Curricula

A curriculum is a set of courses that meets a general program objective, such as an undergraduate major. Different curricula meet a variety of student objectives from gaining breadth within a field of interest to satisfying the demanding requirements of a graduate degree program.

Curricula, in General

A curriculum lays out the study plan and requirements for an academic degree or other certification.

Usually, the curriculum consists of the following elements:

Prerequisites (e.g., necessary background before starting)
Minimum participation (e.g., number of courses or credits)
Required activities (e.g., required courses or other activities)
Award for completion (e.g., a specific degree or certification)

A typical curriculum combines the rules with statements about the benefits gained from completing the program. There are often details about the content of the program.

Frostburg State University

Web Link: Ethnobotany Program at FSU

The Bachelors of Science in Ethnobotany is one of only two programs in the US. Students can major or minor in the cultural uses of plants.
The interdisciplinary major allows students to integrate science and culture as a way of understanding human reliance on plants and the environment.
The Master of Science in Applied Ecology & Conservation Biology program within the Biology Department is a graduate program for students interested in conservation of ethnobotanically significant plants. Graduate Assistantships available Spring 2011

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University of Hawai`i at Manoa

Web Link: Ethnobotany at UHM

Undergraduate Degree Program

The University of Hawai'i is the first University in the United States to offer a BS Degree in Ethnobotany. The program of study officially began in January 2006. Undergraduate students admitted to UH may study ethnobotany in any department with faculty members interested in supporting their studies and research. Currently most ethnobotany students are in the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Botany, Geography and Hawaiian Studies. However, in order to earn the BS in Ethnobotany degree a student must declare the major and be advised by faculty in the Botany Department.

Graduate Degree Program

The Botany Department offers a graduate study track in ethnobotany for M.S. and Ph.D. students. The following is a partial discussion of the program possibilities at UH.

Graduate students admitted to UH may study ethnobotany in any department with faculty members interested in supporting their studies and research. Currently most ethnobotany students are in the departments of Anthropology, Botany and Geography. Applications are separate for each department through the graduate school and admission to one does not imply admission to all.

Prior to admission to the graduate school and acceptance into one of the instructional departments, a student should contact prospective departments and faculty members in order to learn more about each faculty member. Successful students are most often those who have taken the time to explore the university courses, faculty and research opportunities with selection of one or more potential faculty advisors, prior to submission of their graduate school applications.

Expectations of a graduate program vary significantly between departments and between faculty members and graduate committees in each department. Since ethnobotany is a multi-disciplinary field, greater course work and training loads should be expected. Students usually need to complete advanced courses in both biological and social sciences as well as acquiring additional language skills.

OSN Review