Botanists

High School

To prepare for a career in botany, high school students can explore their interests by taking biology, doing science projects involving plants, and working during summers or school holidays for a nursery, park, or similar operation. College prep courses in chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, English, and foreign language are a good idea because educational requirements for professional botanists are high. Nonresearch jobs (test and inspection professionals, lab technicians, technical assistants) require at least a bachelor's degree in a biological science or botany; research and teaching positions usually require at least a master's degree or even a doctorate.

Postsecondary Training

At the undergraduate level, there are numerous programs for degrees in botany or biology. The master's level and above usually involves a specialized degree. One degree option is conservation biology, which focuses on the conservation of specific plant and animal communities.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison (https://nelson.wisc.edu/about) has one of the biggest programs in the United States. Another key school is Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (https://environment.yale.edu), which offers degrees in areas such as environmental management.

Other Education or Training

Keeping up with industry developments is key to success as a botanist. Professional associations at the national, state, and local levels often provide continuing education (CE) opportunities. For example, the Botanical Society of America offers CE sessions at its annual meeting on topics such as genomics, taxonomy, ecology and conservation, molecular biology, biodiversity, and climate change. Here are a few other organizations that provide CE classes, seminars, webinars, and workshops: American Institute of Biological Sciences, American Society of Plant Biologists, and the Ecological Society of America. Contact these organizations for more information.