On behalf of the entire Department of Botany, I would
like to welcome you to a very exciting unit of the University. If you have
recently declared Botany as a major, we believe you will find that your
decision was a wise one indeed since the future looks very bright for students
formally trained in the Plant Sciences. If you are undecided and still
contemplating entering the field, we hope that you will be informed about what
the discipline of Botany is, its place in education, and why you might wish to
enter this exciting branch of natural history, either as preparation for
meaningful employment or for personal satisfaction in being called a life-long
learner. Feel free to get in touch with any or all of
our faculty and staff to
answer questions you might have to help with your decision.
In providing a quality undergraduate education to
students of Weber State University, the Department of Botany seeks to maximize
opportunities for the promotion of effective education and communication about
the value and intellectual appeal of plants. We attempt to inspire students to
pursue the study of plants as an intellectual endeavor in understanding life’s
major component - the plants, with their physically and functionally dominant
place in the world. In addition, botanists offer expertise about plants to
policy-makers involved in agriculture, conservation, and environmental
protection. We also believe that a more knowledgeable public will be able to
make more informed decisions with regard to plant derived products and
environmental issues. This understanding should also lead to a paradigm shift
that garners greater support for botany as a vitally important profession.
The Botany program at Weber State University is the
only such program remaining in the state of Utah. We believe that such a
unique program develops an important plant biology presence in the mindset of
the students which is often lost in Biology programs where Botany is
de-emphasized in favor of a pro animal priority.
Whether you have chosen Botany or one of our
Pre-Professional programs, rest assured that we will be available to serve you
in any way we can. We are proud of the success that our graduates achieve when
they choose to study for advanced degrees. They have been able to compete very
successfully with graduates from other institutions. Former students who have
completed PhD degrees constantly tell us that their undergraduate preparation
for graduate school was the best it could be. The future looks very promising
and we are certain you will find your experiences in the Botany program at
Weber State University to be most rewarding and satisfying.