Botany

B.S.
Online You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online.*
delivery
$384 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
4
start terms/year

Join other plant scientists and mycologists who are being called upon to develop 21st century innovations in producing food, fiber and medicine for the rising global population. Earning Oregon State University’s botany bachelor’s degree online will give you foundational expertise in plant biology that can lead you down numerous promising academic and career paths.

The botany program — the first online degree of its kind in the nation — provides a robust understanding of plant biology, biodiversity and ecology. You’ll gain the skills to address the environmental impacts of human behavior on managed and natural ecosystems, and you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the diversity of plant and ecological systems.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online botany degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online botany degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in the field.

  • Plant genetics
  • Mycology
  • Plant ecology
  • Lichenology
  • Plant pathology
  • Bryology
  • Cell and molecular biology
Small, golden mushrooms sprouting from moss-covered log on forest floor
Best Online Bachelor's Programs 2025 - U.S. News & World Report

Program details

Study the fundamental biology of plants and fungi — from molecular and cellular levels to their function in a global ecosystem — through classes in plant structure, biochemistry, genetics, ecology and physiology. You’ll learn to apply your knowledge to current issues in food production, conservation and healthy ecosystems.

The online botany bachelor’s program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your degree in botany, including:

Close-up of a green leaf showing detailed veins and water droplets, illuminated to highlight its intricate texture

Additional program features

When you pursue your botany degree online, you’ll work with your academic advisor to choose between two specialization areas that allow you to focus your studies in an area of particular interest to you.

Mycology and plant pathology
In the mycology and plant pathology option, you’ll study a combination of plant pathology, microbiology, mycology and entomology. To encourage active learning and help you obtain practical skills, you can apply up to 3 credits of approved experiential learning to this option.

Customizable
You can create a customized, 21-credit option in collaboration with your academic advisor as a botany major. The coursework in this customizable option provides advanced knowledge related to the study of plants and plant-associated organisms in natural and managed ecosystems and in the laboratory.

All botany students are required to take part in an experiential learning component that consists of a minimum of 60 hours of work that is not part of the program curriculum. Find more details in OSU’s academic catalog.

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Botany careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online botany degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. As a leader in this area, you’ll enter the workforce ready to provide insights in fields that need experts in botany, plant biology, plant pathology, plant sciences and related life sciences.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to botany. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.