What Is Botany
Botany, also called plant science, plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phycologist is a scientist who specializes in this field.
Entry Requirements To Study Botany In South Africa
Four years of college and a Bachelor’s degree are the minimum requirements for most careers in botany. With these, positions are available as laboratory technicians or technical assistants in education, industry, government, museums, parks and botanical gardens.
As in other fields, a wider range of positions is available with more education and experience. Many positions require a Master’s or Doctor’s degree. A Ph.D. is required for most teaching and research positions in colleges and universities.
High School Preparation
Course work
To prepare for a career in botany, you should take a college preparatory curriculum including: English, foreign language, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology. Courses in social studies and humanities are also valuable since botanists often get involved in public affairs at community and national levels.
Extracurricular activities
Other valuable experiences include participation in science fairs and science clubs. It also helps to have summer jobs or internships related to biology, such as working in parks, plant nurseries, farms, experiment stations, laboratories, camps, or for florists or landscape architects. Hobbies such as camping, photography, and computers are also useful.
Become informed
Get information on colleges and universities by writing to the Office of Admissions of each school you wish to consider and requesting a catalog describing school requirements, courses, and facilities.
Your counselor or library may have some of these. Also ask for information about scholarships and other financial aid. Many schools do not have a separate department of botany or plant biology but instead have a department of biology that includes botanists.
In any case, write, call, or better yet, visit the schools you are interested in and ask to meet with some of their botanists to discuss your career options and how they might help you to realize your goals.
The Botanical Society of America office has a list of botanists’ names, addresses and phone numbers from all areas of the country. Its address and telephone number are listed inside the back cover of this booklet.
College Program of Study
The courses you select will vary depending on the curriculum of the college you attend and your own interests. To be best prepared for the job market, you should get a broad general education in language, arts, humanities and the social sciences in addition to specializing in plant biology.
Most curricula require math, through calculus, and/or statistics as well as chemistry and physics. You should know how to use a computer. Some schools recommend, or require, a foreign language. This is especially important if you hope to work in the tropics.
Many colleges and universities require a core program in biology before you may enroll in specialized botany courses. At other institutions you can take botany courses right away. A faculty advisor will help you decide what courses to take. Whether your advisor is a botanist or not, visit with other botany professors in the department and ask for their suggestions.
If possible, you should arrange to do an undergraduate research project under one of your professors. The project might include helping the professor with his/her research or pursuing your own independent interests.
This experience will help you decide which area or areas of botany you like best. It will also give you valuable insight into how science works. Research experience will also be very helpful should you decide to pursue graduate work.
Summer jobs or internships can provide important additional experience. These positions occur in government agencies, college and university research laboratories, agricultural experiment stations, freshwater and marine biological stations, and private companies. Start investigating summer opportunities early – the previous fall or winter. The best positions are usually filled by late spring.
On Teaching Botany
I became a botanist without knowing it! A shift of interest evolved gradually during my development as a biology teacher. After earning B.S. and M.A. degrees in zoology, I began teaching general biology at a community.
My undergraduate background included courses in general botany and plant physiology, but my teaching assignment motivated me to learn much more about plants. I apprenticed with botanical colleagues studying the local flora so I could do a better job of leading my students on field trips to the nearby mountains and deserts.
Schools Offering Botany In South Africa
University of Port Elizabeth. Botany. Research and teaching relate mainly to the coastal zone and the Department has some of the few South African experts in coastal.
University of the Witwatersrand. Botany.
University of Pretoria. Botany.
Rhodes University. Botany.
What qualifications do you need to be a botanist In South Africa ?
Most entry-level botanists need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in botany, plant science, biology or closely related field. Advanced research positions usually require a doctoral degree. Botanists should also have strong analytical, mathematical, and critical thinking skills.
Are botanists in demand in South Africa?
South African has a serious shortage of skilled professionals and trained technicians in the plant industry!
Can you be a botanist without a degree In South Africa ?
To become a botanist, a college degree is required, as most botanists have bachelor’s degrees. A Wildlife Conservation major with a focus on botany is also widely recommended.
Where do botanists work in South Africa?
Government organizations, such as national parks, provincial conservation authorities, the South African National Biodiversity Institute or its the botanical gardens, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), the Department of Agriculture.
How many years of college do you need to be a botanist In South Africa ?
Four years
Four years of college and a Bachelor’s degree are the minimum requirements for most careers in botany. With these, positions are available as laboratory technicians or technical assistants in education, industry, government, museums, parks and botanical gardens.
How long does it take to study botany In South Africa ?
A bachelor’s in botany typically takes four years to complete when attending full time. The curriculum will include classes on plant physiology, as well as taxonomy, anatomy, and ecology. Organic chemistry, entomology, and cellular biology will be studied, as well.
Can you get a degree in botany In South Africa ?
How Do I Get a Botany Degree? Botany-related positions generally require a bachelor’s degree. Most botanists have degrees in botany, plant science, plant biology, or general biology. Students in these programs study mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology.