The Bachelor of Science in Ethnobotany degree is awarded by the University of Hawai'i through the Botany Department to students who have completed the following program of study. 

• Ethnobotany BS Curriculum.pdf

• Ethnobotany BS Degree Checklist.pdf

Application: Students apply for general admission to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and may declare a major upon admission or later. Applications are available through the Office of the Registrar.

Course work requirements fall into three primary areas: 1) University of Hawai'i at Manoa General Education Core Requirements, 2) Basic Science Requirements for a BS degree, and 3) Ethnobotany Program Course Requirements. The interdisciplinary nature of Ethnobotany requires that students receive a strong foundation in a number of conventional disciplines. The Ethnobotany BS program curriculum includes courses in areas that are considered to contribute to the science of Ethnobotany: Botany, Culture, and Biogeography. Specific multi-discipline Ethnobotany courses serve to bridge the knowledge learned in the other three areas. The curriculum includes 93 credits with 18 of these only loosely structured so students have more freedom of choice than the 93 credits might otherwise imply. The multi-disciplinary nature of Ethnobotany is to be considered as the reason for the higher than normal number of structured credits. The Ethnobotany Program Requirements are as follows:

Botany: (22 credits) General botany (BOT 201/201L) is supplemented with the three focal subjects of botany that are most important to ethnobotanists: plant anatomy (BOT 410/410L), ecology (BOT 453), and systematics (BOT 461). Additionally students are expected to take two 400 level courses in botany that will allow for some specialization. Courses that are encouraged as options are: mycology (BOT 430/430L), vegetation ecology (BOT 454), plant physiology (BOT 470) or phycology (BOT 480).

Culture: (12 credits) General anthropology (ANTH 152) is supplemented with three 400 level courses in anthropology, geography, Hawaiian studies or other culture focused areas. Cultural studies are very important in Ethnobotany, however the broad range of possible courses makes it unrealistic to select a narrow list of courses. Rather, students need to work closely with their advisor to select courses that meet their individual needs and cultural interests.

Biogeography: (6 credits) Two courses in biogeography are selected by each student from a list of approved courses. The current list includes: the atoll (BIOL 320), island ecosystems (BIOL 360), human role in environmental change (BIOL 410), plants, people and ecosystems (GEOG 309), agriculture, food and society (GEOG 312), environment, resources and society (GEOG 326), and cultural biogeography (GEOG 409). Much of ethnobotanical theory is built upon biogeographical studies of patterns of plants and the roles that humans have had in creating, modifying and disrupting ecosystems around the globe. Therefore this is an essential component of ethnobotanical training.

Ethnobotany: (17 credits) The core concepts in Ethnobotany are provided through an introductory (BOT 105) and an advanced (BOT 440) course. Practical experience in ethnobotanical work is learned through five semesters of ethnobotany community practical work (BOT 449). Each student is also be expected to gain expertise in an Ethnobotany specialty area by taking two courses from the following: medical Ethnobotany (BOT 442), ecological Ethnobotany (BOT 444), cultural (Hawaiian now and other cultures later) Ethnobotany (BOT 446), Mekong Ethnobotany and conservation (BOT 447) cognitive Ethnobotany (BOT 448), or psychoactive plants (BIOL 440).

UHM General Education Core Requirements

a. Foundation requirements (12 credits)

• (WR) Written Communication: 3 cr
• (SR) Symbolic Reason: 3 cr
• (GM) Global/Multi-cultural Perspective: 6 cr