The Biology major is administered by the Office of Undergraduate Biology, it accepts students from both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. All  biology majors take a core set of requirements, and also a minimum of 13 credits in a Program of Study (aka "concentration"). The Plant Biology Program of Study is designed for students who would like to gain a greater understanding of the structure, classification, ecology, function, development, and molecular biology of plants. Two options are offered: (a) botany and (b) plant biotechnology.

In Option (a), students are required to take the introductory botany course and a minimum of three other courses from a group of over 20 courses covering such areas as the systematics, evolution, ecology, anatomy and morphology, cell and molecular biology, and physiology of plants.

Option (b) is primarily for students who wish to specialize in the molecular biology of plants and its agricultural application. It centers on the Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants course. In addition students should take at least ten credits of other courses in plants and biotechnology.

Students may also choose from courses offered by other departments in areas of applied research such as crop science, floriculture and ornamental horticulture, fruit and vegetable sciences, plant breeding, and plant pathology.

  Undergraduate Soiré February 2011

The Plant Sciences major hosted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, offers specializations in

• Crop Science
  
• Horticulture
• Plant Biology
• Plant Breeding and Genetics
• Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology
  

Plant Sciences is a multi-departmental program administered by faculty in the Departments of Crop & Soil Sciences, Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, and Plant Pathology. Students in the program share a common interest in topics associated with plant growth and development in the broadest sense, but their individual interests and career goals vary widely.

Requirements for the Concentration in Plant Biology within the Plant Sciences major

Plant Biology provides undergraduates with a preparation for graduate study in the plant sciences that stresses basic, rather than applied, research dealing with how plants function, grow and develop as well as a study of their evolution and relationships to man.  Beyond the core of Plant Science courses, in cooperation with an adviser each student plans a curriculum with a concentration in basic sciences, supplemented by more advanced courses in plant biology.  Options include plant molecular biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, ethnobotany, and further courses in plant physiology, genetics, systematics, ecology and evolution.  Individual research under professorial guidance is encouraged.  Different options within Plant Biology afford a flexible curriculum.

For more information, contact: Michael Scanlon, 140 Emerson Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, (607) 255-1156; email mjs298@cornell.edu.

Concentrators in Plant Biology within the Plant Science Major should take a minimum of four courses from those listed under Plant Biology in the course catalog, or physiological plant ecology (BIOEE 4660), over and above those listed in the core requirements.  One of these courses should be plant molecular biology (BIOPl 3430+3431).  Advisors may also require or approve courses from other departments to match the student's goals, which may be part of, or addition to, the minimum four courses listed above. Plant Biology students should take BIOMG 2810 to satisfy the core genetics requirement.  Organic chemistry and biochemistry are also recommended.