The
Department of Plant Biology offers a Minor
in Plant Biology to all baccalaureate students at North Carolina
State University in any department except the Plant Biology Department.
As the basic discipline of the plant sciences, Plant
Biology
involves the study of structure, function, classification, diversity, and interactions
of plants.
The program also provides a strong background for research in all aspects
of the plant sciences and in plant molecular biology.
OBJECTIVES OF THE MINOR OR EMPHASIS
IN PLANT
BIOLOGY
Because we are all dependent on plants,
it is important to understand and to manage this valuable resource. All students should have the opportunity
to discover more about
them.
This minor is designed to:
1. Give students a basic
understanding of the structure, function, diversity, classification, and
utilization of plants through classroom,
la
2. Provide a strong
background in basic plant science to support and complement other
disciplines that interact with
3. Enhance appreciation
of plants for students from disciplines unrelated to
PROGRAM OF STUDY
includes one required course and
a minimum of 11 hours of elective courses.
Required
Course (4 semester hours)
Elective
Courses (11 semester hours)
PB 215 - Medicinal Plants (3 hrs) F only
PB 360 - Intro. to Ecology (3 hrs) F, Sum
PB 365 - Intro. to Ecology Lab (1 hr) F, Sum
PB 400 - Plant Structure & Diversity (when offered, usually Spring)
PB 403 - Systematic Plant Biology(4 hrs) F only
PB 405 - Wetland Flora (3) F only
PB 414 - Cell Biology (3 hrs)
PB 421 - Plant Physiology (4 hrs) F & S
PB 480 - Plant Biotechnology (3 hrs) S alternate yrs
One Special Topics Course in Plant Biology may also be used
PB 492, 493,
or 495 (Maximum of 4 credit hrs.)
One graduate
course in Plant Biology may be used if different subject than
undergraduate
courses a
CERTIFICATION
The Undergraduate Plant Biology Major Advisor will also be the minor or emphasis
advisor and
shall audit, advise, and certify all minors or emphasis in
Dr.
North
Carolina State University
Department
of Plant Biology, B
Raleigh,
NC 27695
chad_jordan@ncsu.edu
DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE PLANT BIOLOGY COURSES
PB 200 PLANT LIFE
PB 220 LOCAL FLORA - Preq. BIO 125 or PB 200 3(2-2). Spring. Structural terminology of vascular plants, field identification of plant species using popularized field guides, description of plant community types and their soil and topographic features.
PB 213 PLANTS AND CIVILIZATION
- Preq. BIO 125
or 105, or PB 200. 3(3-0). Spring. Discussion will center around the dependence
of humans upon plants and plant products.
Also examples will be given of the impact of plants in human culture
and society.
PB 222
Kingdom
of Fungi - Preq. BIO 105 or 125, or PB 200.
Survey of fungal kingdom. Economical, historical and practical aspects
of fungi and their impact on humankind.
Mushrooms, molds, mycorrihizae, maladies, and mutualism.
PB 360 INTRO. TO ECOLOGY - Preq. A 200 level biology course. 3(3-0) F, S, Sum. Relationships between organisms & environment, & interactions among organisms. Emphasis on basic principles, including energy flow, nutrient cycling, community structure & organization, succession, & population dynamics. Ecological consequences of human activities.
PB 365 ECOLOGY LABORATORY
- Coreq. PB 360.
1(0-3) F, S, Sum. Laboratory
coordinated with PB 360 lecture, illustrates basic principles of environmental
measurement, data analysis, limiting factors, adaptation, biogeography, succession,
populations, communities, ecosystems, and competition and predation by means
of field trips and laboratory experiments.
PB 400 PLANT STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY - Preq. BIO 125, BIO 183, PB 200, or PB
250 Spring. Survey of the structure and diversity of plants. Emphasis
on anatomy, including cells, tissue systems, and organs, morphology, evolutionary
trends, adaptive strategies, and bases for assumed phylogenetic relationships
of fossils as well as living forms. Two one-day weekend field trips.
PB 405 WETLAND FLORA
- Preq.
PB 200 or 250 or 403 or FOR 212. (3) Plant morphological
terminology & identification of wetland plant; discussion of wetland flora,
plant communities, functions & values of North Carolina wetland types; several
one-day weekend field trips required.
PB 403 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY - Preq. BIO 125 or 105 or PB 200. 4(2-4) Spring. Systematic survey of vascular plants, emphasizing terminology, family characteristics, field identification, general evolutionary relationships, and mechanisms of plant speciation.
PB 495W APPLIED AQUATIC ECOLOGY - Preq. (SEE DR. J. M. BURKHOLDER). 3 F.
PB 414 - Cell Biology - Preqs.
CH 223 & PY 212. 3(3-0) S. The chemical and physical bases of cellular structure and function
with emphasis on methods and interpretations.
PB 421 - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY - Preq. BIO 125 or 105 or PB 200, one year of college
chemistry. 4(3-3). Fall, Spring. Physiology
of the green plant emphasizing plant organization, water & solute relationships,
organic & inorganic nutrition, growth & development.
PB 480 - PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preq. CH 221 and PB 421 or BCH 451, or GN 411. 3(3-0).
Fall, Spring. Introduction to molecular techniques in the plant sciences, gene identification
and isolation, plant tissue culture and transformation, and methods for working
with single and multiple locus traits.
Discussions of the role and potential of plant genetic engineering to
solve problems facing agriculture.