Learning Goals in the Botany Major

Today’s world needs highly skilled plant biologists to address critical sustainability issues facing our planet. The botany major directly prepares students for careers in a wide variety of botanical fields as well as graduate study in areas like the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable food production, climate change assessment and mitigation, and curating plant collections. This preparation comes from learning essential concepts in plant biology, developing critical thinking and observational skills, and applying these concepts and skills to real-world situations through projects and field work. Students also develop strong communication skills to work effectively across disciplines and to reach a wide variety of audiences. Students interested in potential careers in botany are encouraged to talk to faculty and consult the department website. A wide diversity of organisms beyond plants, including fungi and protists, fall within the discipline of botany. When we refer to plants below we are including these organisms.

Students who complete a botany major at Connecticut College will be able to:

• Identify plants using knowledge of key physical characteristics.
• Cultivate plants in different environments via seed or clonal propagation (e.g., by cuttings or tissue culture).
• Apply knowledge of cellular and macro-scale plant structure and function to issues surrounding food and energy production.
• Apply knowledge of plant evolution, diversity and ecology to understanding and addressing conservation, loss of biodiversity and climate change.
• Integrate an understanding of the societal and cultural importance of plants into approaches to improving human health, wellness and sustainability.
• Design and implement experiments using field and laboratory techniques to answer current questions about plant ecology, physiology and cultural importance.
• Critically read and evaluate sources of information about plants, their interaction with the physical environment, and their roles in our society.
• Communicate botanical information to a variety of audiences using effective written, oral and visual communication skills.