EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 2014: Issue 2 | Page 32

CO U R S E S & C A REERS What you will be studying Botany may not be among the top choices of students. Some people may not have heard about it because it is not as popular as courses like accounting, engineering, medicine and public relations. But, don’t assume that something doesn’t exist just because you have not heard or read about it. Botany is also an important scientific field. Since it is not a popular choice, only a few colleges and universities worldwide offer botany courses, and the focus of the courses are also quite limited. Of the areas listed on previous page, only horticulture and agriculture courses are available. Botany courses of degree and master’s levels are offered by some universities. Here are some of the subjects you will study when you enrol in botanical science courses: • Life science • Analytical and research techniques • Crop protection • Plant biotic interactions • Plant protection technology • Applied plant sciences • Ethnobotany • Environmental plant physiology • Biodiversity and evolution • Evolutionary biology • Plant-soil relationships • Licheus and Bryophytes • Seeds and germination • Metabolism and environmental stress • Ecology • Science communication • Weed biology and control • Flowering plants of the world • Plant breeding • Micropropagation • Genetic manipulation • Plant survival • Soil science • Organismal biology • Marine algae • Environmental pollution • Microbial diversity • Fungal biology • Photobiochemistry • Habitats and ecosystems • Vegetative and floral development • Plant ecophysiology • Landscape studies and conservation • Photosynthesis • Biostatistics Of course, you need to examine the course structure carefully to find out which are the subjects you’re going to study. This list just gives you a general idea of what subjects to expect as you proceed from one semester to another. You get to study some of them but not all. It all depends on the duration and course structure. THERE ARE MANY INDUSTRIES THAT BOTANISTS CAN ENTER, SUCH AS FORESTRY, FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND HORTICULTURE Career prospects Botanists normally work outdoors. As they are in constant contact with plants, botanists need to be in places where they are surrounded with plants. Greenhouses and forests are two such places. Some botanists carry out their research in laboratories. The outcomes of their research would definitely help improve our daily lives. There are many industries that botanists can enter, such as forestry, food science and technology, and horticulture. Botanists can work as food scientists. As food science is one of the vital areas of study in botany, many companies in the food industry definitely need a lot of food scientists to help them research and develop food. There’s no shortage of opportunities. People who obtain a degree in botany can also become landscape designers. Landscape designers use their knowledge, expertise and creativity to design beautiful gardens and recreational parks. City councils and land developers will hire landscape designers to help them develop of land plots and properties. easyuni Guide 2014 Issue 2 29