Bachelor of Science (BSc) Majoring in Botany
Dunedin, New Zealand
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Bachelor of Science (BSc) Majoring in Botany
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree which enables each student to develop his or her own interests in a science subject (science major) and related subjects. Students have the flexibility to combine their major subject with other science subjects, as well as subjects from other disciplines across the University.
Why study Botany?
Botany is an exciting and challenging degree taught by a team of excellent plant scientists.
You will learn about important, topical issues such as biotechnology, genetic modification, ecosystem services, sustainability and the ecological impacts of environmental change.
Studying Botany at Otago will enable you to examine New Zealand's unique flora on land and in the sea. You will study its diversity and evolutionary history as well as how this flora may be affected by changing climatic conditions, ocean acidification, and invasive organisms. Botany courses will cover a wide range of topics from how photosynthetic organisms function to understanding their role in ecosystem processes. This will include the importance of plants in addressing some of the challenges and problems that face society in the 21st Century.
Botany courses have great field-trips focusing on various aspects of plant ecology, and allowing you to participate in hands-on study of our exciting natural environment.
The wide range of topics and skills learnt in Botany can lead to many different careers.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Curriculum
Every Program of study for the degree
- shall consist of papers worth not less than 360 points
- shall include at least 180 points for papers above 100-level, of which at least 72 points shall be for papers above 200-level
- shall satisfy the requirements for at least one of the major subjects listed above. No paper above 200-level may count for more than one Major Subject Requirement
- may include one or more optional minor subjects which satisfy the Minor Subject Requirements listed in Science Schedule A, or Arts and Music Schedule A, Commerce Schedule A, or Applied Science Schedule A, or BHealSc Schedule Part 2. No paper may count for both a Major and a Minor Subject Requirement or for more than one Minor Subject Requirement unless that paper is at 100- or 200-level and is specified as compulsory for both Requirements.
- may include papers which are not listed in Science Schedule C either:
- up to 90 points; or
- as specified in the Science Major Subject Requirements and/or the Science subjects in the Minor Subject Requirements; or
- as specified in the Minor Subject Requirements.
Major Subject Areas
For a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree you must major in at least one of the following subjects:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Ecology
- Economics
- Electronics (no new enrolments)
- Energy Science and Technology
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Food Science
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Human Nutrition
- Information Science
- Land Planning and Development
- Mathematics
- Marine Science (enrolments for 2022 will be available for this subject from the end of July 2021)
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Oceanography (not offered from 2022)
- Pharmacology
- Physics
- Physiology
- Plant Biotechnology
- Psychology
- Sport Development and Management
- Statistics
- Surveying Measurement
- Zoology
Minor Subject Areas
Selecting a minor subject is not compulsory and there may be other combinations of papers more appropriate to your degree. There are no particular subject requirements for the other papers of your degree, but if you wish you may have another subject specified as a minor subject in your degree by passing the prescribed papers for any of the listed subjects.
Full list of available minor subject areas.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
There will always be jobs for plant scientists because plants are so fundamental to life on earth.
The world's economies are highly dependent on plants and their associated habitats, not only for food production but also for timber, for the fibres and chemical compounds plants produce and for the ecological services they provide, such as removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Plant scientists are employed around the world in industry, governmental and non-governmental organisations that seek to understand and conserve the natural environment, and to educate people about it.
Botany graduates are in high demand in industries such as biotechnology, horticulture, tourism and agriculture.
A Botany degree can also lead to a career in conservation, biosecurity, environmental education, environmental consultancy or academic research.
Our graduates take up positions in local and national government, for instance at the Department of Conservation, and Ministry of Primary Industries and Crown Research Institutes.
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) is also available.
A specific aim of the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is to develop advanced theoretical and research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.
Program delivery
Application Details
Applicants must apply online. They should also attach all the necessary supporting documents which includes scanned copies of their official high school or foundation transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades); scanned copies of the relevant official transcripts of previous university study; and provide proof of their identity: this is usually achieved by providing a certified copy of the personal details page of their passport or a birth certificate (in English). Applicants may also be required to submit an Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE). As soon as applicants have completed their online application, their proof of identity document must be posted to International Office, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. International student applications for semester 1/summer school study close: Oct-31; Semester 2 study close: Apr-30.