What you will study
Learn the classification systems within the major plant groups and their characteristics.
Your Plant Biology program courses start at the molecular and cellular level and by
the time you complete your Plant Biology degree, you’ll gain a full perspective of
plants’ important role in our global ecological systems.
Plant Biology majors complete core Integrative Biology classes in genetics, investigative
biology, physics and experimental design and analysis before diving deeper into specialized
courses. You can also choose electives that complement the core requirements and allow
you to explore other areas of interest. These electives may include:
- Restoration Ecology
- Plant Diseases
- Entomology
- Plant Ecology
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Identification
Learn to work as part of a plant biology research team
UCM’s undergraduate Plant Biology courses emphasize lab-based projects. In labs, you’ll
work in teams of your peers to study the diversity of plant life. This experience
will be a major asset when you’re seeking plant biology jobs.
Excellence in Biology
- Best Value College for Biological & Biomedical Sciences (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in plant biology
As you earn your Plant Biology degree at UCM, most of your undergraduate program courses
will be lab-based and hands-on to develop the practical skills and knowledge required
for exciting plant biology jobs.
- Internships: UCM Biology faculty members have strong relationships with the Department of Natural
Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation and other state and federal agencies,
as well as regional nonprofits, biotech firms and businesses. Real-world internships
working with these employers prepare you for plant biology careers and can lead to
job offers.
- Lab and fieldwork: At our on-campus nature preserve, greenhouses, nursery and working farms, you’ll practice
lab and research skills in situations like those you’ll encounter in plant biology
jobs. The UCM active learning teaching model and our emphasis on peer-centered teams
will develop your abilities to identify and solve problems in collaboration with others.
- Research projects, from design to presentation: The UCM faculty are experts in a range of plant biology specialties. You’ll work directly
with them to complete co-curricular research projects in your interest area. The experience
you’ll gain in your Plant Biology courses will help you learn how to secure funding
for research, as well as how to present findings for publication.
- Career opportunities: As a Plant Biology major, you’ll have opportunities to network with private, public
and government professionals for internships, research projects and funding and plant
biology job openings.
What can you do with a degree in Plant Biology from UCM?
Classes in this Integrative Biology emphasis cover an exciting array of interest areas,
and each opens diverse opportunities for plant biology jobs.
Graduates with a Plant Biology major apply their studies of plant life to food sciences,
bioinformatics, plant genetics, regulatory affairs, agriculture and soil science,
teaching and many other fields.
A broad range of plant biology jobs
Many of our graduates are working for the Missouri Department of Conservation, the
Department of Natural Resources and other government agencies. Plant biology job opportunities
are also available with private research and biotech labs, businesses, educational
institutions and nonprofit organizations with an environmental mission.
Another option others choose is to earn certification to teach or continue their studies
with an advanced degree to work as a senior scientist or researcher.
Use the interactive tool below to explore potential career pathways and salaries with
a Plant Biology degree from the University of Central Missouri.
Financial assistance options for your Plant Biology degree
The University of Central Missouri offers a variety of resources to help you finance your undergraduate education and keep your costs and student debt low.
Beyond general scholarships available through the University of Central Missouri,
numerous others are available specifically for undergraduates earning a Plant Biology
degree. These include:
- Carlos Kays Biology and Earth Science Scholarship
- Dr. John Beishe Biology Scholarship
- Steven H. Mills and Stephen W. Wilson Research Award
- John Hess Health Professions Scholarship
- Honors Project Research Fund
- McNair Scholars Program
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships at the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Specialized Plant Biology Courses
Choose electives in your interest areas
Integrative Biology, with a Plant Biology degree program emphasis, begins at the molecular
level and encompasses the larger ecosystem. At UCM, we offer a wide range of lab-based
Plant Biology courses. You can choose to specialize your studies by concentrating
in areas such as microbiology, breeding, diseases, entomology, molecular technology
and more.
Active Outdoor Learning
Research and fieldwork on campus
At our 300-acre Pertle Springs Nature Preserve, you’ll conduct research and fieldwork
with student teams. In the outdoor classroom environment, you’ll learn to identify
and classify plants in ponds, lakes, marshes and woodlands. UCM’s new, well-equipped
pavilion, as well as two greenhouses, a nursery and two working farms, also offer
real-world settings for learning and research.
Meet Our Faculty
Professional connections, publishing credentials
Ph.D.-level faculty — not graduate assistants — teach nearly all the labs to give
you the benefit of their specialized expertise. Program faculty offer undergraduate
students interested in preparing for plant biology jobs the benefit of their expertise
in research and professional connections.
Faculty Research Areas
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