Opportunity is available for students to conduct individual research projects or to work with ongoing faculty research. Specialized facilities in botany include greenhouses, plant growth chambers, an herbarium, field equipment, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, radioisotope equipment, centrifuges, spectrophotometers and equipment in support of tissue culture and biotechnology. Back to fact sheet index Career Opportunities Botanists are employed in government research laboratories and field stations, in industry and in academic institutions. An undergraduate degree in botany prepares students for professional employment or for graduate studies. Most positions in botany require graduate training and an advanced degree.
Botanists fill both training and research positions.
Depending on the level of training, they may serve in technical positions or as senior scientists. Botany is a broad field and opportunities exist in the basic subdisciplines of cellular and molecular plant biology, physiology, anatomy, systematics and ecology. A degree in botany also may be the foundation for further study and careers in applied fields of plant pathology, forestry, crop production, horticulture, genetics and plant breeding, plant biotechnology or environmental monitoring and control. Back to fact sheet index High School Preparation It is suggested that prospective botany majors develop a strong background in English, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics. Back to fact sheet index Sample Curriculum Credits First Year F S Biol.