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Plant Biology

The Division of Plant Sciences is currently in the process of condensing the seven majors down to four. Plant Biology and Plant Breeding, Biogenetics and Technology majors are being combined to form Breeding, Biology and Biotechnology.

Plant Biology Courses

Plants are the "Secret of Life on Earth" as the IMAX film title says. Oxygen that we depend on for each breath we take was put into the atmosphere by photosynthetic organisms like plants. The food, fiber and most of the energy that we use every day are plant derived. These important contributions make plants the basis of our life on earth.

Study of plant biology helps us understand the processes involved in plant growth and development, and provides new ideas for improving our lives. Meeting the increased demands for affordable and nutritious food, adopting plant products as biofuels, and extracting beneficial chemicals from plants (medicinal or otherwise) are just a few of the areas in which plant biologists can make contributions. Plants are the product of their genetic material and the environment in which they grow and plant biologists study plant life at levels ranging from the gene to the ecosystem.

In our program, training in plant genetics, morphology, anatomy, physiology and ecology is integrated into a comprehensive view of the whole plant as an organism and its interaction with the environment. Plant biologists pursue opportunities in private and public institutions and have careers such as ecologist, research associate, farm manager and extension specialist. If you want to be known as the CSI of the plant world, plant biology may be for you!

Salary information:

Job Title	Average Salary	Low Salary	High Salary

Biochemist	N/A	N/A	N/A
Biologist	N/A	N/A	N/A
Biology Teacher	$26,250	$20,000	$32,500
Lab/Research Technician	$31,222	$22,500	$40,000
Microbiologist	$27,000	$27,000	$27,000