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CLAS : Biological Sciences : Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Programs - Plant Biology

The Plant Biology Program (formerly the Department of Botany) has a long and distinguished history at the University of Kansas. Current faculty interests include ecophysiology, paleobotany, population genetics, and the systematics and evolution of plants and fungi. Graduate students can obtain guidance in these areas and Master's or Ph.D. degrees in Botany or Biology. In addition to modern laboratory resources in Haworth Hall, available resources include experimental field plots and natural areas owned by KU, and the KU Herbarium, with about 350,000 specimens, and the Paleobotanical Collections, with approximately 200,000 specimens, both administered through the KU Museum of Natural History and Biodiversity Research Center.

Degree Information

Most coursework requirements for EEB graduate students are identified during students’ first meeting with their advisory committee.  Students are expected to take graduate-level courses (or have equivalent knowledge) in the disciplines of ecology, evolution, and systematics.  Students are required to attend and enroll in Colloquium in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BIOL 701) for the first semester of their graduate education.  Additionally, students are required to take a graduate level course in statistics or demonstrate equivalent background knowledge.  A student’s advisory committee may add course requirements to a student’s degree program during annual meetings.

M.A. in Botany

Master’s students are required to meet credit hour completion requirements.  Those in the thesis program must complete a minimum of 30 graduate level credit hours with no more than 10 of the 30 from enrollment in thesis, research, or advanced study hours.  Those in the non-thesis program must complete a minimum of 36 graduate level credit hours with no more than 12 of the 36 from enrollment in thesis, research, or advanced study hours.  Students pursuing the thesis option must enroll in a minimum of one hour of thesis research (BIOL 899). 

Students seeking an M.A. in Botany must take a graduate-level course in at least two of the following three areas:  1) plant ecology; 2) plant systematics or morphology; 3) plant development or physiology.

Ph.D. in Botany

There is no credit hour minimum requirement for doctoral students although they are expected to complete an equivalent of three years of full time graduate study.  Additionally, doctoral students must complete a minimum of one credit hour of dissertation research (BIOL 999).

Students seeking a Ph.D. in Botany must take a graduate-level course in each of the following three areas:  1) plant ecology; 2) plant systematics or morphology; 3) plant development or physiology. In addition the student must take a specialty seminar focusing on plant-related topic.

For more information on specific courses offered by the department, refer to the EEB section in the Graduate School Catalog.  The catalog may be accessed from KU’s Graduate School web site at http://www.graduate.ku.edu/.   

Faculty

Affiliate Faculty