Bachelors In

Botany Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.

Why We Love It

  • $68,600
    Potential Avg. Salary*
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes171012.htm for 17-1012 Landscape architects 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

With a bachelor of science in botany, you’ll gain the education needed for a career working with plants. You’ll study the basic components of plants—their cells, tissues, and organs—as well as how plants interact and thrive together.

This prepares you for a wide variety of careers. Many botany graduates work as landscape architects, while others move into environmental protection or research roles.

What is a Degree in Botany?

A bachelor of science in botany is a flexible degree that provides a thorough education in plant life. Students study plants from a variety of topographies—from the cacti of the desert to the algae of the ocean.

Many programs allow students to choose an area of focus to concentrate their studies on the courses that offer the best preparation for their desired careers. For example, a concentration in research biology prepares students to work in agricultural or pharmaceutical research after graduation.

A degree in botany prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Students take courses in math and science, studying advanced algebra, biology, and chemistry. This prepares students for success if they choose to go on to graduate school to become doctors, dentists, or researchers.

Others find work immediately after graduation in roles that only require a bachelor’s degree. Some find work assisting researchers in the field of plant research, and others find work as landscape architects or florists.

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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Botany?

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Plant Evolution
  • Plant Genetics
  • Plant Physiology
  • Plant Ecology
  • Comparative Anatomy of Vascular Plants
  • Plant Taxonomy
  • Biology of Fungi

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Botany?

Many industries rely on the skills of botanists. Graduates from botany degree programs can find work in a variety of fields, reducing the likelihood that they’ll struggle to find employment. Graduates may work for universities in research assistant roles, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for family-owned or commercial farms, or for zoos or botanical gardens.

Some also start their own landscape architecture businesses, helping businesses and homeowners select and plant trees, bushes, and flowers for their lawns and lands.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Botany will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

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Best Jobs for Botany Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in botany can lead to a variety of careers. Some graduates work as researchers or assistants in the pharmaceutical or agricultural fields, finding ways to use plants to form life-saving drugs or to increase food production.

Others work with living plants and share plant life with others as landscape architects or florists. Some also use their knowledge to aid in environmental protection roles.


How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Botany degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

Get a Certificate in Landscape Architecture First

If your goal in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in botany is to become a landscape architect, you may want to consider earning a certificate in landscape architecture first.

A certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete, and students with certificates can find work in the field while they pursue their bachelor’s degrees. Even better, the credits often transfer, minimizing the number of courses that will be required to earn a bachelor’s degree.


You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Botany are also interested in the following degrees.

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