Level 3 Diploma in Botany

Course Synopsis
This Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course in Botany is aimed at providing a detailed introduction to the subject. Those who are interested in the world of plants but would like more scientific depth than that provided in popular media will find it particularly appealing and an exciting course to complete. It will be of much interest to those hoping to study Botany or other sciences at a higher level in the future by providing a solid basis of knowledge. Throughout the course reference is made to human-plant interactions so students are reminded of the relevance of botany in today's technical world.

Course content

Module 1: Introduction to Botany
The first module introduces students to the subject of botany. This is done by discussing its scientific status and the various branches associated with botany. The second part of the module commences by defining the properties of life, before moving onto examining how life began on Earth millions of years ago. The basic building blocks of life, the cell, including structure and function of cell components will then be discussed.

Module 2: Vegetative anatomy
The various tissues and structures found in plants will be examined by the student. It starts with an overview of meristematic tissues. Featured topics include Roots: development, structure and specializations, Stem; structure, development and specializations. The structure, types, arrangement, specialization and seasonal loss of leaves will be discussed.

Module 3: Plant physiology part 1: Metabolism
The third unit examines how plants maintain life by obtaining nutrients. Students will learn about the main processes involved with the movement of water around an organism. The processes of osmosis, diffusion and transpiration will be examined. The second section deals with enzymes and energy transfer, including photosynthesis and respiration.

Module 4: Plant physiology Part 2: Reproduction and growth
This module looks at the life of a plant, right from the seed up to when it reached its mature form. The large range of strategies used by plants to ensure reproductive success is summarised, including a discussion of flowers, fruits and seeds. The development of a plant from a seed/spore is then examined, including discussions of cell division, plant hormones, plant movements, photoperiodism, and the link between temperature and growth.

Module 5: Genetics, evolution and classification
The focus of this section of the course is the process by which individual plant species change. Plant genetics on a micro, individual cell level (meiosis) before going on to discuss the implications of these processes through time by examining the processes of evolution is looked at. The current system of classifying plants is discussed.

Module 6: Diversity; Part 1. Plant like organisms
The topic area of Diversity is split up across three modules. This module covers of a fairly odd collection of life forms, not quite animals, and not quite plants, but still need to be included in the study of botany. A brief review of bacteria and viruses will be followed by a more in depth examination of algae, slime molds, Fungi and lichens.

Module 7: Diversity; Part 2. Simple green plants
This unit examines the most 'primitive' of those organisms commonly considered as simple green plants. Liverworts and mosses are plants with no vascular systems, and mosses are considered to be the most primitive vascular plants. Structure, reproduction, evolution and classification of these 'primitive' plants are examined, as well as their current importance to humans.

Module 8: Diversity; Part 3. Seed plants (Gymnosperms) and flowering plants (Angiosperms)
The non-flowering seed vegetation are discussed in terms of their evolutionary position within the plant world, structure, life cycle and classification. The differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms will be examined as well as evolution, life cycles (including animal pollination) and classification of the flowering plants.

Module 9: Ecology and Phytopathology
This module in the diploma is in two parts, ecology and phytopathology. Firstly plant ecology; this is defined as the relationships of living organisms to their organic and inorganic environment. Students will look at producer, consumer and decomposer relationships as well as discussion of the flow of energy and chemicals within the biosphere. The second topic is a brief overview of phytopathology; this is defined as plant diseases. It can be categorized into two main divisions, infectious organisms and physiological disorders.

Module 10: Ethnobotany
The last module of the Diploma looks at Ethnobotany. This is the comple study of relationships between (uses of) plants and cultures. The focal point of this module is how plants have been or are used, managed and perceived in human societies and includes plants used for food, medicine, divination, cosmetics, dyeing, textiles, for building, tools, currency, clothing, rituals social life and scientific study.