Graduate Program - University of Hawai`i at Manoa Botany


	Click here to apply online to the UH Botany graduate program The Botany Graduate Program offers MS and PhD degrees in Botany. The Botany Department offers graduate education in a wide range of botanical specialties, with emphasis placed on tropical botany and conservation. Major research areas include terrestrial and marine plant ecology, evolution, systematics, conservation and ethnobotany. Hawai`i provides an outstanding location for many types of botanical studies. The rich endemic flora and the insular isolation, for example, provide unique opportunities for studies of evolution, conservation biology, and alien plant invasions. Similarly, the host culture and access to the other Pacific island nations allows studies of plants in a human context, such as biodiversity assessments and its maintenance. Research studies are not limited to the Hawaiian Islands. Faculty and students have research projects in many areas of the tropics throughout the world.
	A wide range of taxa are studied by faculty and students in the Botany Graduate Program, including marine and terrestrial angiosperms, algae, fungi and ferns. Steep environmental gradients are common throughout the Hawaiian Islands and provide excellent opportunities to study physiological ecology, adaptation, and genetic differentiation. Research often involves applying modern genetic technology to address questions relating to plant ecology, population genetics, evolution, species hybridization, molecular systematics and evolution. The Botany Graduate Program has developed collaborations with leading international conservation agencies and greatly benefits from productive interactions with local communities. For example, ethnobotanical studies include conservation analyses, historical aspects of plants in human migrations, and the sustainability of human-plant systems. Many research programs make use of the strong ties to Hawai`i's National Parks, terrestrial and marine conservation areas, and living botanical collections.


	On beginning the UH Botany Graduate Program, students enter one of seven Tracks, including Conservation, Ecology, Ethnobotany, Marine Botany, Plant Structure/Function, Systematics/Evolution, or General Botany. Each Track includes several faculty organized around the central theme. For current research conducted in each track, please see our Research pages. Separate Graduate Programs having to do with Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Pathology reside in the College of Tropical Agriculture, and students interested in these programs should request application materials directly from these programs.


	Student Learning Outcomes of Graduate Degrees Demonstrated mastery of subject area including methodology and techniques Demonstrated proficiency in oral and written communication Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct and analyze independent/original research Develop abilities to contribute as responsible and productive professionals in botanical sciences and related fields.


	Entrance Requirements Bachelor degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or equivalent from a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. See the University of Hawai‘i General and Graduate Information Catalog for specific details. This catalog is available online at www.hawaii.edu/catalog For more information on applying, please see our Graduate Application pages.
	Program Requirements - General Link to Graduate Program Policies and Guidelines All graduate students in the Department of Botany (MS Plan A, MS plan B and PhD) must pass the written portion of the Department's comprehensive exam. Upon passing the written portion, PhD students also have an oral component to the comprehensive exam. A further requirement for all graduate degrees is proficiency in presenting seminars. Ordinarily, a student must enroll in two BOT 610 seminars in order to demonstrate this proficiency; one BOT 610 seminar may suffice if the student can demonstrate that they have successfully given public seminars in another venue. In addition, MS Plan A and PhD students must present two public seminars. The first required seminar (Research Proposal) outlines the background of a research problem and the student's proposed research program, and is presented in the Department's annual Proposal Symposium (typically held in April). The second required seminar, at the conclusion of the program, describes the research results and conclusions, at which time the student is examined by the thesis or dissertation committee (Thesis or Dissertation Defense). All students in the Graduate Program are required to take courses to meet proficiency for their selected Track, if they have not taken such courses earlier in their career or can demonstrate proficiency in some other way determined in consultation with their advisory committee (see list of required proficiencies for each Track).
	Master's Degree Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) are separate Master's of Science programs with distinct purposes. Before admission to candidacy, the plan that a candidate intends to follow must be declared and approved. Plan A is the usual program to be taken by candidates. Plan B is offered for students who do not intend to make research in botanical sciences their profession. The Plan B program emphasizes teaching and technological aspects of the botanical sciences. Graduates with an MS degree have found employment in the areas of private and public research, land management, conservation, education, and business. Many students opt to continue their studies in the Doctoral program at UHM or elsewhere. MS Plan A (Thesis) Course requirements: At least 30 credit hours total, including 12 credit hours towards thesis research, and 18 credit hours of courses (minimum 12 credits in courses numbered 600-level or above) approved by the candidate's committee. MS Plan B (Non-thesis) Course requirements: At least 30 credit hours total, including 18 credit hours in Botany, or an approved related field, in courses numbered 600-level or above. At least 6 (but not more than 9) of the Botany credits must be for directed research in aspects of botanical sciences chosen by the candidate in consultation with his or her committee. PhD Degree The PhD is offered for students who intend to make research and/or university teaching their profession. Students in the PhD program acquire the skills and knowledge needed to propose, conduct, present and publish independent, innovative research in the botanical sciences. Recipients of the PhD degree often gain employment with government agencies, with private consulting firms, or with conservation organizations. Many PhD recipients accept university post-doctoral research positions. Others obtain academic positions at colleges and universities. PhD Requirements The student must pass a comprehensive examination that is both oral and written (as described above and in more detail under Graduate Program Policies and Guidelines). The candidate is examined in general botany as well as in-depth areas of the botanical sciences that have been previously agreed upon by the student and the committee. The student must complete and defend a dissertation consisting of an original contribution based on independent research. Dissertation research for the PhD degree is carried out in an aspect of botanical sciences for which a member of the graduate faculty will accept responsibility as committee chair. See also Program Requirements - General for additional requirements. Advising Graduate advising is handled by an appointed interim committee of two to three faculty who advise the student until he or she is ready to propose a permanent advisory committee.
	Financial Support Teaching assistantships are open to students accepted in either the MS or the PhD program. Teaching assistantship appointments include nine month stipends, and include a tuition waiver. Applications for teaching assistantships (download form as PDF document) are due January 15. Research assistantships are available in association with particular fields of study, and usually include a tuition waiver. Research assistantship positions can be made for 9 or 11 months. Application deadlines are the same as for teaching assistants. Students with interests in ecology, evolution and conservation biology are encouraged inquire about possible support and program opportunities through the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate (EECB) Specialization Program. Information concerning this program may be found at: www.hawaii.edu/eecb The East-West Center offers scholarships to Asian, Pacific, and American students for affiliation in one of their programs. Of particular interest to some students in botany are the Resources Institute and the Environment and Policy Institute. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Admissions, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI 96822 Tuition waivers ("Achievement Scholarships") may be available for students who do not receive teaching or research assistantships. Applicants will be asked if they wish to be considered for these at the time of admission. Link to Botany Department Electronic Theses & Dissertations Affiliations The National Parks Service, Cooperative Park Studies Unit studies conservation problems in Hawaii's National Parks. Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - studies on tropical plants, propagation of rare Hawaiian plants. The Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Specialization Program (EECB) fosters interaction between students and faculty in Botany, Zoology and other departments who have common interests; promotes research and training. The Kewalo Marine Laboratory is an urban marine laboratory with flowing seawater, tanks and collaborating research laboratories. The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology studies on marine algae and other marine plants. Arrangements may also be made for research at the following sites: Bernice P. Bishop Museum National Tropical Botanical Gardens Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks Honolulu Botanical Gardens Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center

	Photo: Mauna Kea silversword, Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. sandwicense (D. Drake)