Master of Science in Botany

The Department of Botany offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and the Ph.D. degrees. As part of these programs students participate in research, teaching and coursework that lay a foundation for expertise in the broad discipline of plant biology. Our faculty have strong research programs in plant biology, in which undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students play a key role. The primary goal of graduate studies in the Department of Botany at the University of Wyoming is the education of highly qualified individuals for productive careers in an academic or non-academic profession, including teaching, research, industry, government, environmental management or other applications of plant biology1. The foundation for professional training is built upon achieving a high level of intellectual development and scholarly research. Two advanced degrees are offered to accomplish this goal: the M.S. degree with a thesis and the Ph.D. degree. Regardless of the degree program or professional direction, students educated in the Department of Botany will achieve a breadth of knowledge about plant biology and will be accomplished in their ability to extend knowledge through scholarly research. Students will be skilled in conveying knowledge in both academic and non-academic settings and will understand the value and practice of scientific service activities Programs of graduate study are based on courses, seminars, readings and research, and normally utilize some materials and human resources from other parts of the university or other centers of scholarship. It is expected that each student will work closely with a faculty adviser from the Department of Botany and that this association will determine the exact nature of the individual's professional growth. Requirements for this degree are 26 semester hours of courses approved by the student's committee plus four hours of BOT 5960, Thesis Research.