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Introduction

The part of biology that deals with plants and, by tradition, with the fungi and photosynthetic microorganisms, is called botany. Humans and all other animals are dependent on green plants and algae as the main source of our food and our oxygen. Knowledge of plant biology is essential for solving some of society's most pressing problems such as feeding our increasing populations and maintaining the earth's fragile ecosystems. Plant biology is an increasingly active research area, and the past decade has already brought major advances in understanding how plants function. Many new possibilities have been developed for the better use of plants by people, including the engineering of improved crops, weed control, plant breeding and the industrial production of plant-derived biochemicals such as anticancer drugs.

The areas of specialization within botany that address problems of importance to humans most directly include: Plant Biotechnology which uses molecular biology to exploit the genetic and biochemical potential of plants; Plant Pathology which is the study of plant diseases. Problems relating to the chemistry, physics and control of cellular processes are considered in the fields of Biochemistry, Development and Molecular Biology. The unique aspects of whole organisms are addressed also in Plant Development (multicellular plants) and in Mycology (fungi) and Phycology (algae). Ecology deals with the interaction of plants with their environment, while Evolutionary and Systematic Botany analyzes both the processes and products of evolution.

Many botany specialists find careers in government research laboratories, hospitals, museums, environmental consulting companies, agricultural product firms and, increasingly, with biotechnology research institutes and private companies. Others teach at either the secondary school or university level. Specialization in Botany or Biology at the undergraduate level is sufficient for some kinds of employment, while others require an advanced degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.).

A student who wishes to specialize in Botany should seek advice from the Botany Undergraduate Office. Generally, a foundation in chemistry, mathematics and (usually) physics is advisable for the study of plant biology. It is also required that students take introductory courses dealing with three aspects of biology: 1) molecular/cellular (BIO 250Y), 2) organismal (BIO 251Y), and 3) ecological/evolutionary (BIO 150Y) before specializing further in a plant biology subdiscipline. The Department of Botany Undergraduate Office gives further information about courses and programs.

Associate Chair (Undergraduate): Professor R.F. Sage, Room 2072, Earth Sciences Centre

Undergraduate Administrator: Ms. S. Speller, Room 3055A, Earth Sciences Centre (978-7172)

BOTANY PROGRAMS

BIOGEOGRAPHY - see end of BOTANY PROGRAM listings

BOTANY (B.Sc.)

Specialist program (Hon.B.Sc.): (12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y and CHM 137Y/151Y and one 100-series course from CSC 108H, 148H/260H; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y; no minimum GPA is required.

First and Second Years:
1. BIO 150Y; CHM 132H, 133H/137Y/151Y
2. Two courses from: CHM 240Y/241Y; CSC 108H, 148H/260H; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y;
STA 220H, (STA 221H/JBS 229H)

Higher Years:
1. BIO 250Y; BOT 251Y; ENV 234Y/BIO 320Y
2. One 200+ level course in BIO, BOT (excluding BOT 202Y)
3. Two courses from: BIO 301H, 302H, 303H, 306H, 307H, 308H, 351Y; BOT 300+ series
(NOTE: one or two other science courses may be accepted with Departmental approval)
4. Two courses from: BIO 428H; BOT 400-series; JGB 410H; MGB 460H

Major program (B.Sc.): (8 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y and CHM 137Y/151Y; no minimum GPA is required.

1. BIO 150Y; CHM 132H, 133H/137Y/151Y
2. One course from: CSC 108H, 148H/260H; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y

Higher Years:
1. BIO 250Y; BOT 251Y
2. One 200+ level course in BIO, BOT (excluding BOT 202Y), ENV 234Y
3. Two courses from: BIO 301H, 302H, 303H, 306H, 307H, 308H, 351Y, 428H; BOT 300+ series; JGB 410H; MGB 460H

Minor program (B.Sc.): (4 full courses or their equivalent)

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y; no minimum GPA is required.

1. BIO 150Y; BOT 251Y
2. Any two BIO/BOT/ENV/JLM courses of which one must be at the 300+ level (excluding BOT 202Y)

MOLECULAR PLANT BIOLOGY (Hon. B.Sc.)

Specialist program: (12.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y, CHM 137Y/151Y and MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; no minimum GPA is required.

First Year: BIO 150Y; CHM 132H, 133H/137Y/151Y; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y

Second Year: BIO 250Y, 260H; BOT 251Y; CHM 222Y, 240Y

Third and Fourth Years:
1. BCH 321Y, 430H; BOT 322Y; MGB 311Y, 460H
2. Two of BOT 301H, 340H, 351Y, 421H, BIO 351Y
NOTE: no Molecular Plant Biology Major program exists; therefore, a student may qualify for a Botany major after third year.

PLANT PATHOLOGY (Hon. B.Sc.)

Specialist program: (11.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y and CHM 137Y/151Y; no minimum GPA is required.

First and Second Years:
1. BIO 150Y; CHM 132H, 133H/137Y/151Y
2. Two courses from: CHM 240Y/241Y; CSC 108H, 148H/260H; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y;
STA 220H, (221H/JBS 229H)

Higher Years:
1. BIO 250Y; BOT 251Y; ENV 234Y/BIO 320Y
2. BOT 301H, 351Y, 452Y
3. BIO 351Y
4. One course from: BIO 301H, 302H, 303H, 306H, 307H, 308H, 351Y; BOT 300+ series; JGB 410H; MGB 460H
NOTE: No Plant Pathology Major program exists; therefore, a student may qualify for a Botany major after third year.

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY & METABOLISM (Hon. B.Sc.)

Specialist program: (10 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y and CHM 137Y/151Y; no minimum GPA is required.

First Year: BIO 150Y; CHM 132H,133H/137Y/151Y; MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y

Second Year: BIO 250Y, BOT 251Y; CHM 240Y/241Y
Third & Fourth Years: BOT 322Y, 323H, 328H, 421H; BCH 310H; JLM 349H; MGB 460H
NOTE: No Plant Physiology and Metabolism Major program exists, therefore a student may qualify for a Botany major after third year

BIOGEOGRAPHY (Hon. B.Sc.) Consult the Undergraduate Administrator, Department of Botany, or the Student Counsellor, Department of Geography.
NOTE: Students taking the Program must enrol annually at the Botany Undergraduate Office, Room 3055A, Earth Science Centre.

Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO 150Y; GGR 100Y/JGF 150Y; CHM 137Y/151Y. At least one of MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y; PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y; no minimum GPA is required.

Specialist program: (13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
1. BIO 150Y; GGR 100Y/JGF 150Y; CHM 132H, 133H/137Y/151Y
2. At least one of MAT 135Y/137Y/JMB 170Y/PHY 110Y/138Y/140Y
NOTE: Courses in all three of CHM, MAT, PHY will prove highly useful in many aspects of biogeography and may be prerequisites for some options in later years.

Second Year:
1. ENV 234Y; BOT 251Y; GGR 270Y/STA 220H, (221H/JBS 229H)
2. Two of GGR 201H, 203H, 205H, 206H

Third and Fourth Years:
1. BOT 300H/307H; GGR 305H, 310H
2. 3.5 full courses or their equivalent selected from the Third and Fourth Year options listed below. Of these 3.5 courses, at least two must be BIO/BOT/ZOO and at least one GGR
Third and Fourth Year options: BIO 301H, 302H, 303H, 306H, 307H, 308H, 320Y, 368H/369Y, 428H; BOT 300H, 307H, 328H, 360H, 430H, 434H, 460Y, 461H, 462Y/463H; GGR 201H, 203H, 205H, 206H, 302H, 307H, 312H, 390H, 391H, 393H, 402H, 409H, 490H, 491Y/498H; JGG 350H; JGB 310H, 404H; ZOO 304H, 324Y, 361H, 367H, 373H, 375H, 498Y, 499Y
NOTE: Where a student's research interest warrants it, with permission of the Undergraduate Associate Chair of Botany, the student may fulfil the Third/Fourth Year course requirements by substituting one or two courses not listed in the options.

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY - See BIO: BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY - See BIO: BIOLOGY

EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY - See BIO: BIOLOGY