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Botany (BOT) is a six-semester subject which may be taken as a major subject for the degrees of BSc and BJourn. Botany is a recommended co-major with Environmental Science (ENV), full details of which are given in a separate entry.
Biology (BIO) is a two-semester first-year subject, offered jointly by the departments of Botany and Zoology and Entomology. This forms a compulsory part of a BPharm degree, and may also be taken for credit for degree/diploma curricula in the Faculties of Humanities, Science and Education.
To major in Botany, a candidate is required to obtain credit in the following courses: CHE 1; BOT 101 (or, with approval, BIO 101 or ZOO 102); BOT 102; BOT 201; BOT 202; BIO 301; BOT 302. See Rule S.23.
Two, or in some cases four, Botany semester-credit courses are allowed as credits for other degree/diploma curricula in the Faculties of Humanities and Education.
See the Departmental Web Page http://www.ru.ac.za/academic/departments/botany/ for further details, particularly on the contents of courses.
There are two first-year courses in Botany. BOT 101 is normally held in the first semester and BOT 102 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course BOT 1, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum in each component. Both theory and practical examinations are held. Supplementary examinations may be recommended in either course, provided that a candidate achieves a minimum standard specified by the Department. Practical reports, essays and class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark. Adequate performance in BOT 101 is required before a student may register for BOT 102.
Each course is comprised of modules of two to four weeks, with 5 lectures and 1 practical per week. Additional tutorial sessions may be given in some modules, and there is a compulsory field trip.
With the approval of the Head of Department of Botany, students who have passed BIO 101 (Plant Biology) or ZOO 102 (Cell and Developmental Biology) may be allowed entry to Botany 2, provided they have successfully completed BOT 102 (Plants and the Environment) in the same year.
BOT 101: Evolution of Plant Life
Evolution of life and the eukaryote cell. Function of sub-cellular organelles. Organisation of cells to form tissues, organs and the functional plant. General functioning of plants.
BOT 102: Plants and the Environment
Plant complexity and diversity. Structural complexity and anatomy. Physiological adaptations. Ecosystem ecology. Field Trip.
There are two first-year courses in Biology. BIO 101 is normally held in the first semester and BIO 102 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course BIO 1, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum in each component. Supplementary examinations may be recommended in either course, provided that a candidate achieves the minimum standards specified by the Departments of Botany (for BIO 101) and Zoology and Entomology (for BIO 102).
BIO 101: Plant Biology
Introduction to the ultrastructure and genetics of cells. Structure and function of the cell. Diversity: range of form and reproduction in selected groups of algae, fungi, cryptograms and selected seed plants. Short introductory course in chemotaxonomy and medicinal plants.
BIO 102 / ZOO 101: Animal Biology
BIO 102 is the same course as ZOO 101; please consult the entry for ZOO 101 in the departmental entry for Zoology and Entomology.
There are two independent second-year courses in Botany. BOT 201 is normally held in the first semester and BOT 202 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately, and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course BOT 2, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum in each component. However, students who wish to major in Botany must obtain credit in each of BOT 201 and BOT 202. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course.
Credit in Botany (BOT 101 and BOT 102) is required before a student may register for BOT 201 or BOT 202; except that credit in ZOO 102 (Cell and Development Biology) or BIO 101 (Plant Biology) may be substituted for BOT 101 at the discretion of the Head of Department. However, for candidates not majoring in Botany, BOT 201 may be taken by second or third year students without pre-requisites. Credit in BOT 2 will only be granted when full credit in BOT 1 has been obtained.
These courses each comprise several modules and 12 practicals. Students registered for BOT 201 will also be required to assemble a plant collection, and students will participate in a field trip in BOT 201 or BOT 202.
BOT 201: Conservation, Utilization and Rehabilitation
Botanical surveying. Conservation. Plants and People (Ethnobotany). Environmental rehabilitation.
BOT 202: Anatomy, Physiology and Taxonomy
Research methodology. Developmental plant anatomy. Carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plants. Taxonomic methods.
There are two independent third-year courses in Botany. BIO 301 is normally held in the first semester and BOT 302 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately. Students who wish to major in Botany must obtain credit in both BIO 301 and BOT 302, and no aggregation of credit is possible. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. BIO 301 is a recommended credit for students who wish to major in Environmental Science. Students who wish to major in two of the following: Botany, Entomology, Environmental Science and Zoology, should note that credit may not be obtained in either BIO 301 or ECL 301 towards more than one major subject.
Credit in Botany (BOT 201 or BOT 202) is required before a student may register for BOT 3. Credit in BOT 3 will only be granted when full credit in BOT 2 has been obtained.
These courses each comprise several modules and 12 practicals. Students are also required to undertake a mini research project.
BIO 301: Biodiversity
This course is offered jointly by the staff of Zoology and Entomology and Botany, and may be taken as a component of a major in Botany, Environmental Science, Entomology or Zoology. It examines patterns of biological diversity and the processes underlying them with a view to their application in resource management. Modules cover population genetics and macroevolution, applied systematics, terrestrial biogeography and conservation biology, using both plant and animal examples, predictive biogeography using GIS technology.
BOT 302: Plant-Environment Interactions
Plant ecophysiology. Ecology of plant functional types. Plant reproductive strategies.
The honours degree course allows for specialisation in a chosen direction within Botany. It involves seminars, tutorials and research projects, and is intended to provide the student with the opportunity for in-depth study in particular aspects of the subject, which may be seen as a relevant training for subsequent employment, or as a step between an undergraduate degree and a research degree.
Joint Honours courses may be followed where topics from the Botany Honours course may be taken in combination with courses in some other Departments (for example, Entomology, Environmental Science, Ichthyology or Zoology). The Botany Department also offers specialist courses that may be taken in conjunction with Environmental Science Honours. Full details of the curriculum may be found at the Web Page http://www.ru.ac.za/academic/departments/botany/
Suitably qualified students are encouraged to proceed to the research degrees of MSc and PhD under the direction of the staff of the Department or associated Institutes. Requirements for the MSc and PhD degrees are given in the General Rules.
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