FSU is located on 260 acres within the the appalachian highlands in the town of Frostburg, Maryland. FSU has a student body of over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The ethnobotany activities range from introductory classes to graduate and faculty research in a variety of ethnobotanical disciplines. The courses are taught within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in collaboration with the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies (ACES).
General Information FSU is one of two US universities that offers a degree program in Ethnobotany. There is an undergraduate major and minor available in Ethnobotany as well as a Master of Science in Applied Ecology & Conservation Biology. All of these programs are available through the Biology department. Web Link: General Ethnobotany Information Courses Web Link: Introduction to Ethnobotany (BIOL 128, 4 credit hours)
An introductory course focusing on the role of plants in Appalachian and other cultures. Typically offered: Fall Semesters. Instructor: Mimi Hernandez, Sunshine Brosi Web Link: Economic Botany (Biol 328,3 credit hours) The study of plants and the link between plant structure and human's use of plants.
Typically offered: Spring Semesters during odd years. Instructor: Sunshine Brosi.
Forest Ecology and Conservation (BIOL 425, 3 credit hours) Investigation of forest ecology, management, conservation, policy, research and history; silviculture, stand dynamics and improvement, reforestation, soils, disturbances and natural pests and pathogens. Typically offered: Fall Semesters. Instructor: Daniel Fiscus. Web Link: Ethnographic Field Techniques (BIOL 428,3
credit hours) An introductory course to the methods ethnographers use including mapping, unobtrusive observation, participant observation and methodologies and much more. Typically offered: Spring Semesters during even years. Instructor: Sunshine Brosi. Field Experiences in Forestry (BIOL 460, 3 credit hours) A field-oriented overview of basic forestry. Includes field dendrology, silvics, elements of surveying and mapping, orienteering, log scaling, silviculture, timber cruising and wildlife techniques. Numerous field trips included. Typically offered: Summer Semesters. Instructor: Sunshine Brosi. Field Experiences (BIOL 484, 3
credit hours) Cultural Anthropology (SOCI 224, 3
credit hours) Unique field course where students gain practical training and experience using ecological and ethnographic field methods. Typically offered: January term during even years. Instructor: Sunshine Brosi. Survey of the study of human behavior in simpler tribal and peasant societies as well as in complex civilizations. Typically offered: Fall Semesters. Instructor: Kara Rogers Thomas. Sociology of the Environment (SOCI 345,3 credit hours) Examines the ambivalent relationship between human society and the natural world. Typically offered: Spring Semesters. Instructor: Kara Rogers Thomas. Folklore in Appalachia (SOCI 350, 3 credit hours) The study of human creativity and tradition as a reflection of Appalachian culture, community, and place. Typically offered: Fall Semesters. Instructor: Kara Rogers Thomas. Biogeography (GEOG 445, 3 credit hours) Patterns of plant and animal distributions in the landscape are stressed and are considered in light of historical, environmental and biotic influences.Typically offered: Spring Semesters. Instructor: Francis Precht. Graduate Activities
Web Link: Graduate Catalog | 
Modules Web Link: Alien Weeds (Video) (The Ginseng and Natural dye video modules were developed for the Biology 128 course) |
