BA in Botany in Orono United States | University of Maine

Botany explores every facet of plant biology. Those pursuing botanical studies will discover: Plant functions across cellular, tissue, organ, and whole-organism levels. The evolutionary history of plants and their role in biodiversity. How plant interactions shape their surrounding ecosystems. Botanical research seeks to deepen our understanding of flora to address challenges in agriculture, ecology, and horticulture. While both B.S. and B.A. degrees offer comprehensive botanical training, the B.S. curriculum emphasizes mathematics, chemistry, and physics, making it the preferred choice for most students. The B.S. program equips graduates for advanced botanical studies or technical careers, whereas the B.A. incorporates more social sciences and humanities, ideal for double majors or globally-minded students. Both degree paths offer an Ecology concentration option.

The curriculum builds upon fundamental sciences (general biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics) essential for interpreting modern plant biology research. Upper-level coursework provides flexibility, enabling students to customize their studies to specific botanical interests. Students select advanced courses taught by renowned faculty who are both skilled educators and active researchers. These offerings include classes from biology and related fields like biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, plant science, and marine science. With guidance from faculty advisors, each student designs a personalized academic plan that aligns with their aspirations, whether exploring diverse topics or specializing in particular areas.