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Botany - B.S.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Botany focuses on the scientific study of plants, and the understanding of how plants provide aesthetic beauty, as well as materials for basic needs, including food, shelter and oxygen. Botanical research has diverse applications in modern horticulture, agriculture, soil science and forestry, in addition to pharmacology and biotechnology.

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Bachelor’s Degree in Botany

Expand your expertise in the plant sciences with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. Engage in in-depth coursework that spans a broad range of topics, from plant physiology to ecological interactions. Our program is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills, preparing you for careers in environmental consulting, agricultural science, and various botanical research fields.

Program Information for Botany - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Botany focuses on the scientific study of plants, and the understanding of how plants provide aesthetic beauty, as well as materials for basic needs, including food, shelter and oxygen. Botanical research has diverse applications in modern horticulture, agriculture, soil science and forestry, in addition to pharmacology and biotechnology.

Many students continue their education in graduate or professional programs. Those opting to enter directly into the workforce find jobs in fields related to the economic importance of plants, including agriculturally-based and related professions, environmental consulting or in federal, state or local agencies. The Department of Biological Sciences offers several mechanisms to help students prepare for their future careers.

Admissions for Botany - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Understand fundamental biological principles.
  2. Acquire fundamental skills necessary for laboratory and field investigations.
  3. Conduct proper experimental design, analyze biological data and communicate research results.
  4. Know and appreciate the role that biology plays in societal issues, such as those related to the environment, biodiversity, ethics, human health and disease.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 10110BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 10120BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 30156ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
BSCI 40163EVOLUTION 3
BSCI 40224QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN BIOLOGY 3-5
or MATH 12003 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or MATH 30011 BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
BSCI 40600WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 11
CHEM 10060GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10061GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 20481BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 3-4
or CHEM 30481 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
CHEM 20482BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 21-3
or CHEM 30475 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or CHEM 30482 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Botany Core Electives, choose from the following:12-14
BSCI 30267
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 30270
GENERAL PLANT BIOLOGY
BSCI 30271
GENERAL PLANT BIOLOGY LABORATORY
BSCI 30274
FORESTRY
BSCI 30275
LOCAL FLORA (ELR)
BSCI 30277
ECONOMIC BOTANY
BSCI 40162
SOIL BIOLOGY
BSCI 40270
PLANT ECOLOGY
BSCI 40272
PLANT ANATOMY
BSCI 40368
WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (ELR)
Biology Electives, choose from the following: 3,41-6
BSCI 30105
CAREER PATHWAYS IN BIOLOGY
BSCI 40192
INTERNSHIP IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (ELR)
BSCI 40196
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION (ELR)
BSCI 40199
SENIOR HONORS THESIS (ELR)
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives, choose from the following: 320-25
CHEM 20482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 2
or CHEM 30482
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 30475
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
CHEM 30476
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
PHY 13001
PHY 13021
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23101
GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 13002
PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23102
GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
Any Biology (BSCI) course 4
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)8
6
9
6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)15
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

CHEM 20482 may be substituted with CHEM 30284 with faculty advisor approval.

3

Students should select their electives in consultation with an advisor. A total of 26 credit hours combined are required to fulfill the Biology Electives and Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives.

4

A maximum 6 credit hours of any combination of BSCI 30105, BSCI 40192, BSCI 40196 and BSCI 40199 may be applied toward the major (with no more than 4 credit hours S/U graded). Enrollment in these courses must be determined with a faculty advisor.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:

BSCI 10001HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) 3
BSCI 10002LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) 3
BSCI 10003LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
BSCI 10005SMALL ANIMAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS 4
BSCI 11010FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 11020FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 16001HORTICULTURAL BOTANY 3
BSCI 20019BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 4
BSCI 20021BASIC MICROBIOLOGY 3
BSCI 20022BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
BSCI 21010ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 21020ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II 4
BSCI 26002ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT 3
BSCI 26003PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I 3
BSCI 26004PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II 3
BSCI 30050HUMAN GENETICS 3
BSCI 40020BIOLOGY OF AGING 3

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.
  • The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.2
  • Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the programs offered by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø; or (3) demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs). The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology exemption is due to its extensive collaboration with and contribution from the Information Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies, which does not have a foreign language requirement.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!CHEM 20481
or CHEM 30481
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
3-4
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
Botany Core Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Four
!BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
BSCI 40600 WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 1
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
Biology Elective or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
Botany Core Electives 4-6
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Biology Elective or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
Botany Core Electives 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours16
Semester Six
BSCI 40224
or MATH 12003
or MATH 30011
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN BIOLOGY
or ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
3-5
Biology Electives or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 9
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
BSCI 40163 EVOLUTION 3
Biology Electives or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 8
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
Biology Elective or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Botany - B.S.

Graduates of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Bachelor of Science in Botany can pursue careers and specialized roles as plant scientists, environmental consultants, and biological science teachers. They are equipped to work in botanical gardens, research institutions, and environmental organizations, where they can study plant life, contribute to conservation efforts, and promote sustainable land use practices.

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

9.3%

much faster than the average

64,700

number of jobs

$85,600

potential earnings

Biological scientists, all other

2.2%

slower than the average

44,700

number of jobs

$85,290

potential earnings

Natural sciences managers

4.8%

about as fast as the average

71,400

number of jobs

$137,940

potential earnings

Soil and plant scientists

6.8%

faster than the average

17,800

number of jobs

$66,120

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.