Please go to this link to view the Plant Biology Degree Requirements. To access these requirements, you will need to select Agriculture and Life Sciences from the list on the left hand menu. This will then open up all the degrees offered through CALS, from this list scroll down and select Plant Biology (11PBBS).
Plant Biology Degree Requirements and Focal Areas
Focal Areas
Plant Biology is a diverse discipline that ranges in scope from molecules to ecosystems to the many ways in which plants are used. Many Plant Biology students choose to focus their major and elective coursework in one of three areas: Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Plant Systematics and Ecology, or Ethnobotany. A focal area is not required. Students may choose courses from across areas to get a broad perspective depending on their objectives.
When completing your degree requirements we recommend taking at least one advanced (300-level or higher) course in another plant science discipline (CS, FOR, HS, PP). Multiple advanced courses in another discipline are encouraged for all plant biology focal areas.
Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology
PB Major Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| PB 413/513 | Plant Anatomy |
2 |
| BIO 414 | Cell Biology |
3 |
| PB 421 | Plant Physiology |
3 |
| PB 422* | Methods in Plant Molecular Biology & Physiology |
3 |
| PB 480/580 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology |
3 |
*Course currently listed as Plant Physiology – 1 hour.
Restricted/Free Elective Choices
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| BCH 351 | General Biochemistry OR |
|
| BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry |
4 |
| BCH 452 | Intro. Biochemistry Lab |
2 |
| BCH 453 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression |
3 |
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA |
2 |
| BIT Modules |
2 each |
|
| CS 413 | Plant Breeding |
2 |
| CH 201/202 | Quantitative Chemistry / Lab |
3+1 |
| CH 223/224 | Organic Chemistry II / Lab |
3+1 |
| GN 312 | Elementary Genetics Lab |
1 |
| GN 421 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| MB 351/352 | General Microbiology / Lab | 3+1 |
| MB 455 | Microbial Biotechnology | 3 |
| PB 215 | Medicinal Plants | 3 |
| PB 488/588 | Systems Biology Modeling of Plant Regulation | 3 |
Other Courses
CS 224 Seeds, Biotechnology, & Society – 3
Learn More
What is Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology?
Students interested in learning about plants at a molecular level are encouraged to consider courses that provide them with the background and rigor needed to work in biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies.
Plant Systematics and Ecology
PB Major Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| PB 220 | Local Flora |
2 |
| PB/AEC 360 | Ecology |
4 |
| PB 400 | Plant Diversity and Evolution |
4 |
| PB 403/503 | Systematic Botany |
4 |
| PB 450/550 | Plant Ecology |
3 |
| PB 464/564 | Rare Plants of North Carolina |
3 |
Restricted/Free Elective Choices
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| AEC 400 | Applied Ecology |
3 |
| AEC 460 | Field Ecology and Methods |
4 |
| CS 230 | Introduction to Agroecology |
3 |
| FOR 221 | Conservation of Natural Resources |
3 |
| FOR 261 | Forest Communities |
2 |
| FOR 330 | NC Forests |
3 |
| FOR 339 | Dendrology |
4 |
| GIS 280 | Introduction to GIS |
3 |
| NR 406 | Conservation of Biological Diversity |
3 |
| PB 321 | Intro. Whole Plant Physiology |
3 |
| PB 445 | Paleobotany | 4 |
| SSC 200/201 | Soil Science / Lab | 3+1 |
| SSC 452 | Soil Classification | 4 |
| SSC 470 | Wetland Soils | 3 |
| ST 312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
Other Courses
IDS 201 Environmental Ethics – 3
IDS 303 Humans and the Environment – 3
Learn More
What is Plant Systematics and Ecology?
Students interested in floristics, plant-plant and plant-environment interactions, and conservation typically complete courses that equip them will skills and training for positions in government agencies, conservation organizations, and land management groups.
Ethnobotany
PB Major Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| PB 213 | Plants & Civilization OR |
|
| PB 219 | Plants in Folklore, Myth, & Religion |
3 |
| PB 215 | Medicinal Plants |
3 |
| PB 345/346 | Economic Botany / Lab |
3+1 |
| PB 403/503 | Systematic Botany |
4 |
| PB 325 | Culinary Botany OR |
|
| PB 407/507 | Medical Ethnobotany |
3 |
Restricted/Free Elective Choices
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| BCH 351 | General Biochemistry |
4 |
| PP 222 | Kingdom of Fungi | 3 |
| PB 421 | Plant Physiology |
3 |
Other Courses
ANT 252 Cultural Anthropology – 3
At least two additional course in Cultural Anthropology
Learn More
What is Ethnobotany?
Ethnobotany is the study and documentation of the dynamic interactions between plants and people, including traditional knowledge and customs of plant use by diverse cultures. It is sometimes called the “science of survival”. Ethnobotanists may pursue a number of different career paths depending on their specialized training and experience.