Skip Navigation
Plant Science Major
Menu
Major in Plant Science

Natural Products Option

Natural Products and Human Health (NPHH) is a research focus (or section) in the Plant Biology department with a primary goal to provide first-rate research and education in natural products and their impact on human health. The Major in Plant Science, Natural Products Option emphasizes historical and cultural botany, economic botany (the study of the interaction of people and plants), indigenous and modern medicinal plants, and practical plant production, and concludes with a Capstone of research or field experience.

Students in the Natural Products option specialize in one of two options: The Ethnobotany and Global Health specialization is designed for students with an interest in the roles plants play in human health, environmental issues, public policy, or sustainability. Students who select the Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants specialization will learn the additional skills needed for indoor and field cultivation of horticultural plants used for medicinal or other purposes.

Curriculum for the Major in Plant Science, Natural Products option (91–95 credits)

  1. Plant Science Major Requirements (37–38 credits)

    General Biology and Laboratory (all) (10 credits)
    1. 01:119:115 General Biology I (4)
    2. 01:119:116 General Biology II (4)
    3. 01:119:117 Biological Research Laboratory (2)

    OR as transfer credit only:
    1. 01:110:101 General Biology (4)
    2. 01:110:102 General Biology (4)

    General Chemistry and Laboratory (all) (9 credits)
    1. 01:160:161 General Chemistry (4)
    2. 01:160:162 General Chemistry (4)
    3. 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)

    Capstone: Experienced-Based Education (3 credits). Choose from the following (advisor approved):
    1. 11:776:495,496 Special Problems in Plant Science
    2. 11:015:497,498 George H. Cook Scholars Program
    3. 11:902:300,301,400 SEBS Internship I, II, Coop
    4. 11:550:240 Public Garden Management required for the Public Garden Management Internship and the Student Farm Internship at Rutgers Gardens
    5. 11:020:321 Principles and Practice of Small-scale Organic Farming as required for the Student Farm Internship at Rutgers Gardens
    6. Study Abroad
    7. SEBS International Summer Study Abroad Program
    8. ARESTY Research Assistant Program

    Professional Ethics (3 credits). Choose from the following:
    1. 01:730:107 Introduction to Ethics (3)
    2. 01:730:240 Bioethics (3)
    3. 01:730:250 Environmental Ethics (3)
    4. 11:607:385 The Ethical Leader (3)

    Soils (3–4 credits). Choose from the following:
    1. 11:776:102 Soil and Society (3)
    2. 11:776:405 Soil Fertility (3)
    3. 11:776:404 Soil Management for Sports and Landscape Applications (3)
    4. 11:375:453 Soil Ecology (3)
    5. 11:375:360 Soils and Water (4)

    Plant Science Fundamentals (all) (9 credits):
    1. 11:776:210 Principles of Botany (3)
    2. 11:776:211 Introduction to Horticulture (3)
    3. 11:776:242 Plant Science (3)

  2. Additional Natural Products Option requirements (27–30 credits)
    Quantitative Methods (all) (7–9 credits)
    1. 01:640:115 Precalculus (4) OR higher AND
    2. 01:960:401 Basic Statistics for Research (3) OR
    3. 01:960:211,212 Statistics I, II (3,3) (must take both)

    Business Courses (all) (3 credits)
    1. 11:373:121 Principles and Applications of Microeconomics (3)

    Geography Courses (3 credits)
    1. 01:450:211 Environment and Society (3)
    2. 01:450:306 Global Ecosystems and Biodiversity (3)

    Major Option Requirements (all) (14 credits)
    1. 11:776:205 Introduction to Ethnobotany (3)
    2. 11:776:312 Medicinal Plants (3)
    3. 11:776:313 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Laboratory (1)
    4. 11:776:382 Plant Physiology (4)
    5. 11:776:438 Plants and Human Health (3)

  3. Areas of Specialization (27 credits)

    1. Ethnobotany and Global Health (27 credits)
      Required (3 credits). Choose from the following:
      1. 11:776:390 Hemp and Medical Cannabis (3)
      2. 11:776:400 Fungi in the Environment (3)
      3. 11:776:410 Plants and Innovative Technologies for Bioenergy (3)

      Electives (24 credits). Choose from the following:
      1. 11:776:201 People-Plant Relationships (3)
      2. 11:776:221 Principles of Organic Crop Production (3)
      3. 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (3)
      4. 11:776:406 Plant Breeding (4)
      5. 11:776:415 Fungi and Human Health (3)
      6. 11:776:439 Nursery Crop Production (3)
      7. 11:776:442 Agroecology (3)
      8. 11:776:495,496 Special Problems in Plant Science (1–3)
      9. 11:020:436 Sustainable Agriculture (3)
      10. 11:216:217 Principles of Natural Resource Management (3)
      11. 11:216:369 Analytical Methods Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources (3)
      12. 11:216:411 Plant Diversity and Evolution (3)
      13. 11:216:412 Plant Diversity and Evolution Lab (1)
      14. 11:373:362 Natural Resource Economics (3)
      15. 11:373:363 Environmental Economics (3)
      16. 11:370:406 Medical and Veterinary Entomology (3)
      17. 11:375:201 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (3)
      18. 11:400:422 Food Safety: Fads, Facts, and Politics (3)
      19. 11:508:328 History of Health and Healing in Africa (3)
      20. 11:709:201 Introduction to Foods and Nutrition (3)
      21. 11:709:255 Nutrition and Health (3)
      22. 11:709:364 Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries (3)
      23. 11:709:363 World Food Customs and Nutrition (3)
      or other advisor-approved electives
    2. Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (27 credits)
      Required (3 credits). Choose from the following:
      1. 11:776:390 Hemp and Medical Cannabis (3)
      2. 11:776:410 Plants and Innovative Technologies for Bioenergy (3)
      3. 11:776:439 Nursery Crop Production (3)

      Electives (24 credits). Choose from the following:
      1. 11:776:221 Principles of Organic Crop Production (3)
      2. 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (3)
      3. 11:776:310 Plant Propagation (3)
      4. 11:776:311 General Plant Pathology Laboratory (1)
      5. 11:776:321 Greenhouse Systems Management (3)
      6. 11:776:341 Fruit Production (3)
      7. 11:776:406 Plant Breeding (3)
      8. 11:776:495,496 Special Problems in Plant Science (1–3)
      9. 11:020:340 Indoor Cultivation of High Value Crops (4)
      10. 11:020:215 Applied Practical Applications in Agriculture and Food Systems (2)
      11. 11:020:321 Principles and Practices of Small-Scale Organic Farming (3)
      12. 11:020:442 Entrepreneurial Agriculture (Jr./Sr. Colloquium) (3)
      13. 11:216:274 Field Techniques (4)
      14. 11:216:332 Plant Ecology (4)
      15. 11:216:411 Plant Diversity and Evolution (3)
      16. 11:216:412 Plant Diversity and Evolution Lab (1)
      17. 11:370:350 Agricultural Entomology and Pest Management (3)
      18. 11:373:205 Small Business Essentials (3)
      19. 11:400:422 Food Safety: Fads, Facts, and Politics (3)
      20. 11:550:235 Herbaceous Plants in the Landscape (3)
      or other advisor-approved electives

⇧


Program Director

Dr. Nrupali Patel
Foran Hall, Rm. 372
848-932-6392
Email:

For Prospective Students Contact:

Dr. Harna Patel
Program Coordinator
Foran Hall, Rm. 391C
Email: