Botany

The study of botany opens a way for its students to understand the principles and processes of the evolution and ecology of plants, algae, cyanobacteria and fungal organisms. Students may further specialize in one of the three specializations of this program, namely plant biosystematics, plant ecology, and specialization focused on algae and fungi - phycology and mycology. In theoretical lectures, students deepen their theoretical knowledge of the plant diversity of Central Europe and gradually develop their ability to effectively apply the acquired knowledge to any ecosystem or biome of the Earth. During regular field exercises, students are introduced to not only a diversity of plant species of the Czech Republic, but during annually organized foreign botanical excursions also to the species, community or ecosystem diversity of the entire European continent. The field excursions not only create and gradually consolidate students' ability to accurately identify plant species, but also lead to an understanding of the interrelationships between the particular features of plant species and communities otherwise taught in separate disciplines of plant biology (morphology, anatomy, physiology, population ecology, phytosociology, phytogeography, quaternary biology, or evolutionary plant biology). Field lessons also deepen students' ability to interpret these particular properties and interspecific interactions at population, ecosystem and landscape levels or in the context of quaternary history of nature or in a phylogenetic context. Group-organized teaching cultivates the ability of students to cooperate and coordinate research activities and prepares them for work in scientific teams or expeditions. During individual projects, students become skillful not only in sampling methods and preparation of plant material but also in a wide range of field and laboratory analytical methods (including molecular methods), methods of the statistical evaluation and, last but not least, the ways of effective presenting and publishing results of their scientific work. The ability of performing an independent and efficient research, which the graduates of the program acquire, is further deepened by the fact that their diploma theses are often a part of the running research projects of individual working groups of the Department of Botany and Zoology.

“Not only what – but also how, why and when – is a part of biodiversity”

Practical training

Even though practical training is not an obligatory part of the study plan, most of diploma theses are inherently practical and carried out in cooperation with institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

Further information

Link to website of the Department of Botany and Zoology: http://botzool.sci.muni.cz/

Graduates have knowledge and skills enabling them to perform basic and applied research or teaching at biological departments of universities, basic and applied research at biological institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, at state, non-governmental or private institutions of nature conservation and environmental protection (e.g., Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, national parks, protected landscape areas), at departments of natural history museums, botanical gardens, forest, agricultural and pharmaceutical research institutes and at comparable institutions abroad.

The study program of botany provides its graduates also prerequisites for any subsequent doctoral studies in the fields of Ecology or Botany, in any Czech or foreign universities.

This study field is possible to study only in Czech language.

Criteria for evaluation

Applicants will be accepted in the sequence of their points from both parts of exam and according to capacity of the branch.

Recommended literature

The same literature as seen on bachelor study programme.

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

The study program of botany provides its graduates also prerequisites for any subsequent doctoral studies in the fields of Ecology or Botany, in any Czech or foreign universities.