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Plant Biology - B.S.

About this Degree

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Plant Biology is a liberal arts degree with a concentration in the plant sciences. It prepares students for ecologically or biotechnology oriented careers that are foundational to understanding the earth's biota and essential for supplying the world with food, fuel, and fiber.

The Plant Biology major is designed to give students a broad understanding of plant biology and/or fungal biology and prepares them to address some of the pressing global environmental challenges the world is facing today. It is a stepping stone towards a rewarding job and diverse post-graduate programs of study.

The Plant Biology major includes several core classes, similar to those for other majors in the Biology Division (e.g. Genetics, Evolutionary Biology). However, the Plant Biology major provides the flexibility to build an interdisciplinary program of study from a broad range of courses. Areas of emphasis include Plant Ecology & Environment, Plant Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, or Plants & Microbes. 

Our advanced classes are small and promote interactive learning in a combination of laboratory, field, and lecture experiences. Independent Research in the field or laboratory, guided by a faculty member and graduate students, gives our undergraduate students first-hand experiences with the scientific process and it builds skills relevant for many careers in the Sciences. 

What you will learn

The best way to learn about science is to help professionals as they acquire new knowledge in the laboratory or at field sites. Plant Biology faculty welcome undergraduate participation in research projects. By working "in the trenches" along side faculty, graduate students and research fellows, undergraduates discover how science is really done, and at the same time, receive academic credit for their efforts.

Employers:

3M Company
Alliant Energy
BASF The Chemical Company
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical 
Companies
Biotechnology
Chemical Companies
Consumer Health And Safety
Cox Arboretum
Dow ArgoSciences
Food Safety
Food Technology
Genetic Engineering 
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Georgia Department of Natural 
Resources
Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab
Lab Technicians
Lockerly Arboretum
Marketing And Sales
Medical College of Georgia
Medicine
Natural Resources
Safety and Testing
Scottsdale Farms Nursery
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
US Department of Agriculture
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US National Park Service
Zoo Atlanta

Possible Job Titles:

Careers in Plant Sciences are numerous and diverse. They include research at universities, government laboratories and at biotech companies; teaching at the high school, college or university level; management and interpretaion as staff biologists with state and federal agencies; and adminitration and sales with plant and plant product related industries. An undergraduate major in plant biology also provides a strong background for graduate-level study in plant biology and other biological sciences.

Agriculture Technician
Agronomist
Biological Technician
Botanist
Chemical Analyst
Clinical Research Assistant
Conservation Technician
Ecosystem Manager
Educator
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Technician
Environmental Scientist
Field Research Biologist
Genetic Engineer
Horticulture/Agricultural Plant 
Industrial Ecologists
Breeder
Lab Equipment Sales Representative
Lab Technician
Laboratory Associate
Medical Lab Nurse
Medical Professional
Microbiologist
Nutritionist
Park Naturalist
Plant Ecologist
Plant Research Technologist
Project Coordinator
Quality Control Technician
Research Assistant
Soil and Plant Scientist
School Programs Coordinator
Wildlife Biologist

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We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click here to learn more about giving.

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