Environmental and Plant Biology Major

The Honors Tutorial program in environmental and plant biology is recommended for the student interested in an independent and flexible environment, one designed to meet individual interests and needs. Opportunities for in-depth investigation of contemporary approaches to molecular, organismal, and environmental analyses provide a stimulating preparation for graduate study and career development. These cover a broad range, from teaching and research in schools and universities through research and development in a commercial environment to ecological work with federal and state agencies or private organizations.

Curriculum

Students must complete at least 120 credit hours, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5, and fulfill all university and HTC requirements including coursework in plant biology, plant physiology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and more.

There is sufficient time in the program for students to widen their experience by taking outside courses, e.g., biochemistry, economics, geography, geology, biological sciences, which the tutor and student may feel useful in achieving a particular goal.

View full curriculum in the Academic Catalog

Honors Tutorial and Thesis

Students complete eight tutorials, including two devoted to an original senior honors thesis. Two of the tutorials are dedicated to research and development of a high-quality, advisor-approved thesis that reflects original research and analysis in the field.

All of the beginning curricula within the program are likely to have a common base, with variations in content and emphasis coming in the more advanced tutorials, which are designed to suit the individual student.

In the second and later years, individually designed tutorials cover more specific aspects of plant biology, environmental biology, or cell and molecular biology. These tutorials, which cover in depth some selected aspects of a chosen area, may take the form of laboratory or field projects as well as the discussion format.

Areas available include the morphology of vascular and non-vascular plants, systematics, including molecular systematics, ecology, physiology, cell biology and biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, population genetics and evolution. In addition, students may acquire a broad perspective of these areas by attending undergraduate or graduate classes offered by the Environmental and Plant Biology Department.

Career Opportunities and More

Most students graduating from the program go to top-quality graduate schools across the country or abroad, leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. A few pursue employment directly in private industry or governmental agencies dealing with agriculture/horticulture/floriculture, biotechnology or pharmaceutical firms, conservation agencies and museums of natural history, environmental consulting firms, food companies, plant nurseries, greenhouses, botanical gardens and arboreta.

Admission Requirements

This is a selective admission program. Students must demonstrate:

• Exceptional academic performance
• Strong potential for independent study and research
• Submission of additional essays and high school teacher recommendations
• An interview with the director of studies

First-year, transfer, and external applicants are held to the same high standards. More details can be found on the HTC Application Page.