Career Profiles: Botany
Botany is concerned with plant life in all its manifestations. Botanists study all aspects of plant life, identifying and classifying plants, studying the structure of plant cells, as well as learning the causes and cures of plant disease. A botanist needs to possess a scientific curiosity and to be able to observe diagnose, and analyze scientific data. These experiments may be concerned with identifying ways to grow more food on less land, exploring oceans as a source of edible vegetation, controlling plant diseases, developing new uses for existing plants, as well as exploring the many aspects of the basic biology of plants. A bachelor's degree in a life science is the minimum requisite for most positions. A Ph.D. is required for most teaching positions in colleges, universities and for many in government and industry.
Career Possibilities:
Additional experience and/or education may be required
- Agricultural Commodity Grader
- Agronomist
- Biotechnologist
- Botanist
- Crop Plant Genetic Engineer
- Forest Ecologist
- Greenhouse Technician
- Horticulturist
- International Development Specialist
- Lab Technician
- Landscape Architect
- MAF Inspector
- Marine/Fresh Water Biologist
- Naturalist
- Plant Biochemist
- Range Management Geneticist
- Soil Scientist
Where Employed:
- Agricultural growers
- Colleges and universities
- Conservation agencies
- Construction industry
- Food/beverage producers
- Government agencies
- Medical laboratories
- National/state parks
- Nurseries/botanical gardens
- Petroleum industry
- Pharmaceutical/chemical companies
- Research institutes
Career Research Resources:
- Career exploration, exclusive jobs & internships for CSULB students can be found on CareerLINK
- Guide to career information on Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Career exploration and job analysis - O*Net Online
CSULB College and Department Links:
- College website: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Academic Advising: Undergraduate Advising Resources
- CSULB Degrees & Options: Colleges & Departments