Botany What Can I Do With This Degree?

AREAS EMPLOYERS STRATEGIES RESOURCES PLANT BIOLOGY  Research Organizations  Obtain Ph.D. for teaching  Botanical Society of  Colleges & Universities and advanced research America Anatomy - Microscopic plant  Museums positions.  Conduct undergraduate structure  Botanical gardens and  American Society of arboretums research project.  Learn high-technology Plant Biologists Biochemistry - Chemistry of living  U.S. Department of techniques. matter. Agriculture branches including Medical Plant  Learn federal and state  American Institute of Resources Laboratory, government job application Biological Sciences Biophysics - Application of physics process. to plant life processes. Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Animal and  Ecological Society of Plant Health Inspection Cytology - Structure, function, and Service, National America life history of plant cells. Arboretum, U.S. Forest Service.  American Society of Ecology - Relationship between  Federal Agencies including Plant Taxonomists plants and the world in which they Departments of Interior and live. State, U.S. Public Health Service, National  Biophysical Society Genetics - Plant heredity and Aeronautics and Space variation. Administration, the Smithsonian Institution, and Molecular Biology - Structure and Environmental Protection function of biological molecules. Agency  State Agencies Morphology - Macroscopic plant  Ecological Consulting forms, evolution, and development. Companies  Industries including petrochemical, chemical, Paleobotany - Biology and evolution lumber, and paper. of fossil plants.  Companies including pharmaceutical, food, seed Physiology - Functions and vital and nursery, fruit growers, processes of plants. biological supply houses, and biotechnology firms. Systematics/Taxonomy -  Environmental and Evolutionary history and biotechnical regulatory relationships among plants. agencies.

Systems Ecology - Using mathematical models to demonstrate ecological concepts.

Taxonomy - Identification, naming, and classification of plants. APPLIED PLANT SCIENCE  Colleges & Universities  Take courses in or double  American Society of  Research Organizations major in areas of interest. Agronomy Agronomy - Crop and soil  Agriculture industry  Learn foreign language for international work.  sciences. including: lumber and  Obtain Ph.D. for teaching, American Society for paper, seed and nursery, advanced research Horticultural Science Biotechnology - Using biological fruit and vegetable positions, and organisms to make useful growers, fermentation, administration.  Society of American products. food industry, and  Learn federal, state and Foresters biological supply houses. local government job application process. Breeding - Development of  Biotechnology Firms  American better types of plants.  Federal Government Phytopathological  State and Local Society Economic Botany - Study and Governement development of commercial  Environmental and plant products. biotechnical regulatory agencies. Food Science and Technology -  Ecological Consulting Development of food from plant Firms products.

Forestry - Forest management and timber production.

Horticulture - The production of ornamental plants and fruit and vegetable crops. Also includes landscape design.

Natural Resource Management - Responsible management and use of our natural resources.

Plant Pathology - Plant diseases - study, management, and control.

RESEARCH  Colleges & Universities  Pursue graduate degrees Biotechnology  Research Organizations for advanced positions. Genetics  Agricultural  Develop excellent Cell Membrane Organizations research and high- Other Disciplines  Federal Government technology skills.  Related Industries  Do a student research project.  Gain related work experience.

ORGANISMAL  Colleges & Universities  Learn high-tech SPECIALTIES  Research Organizations techniques.  Federal and state  Become familiar with Bryology - The study of mosses governement laboratories laboratory procedures and other plants. including Agriculture, and equipment. Health, etc.  Obtain a graduate degree Lichenology - The study of  Pharmaceutical lichens. companies. in area of interest.  Food and beverage Marine Botany - The study of industries including ocean plants and algea. brewing and fermentation. Mychology - The biology of  Hospitals fungi.

Pteridology - The study of ferns and similar plants.

Phycology - The study of algae. EDUCATION  Colleges & Universities  Need a masters degree as Teaching  Museums, botanical a minimum in most areas. Research gardens, and herbaria.  Obtain Ph.D. for Consulting  Non-profit organizations. positions in college Administration teaching, research and advanced administration.

WRITING  Publishing companies  Take courses in technical Teaching including newspapers, writing. Research & Development magazines, books, and  Develop computer skills. Exploration  Consulting textbooks. Obtain master's degree in Administration  Professional associations. scientific journalism.  Scientific and educational software companies.  Non-profit organizations.

LAW  Legal firms with  Obtain law degree or  American Bar Agricultural enviornmental focus. other specialized training. Association Environmental  Government agencies and Biotechnological regulatory agencies. Forensics  Biotechnical regulatory firms or agencies.

MARKETING AND  Pharmaceutical  Complete minor in  American Marketing ADMINISTRATION  Seed companies business. Association Sales  Biotechnology Firms  Hold leadership positions Marketing  Scientific Publishers in campus organizations. Administration  Biological supply  Join student American Management organizations. Marketing Association.

ILLUSTRATION  Scientific Publishers  Take double major or  Colleges & Universities minor in illustration.  Educational and scientific  Become competent in software companies. computer-aided design.  Non-profit Organizations  Seek related work experience, internship or co-op position.

COMPUTER  Scientific and  Take double major or PROGRAMMING Educational Software minor in computer Companies programming.  Seek related work experience, internship, or co-op position.

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Bachelor's degree qualifies for laboratory technician or technical assistant positions in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and botanical gardens.  Master's degree qualifies for some research and administrative positions.  Ph.D. required for advanced research and administrative positions, college teaching, and independent research.  Obtain part-time, summer, internship, or volunteer experience with government agencies, college/university labs, agricultural experiment stations, freshwater and marine biological stations, or private companies.  Extremely helpful to arrange undergraduate research project to decide on specific area of interest in Botany.  Enjoy outdoor activities.  Join organizations related to your area of interest.  Develop excellent mathematics, verbal, and written communication skills.  Select a broad range of courses in English, social sciences, and humanities.  Become proficient with computers.

Adapted from original prepared by the Career Planning Staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Modified for WSU students and converted to HTML format by GBN. Used with permission. Additional info from the American Botanical Society Website (www.botany.org).