BIOL 317 - Economic and Medical Botany

This course provides a survey of the major plants that have impacted human society. In addition to providing oxygen, food, and shelter, plants have played a major role in the development of human civilizations, impacting such areas as medicine, religion, art, literature, industry, and politics. From both botanical and historical perspectives, we study the major plants that provide humans with such important products as coffee, sugar, chocolate, spices, oils, and fibers (and many others). Particular emphasis will be placed on plants that have played a direct or indirect role in human medicine.

Prerequisite: one life science course of AGSC 100, AGSC 108, BIOL 100, BIOL 103, BIOL 106, BIOL 107, or BIOL 150.
Credits: 3 hours
When Offered: (every other fall)
NOTE: This course counts toward the 63-hour Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) graduation requirement.