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Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate BSc Degree in Botany and Plant Science

BSc Botany & Plant Science (GY301)

Botany and Plant Science offers dedicated modules within the School of Natural Science and the College of Science. This includes provision of lecture modules and practicals in the following:

1st Year

BPS delivers the Botany and Plant Science component of 1st year Biology

2nd Year

BPS provides five 5 ECTS modules. Students can progress to 3rd year BPS if they take any four or more of these five modules.

3rd Year

BPS provides six 5 ECTS modules. Students can progress to 4th year BPS if they take any four or more of these six modules.

4th Year

The modules provided by University of Galway Botany and Plant Science (BPS) form key components of the BSc general science degree. BPS modules are also key features of a number of denominated degree programmes e.g. BSc (Marine Science), BSc (Biotechnology); BSc (Environmental Science) and BSc (Earth and Ocean Science).

Botany and Plant Science academic staff supervise 4th year Hons. research projects within the BSc non-denominated degree and offer final year research projects for students taking denominated degrees such as Marine Science, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science.

Entry to undergraduate courses in Botany and Plant Science by Irish students is through the CAO route into general Science. Students who wish to pursue Botany and Plant Science to General or Honours BSc degree level should select the BSc science degree course (to include First Year Biology) and choose the required number of Botany and Plant Science modules (from second year onwards).

Denominated degree programmes with core Botany and Plant Science components include the BSc (Environmental Science) and BSc (Marine Science) degrees.

Botany and Plant Science staff also teach a programme in Plant and Agribiosciences.

Information for Academic Year 2024-2025

Botany and Plant Science Timetable 2024-2025

Undergraduate BSc Degree in Botany and Plant Science

Botany and Plant Science offers dedicated modules within the School of Natural Science and the College of Science. This includes provision of lecture modules and practicals in the following:

1st Year

BPS delivers the Botany and Plant Science component of 1st year Biology

  • BO101: First year Biology

2nd Year

Core modules:

Students can progress to 3rd year BPS if they take these 4 modules.

  •      BO201: Molecular and Cell Biology (5 ECTS)
  •      BO202: Evolution and the Tree of Life (5 ECTS)
  •      BPS202: Fundamentals in Aquatic Plant Science (5 ECTS)
  •      BPS203: Plant Diversity, Physiology and Adaptation (5 ECTS)
All modules are also available as electives, i.e. are open to students pursuing other pathways. Note that many of the 3rd and 4th year modules offered by Botany and Plant Science have prerequisites, typically involving a requirement to have taken a specific BPS module in the preceding year. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: all 2nd year students are required to choose modules that add up to 60 ECTS per academic year. Remember that the ‘cross-cutting modules’ may also be part of other pathways: obviously modules are not counted twice and you may need to choose additional modules to make up a total of 60 ECTS for the year.

For more details please contact the BPS office or refer to the 2nd year Advisory Sheet.

3rd Year

Core modules
  • BPS3102: Plant Resources and Ecosystems (formerly Plant Ecology and Marine Ecology) (S1) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS3103: Plant Function (S2) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS3104: Plant Interactions (with fungi, microbes, animals) (S1+2) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS3107: Plants, Atmosphere and Environment throughout Earth History (S2) (5 ECTS)
Elective module
  • BPS3101: Techniques in Field Ecology and Conservation (5 ECTS)

For more details please contact the BPS office or refer to the 3rd year Advisory Sheet.

4th Year

Core modules
  • BPS402: Current Topics in Algal Research (S1) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS405: Ecology and Conservation Issues (S2) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS4101: Research Project in Botany and Plant Science (S1+2) (20 ECTS)
  • BPS4104: Primary Productivity and Global Change (5 ECTS)
  • BPS4106: Botany and Plant Science Review & Presentation (S1) (5 ECTS)
  • BPS4107: Plant Cell Biology and Biochemistry (S1) (5 ECTS) 

Plus elective modules/disciplines to a total of 60 ECTS, e.g. AR347 Palaeoecology - reconstructing past environments

For more details please contact the BPS office or refer to the 4th year Advisory Sheet.

The modules provided by University of Galway Botany and Plant Science (BPS) form key components of the BSc general science degree. BPS modules are also key features of a number of denominated degree programmes.

Botany and Plant Science academic staff supervise 4th year Hons. research projects within the BSc non-denominated degree and offer final year research projects for students taking denominated degrees such as Marine Science, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science.

There are denominated degree programmes with core Botany and Plant Science components.

 

Semester Dates
The academic year runs from September to May. Full-time students are expected to attend all
lectures, practical labs and other teaching activities during this time. Calendars for all years are
available from the official University of Galway Academic Dates page.
The activities of all BPS modules are managed via the University of Galway Canvas learning management
web server. This is the official source of details about your module requirements, timetables and
arrangements as well as lecture notes and other useful information. Blackboard access to modules is
automatically enabled when you complete registration. Please see the ISS Canvas page for
support.

Academic Standards
Students are expected to maintain the high standards of University of Galway, including abiding by the
official Code of Conduct and Plagarism guidelines.

Experiencing difficulties and LENS reports
Students who are facing personal or academic issues are encouraged to speak to a member of
academic staff. Supports are available to assist with academic difficulties and staff can assist students
to access the support services at University of Galway. Students who have missed course material through medical or personal reasons are requested to submit Absence forms (available on Canvas) to the BPS Administrator.

Students with LENS reports should submit these to the BPS administrator at the beginning of the
year to ensure that the supports are put in place to assist them. Please contact the Disability office if
you need to apply for a LENS assessment.

Timetables of specific modules are available below. Please note that allocations to specific groups
will be made available to students via Canvas.