B.S. Biological Sciences
Concentration in Plant Biology
Roadmap Link
Checksheet 2007-08
The Concentration in Plant Biology provides breadth for students interested in all
aspects of plant biology, from traditional areas such as anatomy, morphology, systematics and evolution,
ecology, physiology, to cellular, developmental and molecular plant biology. The concentration provides
elective courses that permit students to further focus their education in these areas of specialization.
One area is primarily for students interested in plant diversity, ecology and evolution, or other aspects
of
organismal biology; the other is appropriate for students interested in genetics and genomics, and
cellular, molecular and development plant biology. Students wishing to specialize in horticulture are
encouraged to consider the program now offered at the Polytechnic Campus of Arizona State University.
The concentration prepares students for a variety of career paths including graduate school, medical
and biotechnology work, specimen-based collections research, or work involving conservation and resource
management by public and private agencies. The major in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in
Plant Biology consists of a minimum of 41 semester hours in required life science courses, and a
minimum of 16 semester hours in related fields, a three-semester-hour statistics course, plus a
three-semester-hour advanced mathematics course included in the General Studies Requirement. A
minimum grade of “C” (2.00) is required in all course work in the major and related fields.
Required courses are as follows:
Core requirements (15 hours):
BIO 187 General Biology (4) or PLB 200/201 Biology of Plants (3/1)
BIO 188 General Biology (4)
BIO 340 General Genetics (4) or BIO 341 Genetic Analysis (5)
BIO 345 Organic Evolution (3)
Concentration requirements (14 hours):
PLB 306 Plant Anatomy (4) or PLB 308 Plant Physiology (4)
BIO 320 Fundamentals of Ecology (3)
BIO 353 Cell Biology (3) or MBB 247 Applied Biosciences: Biotechnology (4)
Electives (12 hours):
12 hours of upper division courses (from ABS, BIO, MBB, PLB) approved for major credit is required
for the concentration selected in consultation with an academic advisor, and must include at least
one course from each of the following categories (list follows):
1) Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution/Systematics
2) Genetics/Genomics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Development and Physiology
A course can not be used to fulfill both the concentration requirement and this elective requirement.
Related fields (16 hours):
CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)
Organic Chemistry Options
CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ1 (3)
CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory SQ1 (1)
---or---
CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
Physics Options
PHY 101 Introduction to Physics SQ (4 hours)
--- or---
PHY 111 General Physics SQ 2 (3)
PHY 112 General Physics SQ 2 (3)
PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory SQ 2 (1)
PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory SQ 2 (1)
Math Proficiency (6 hours; 3 as a General Studies Requirement):
STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3) or STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3)
MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
Elective credit options (will not appear in catalog)
Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution/Systematics
ABS 498 Phycology (4) [formerly PLB 404 Phycology]
BIO 428 Biogeography (3)
GPH 422 Plant Geography (3)
PLB 302 Plants and Civilization (3)
PLB 305 Desert Annuals and Cacti (3)
PLB 306 Plant Anatomy (4)
PLB 308 Plant Physiology (4)
PLB 310 The Flora of Arizona (4)
PLB 400 Lichenology (3)
PLB 401 Mycology (3)
PLB 407 Plant Fossils and Evolution (4)
PLB 410 Angiosperm Taxonomy (3) [future offering planned as PLB 410 Plant Systematics]
PLB 411 Trees and Shrubs of Arizona (3)
PLB 420 Plant Ecology (3): Organisms and Populations
PLB 421 Plant Ecology (3): Communities and Ecosystems
PLB 498 Physiological Plant Ecology (3)
Genetics/Genomics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Development and Physiology
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
BIO 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
BIO 353 Cell Biology (3)
BIO 440 Functional Genomics (3)
BI BIO 456 Bioinformatics (3) or BIO 455 Introduction to
Comparative Genomics (3)
MBB 247 Applied Biosciences: Biotechnology (4)
MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
MBB/PLB 350 Applied Genetics and Plant Biotechnology (4)
MBB 445/446 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics (2/2)
PLB 306 Plant Anatomy (4)
PLB 308 Plant Physiology (4)
PLB 440/464 Photobiology (3)
PLB 444 Plant Growth and Development (3)
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