks and benefits or genetically modified foods and other plant products. Proper decisions can be made only from a knowledgeable perspective about how plants really work. The great importance of plants in our lives, and for life of Earth, is reason enough to appreciate the value of knowledge about the biology of plants.

Botany is a challenging, dynamic and investigative branch of biology. From a research perspective, every subdiscipline of the life sciences can be applied to the study of plant biology. For example, students interested in plant biochemistry can perform research on one of the unique aspects of plant metabolism. Students who wish to focus on molecular biology and genetics can pursue research projects that use the powerful new tools of plant biotechnology. Or students with a more traditional interest in botany can investigate various aspects of the anatomy and physiology of plants.

What do I need to get in?

You’ll need to meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Science.

What will I study in my first two years?

All students entering programs in the Department of Biological Sciences will complete a common Biological Sciences core (20 half-courses) before selecting one of the six major programs (Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Botany, Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology, Ecology, Zoology).

The first and second years in Biological Sciences serve as the interlocked foundation for all programs offered by the Department of Biological Sciences. During these two years, you will complete the core Biology courses that are required of all Biological Science students. These courses will expose you to the diversity and unity of life and provide a foundation allowing you to appreciate the factual and conceptual context of specialized disciplines in Biological Sciences. In addition, these courses will expose you to the language of biology and a common set of tools that will allow you to analyze life from a variety of perspectives.

You will also complete supporting courses in Biochemistry, Chemistry and Mathematics during your first two years. Courses in Biochemistry and Chemistry provide you with a basis for understanding the chemical context of life. Required courses in Mathematics give you a basic understanding of calculus and/or linear algebra for application in subsequent major field courses. Throughout these two years there is a heavy emphasis on experiential learning in biology and chemistry courses.

What will I study in later years?

In your third and fourth years as a Botany major you’ll take courses that will provide you with an essential foundation in the physiology, anatomy, morphology, plant molecular biology, biochemistry and development of plants. You’ll be exposed to the theory and practice of many of the current techniques and advances of plant biology research and be introduced to the role of biotechnology in the production of foods and other plant-derived products. In your senior year you are encouraged to complete your scientific training by pursuing an independent, research-based project allowing you to develop your training in theoretical and laboratory methods, practical research and the presentation of both written and oral reports under the supervision of a faculty member.

The Botany Honours Programs extend the regular program to prepare students for additional education (M.Sc. and/or Ph.D.) leading to a research career. In addition to the courses required of all Botany students, Honours students complete a research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Honours students are also encouraged to take 600-level seminar courses to develop an advanced understanding of topics of particular interest.

You will also have the opportunity to take courses off main campus that will enhance their undergraduate experience including exchange programs, travel study courses and field schools. You might wish to spend Fall term taking courses at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre located off the west coast of Vancouver Island, or take spring or summer courses at the Biogeoscience Institute in Kananaskis Country 80 km west of Calgary. You could also look further afield and participate in an overseas field schools offered frequently to destinations such Belize, Costa Rice, Ghana or Madagascar or embark on a term or full year exchange program to one of the U of C’s numerous partner institutions.

During your degree you are also expected to take a number of courses from outside your major field and are encouraged to take courses that will provide breadth and contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of your degree.

What can I do with my degree?

The Botany program equips students for graduate study and a wide range of career possibilities. Botany is a logical choice for careers in plant biotechnology, agriculture and forestry. Training in botany prepares graduates for jobs in the food and pharmaceutical industry and greenhouse technology. Botany is also useful preparation for careers in education.

Who can I contact for more information?

We recommend that you contact the Department of Biological Sciences via phone (220-3140) or email (biosci@ucalgary.ca) to book an appointment with an advisor.