Field Botany Specialized Study Program
There is a nonrefundable application fee of $35 to declare candidacy in this program.
Learn more about the Field Botany Specialized Study Program.
Field Nature Studies Program – Field Botany Specialized Study Program
California is home to a rich and diverse range of settings—mountain, desert, coastal and urban environments. The purpose of the Field Nature Studies Program is to help students better understand the complex ecological relationships within nature.
The program consists of:
- Certificate Program in Field Ecology
- Certificate Program in Desert Ecology
- Specialized Study Program in Field Botany
- Specialized Study Program in Field Geology
- Specialized Study Program in Field Ornithology
The curricula for all five programs were developed in cooperation with an advisory panel of distinguished natural scientists. Each program emphasizes field study, augmented by classroom work and independent study. Field tours are led by instructors who are experts in natural science and history.
Who Can Benefit?
Because the focus is on field studies, the programs can augment earlier studies by professional naturalists. The programs also are designed for:
- Interpreters at parks and museums
- Nature photographers
- Gardeners
- Landscapers
- Florists
- Collectors
The programs are also for persons who simply want to know more about the natural world and ask "why" and "how" when they see a hawk coasting on a thermal breeze, a flower blooming in a high mountain meadow, or a burrowing animal adapting to the desert heat.
Course Schedule
| Elective Courses (12 units) | Units | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaparral of Southern California | 1.0 |  | |||
| Conifers of Southern California | 1.0 | | |||
| Desert Flora | 2.0 | | |||
| Ecology of the Joshua Tree | 2.0 | | |||
| Flora of Joshua Tree National Park: Wildflowers | 1.5 | | |||
| Introduction to Plant Identification and Ecology | 1.5 | | |||
| Oaks of Southern California | 1.0 | | |||
| Plant Life of the San Bernardino Mountains | 1.5 | ||||
| Wildflowers of the Desert Foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains | 1.5 | | |||
| Desert Plant Ecology | 1.5 |
Completion Information
Completion Requirements
To earn the certificate, students must successfully complete (grade C or better) 12 quarter units of electives.
Completion Time
The program can typically be completed in one year.
Cost
The cost for the professional achievement award program ranges from approximately $1,500 to $2,000. This does not include textbooks or materials unless otherwise noted.
Transfer Credit
Three units of credit may be transferred into the Field Botany specialized study program. All transferred credits must have a grade of C or better, be equivalent in level and content to the UCR Extension courses, and must have been earned within the last three years from an accredited school. All requests for transferring credits must be submitted in writing, with course transcripts.
Instructors & Administrators
Instructor Opportunities
Interested in becoming an instructor at UCR Extension? Find out how.
Additional Information
Textbook Information
If a textbook is required, information is provided in the course listing when scheduled, on the confirmation you receive after enrolling, or by e-mail for an online class.
Delivery Method
Field study courses typically meet in the physical location of study on weekends. For example, Flora of Joshua Tree National Park: Wildflowers meets in Joshua Tree National Park. Some courses may have an evening orientation in Riverside, Redlands or Palm Desert.
Advisory Board
- Eugene Cardiff, Professional Biologist and former Curator of Biological Sciences, San Bernardino County Museum
- James W. Cornett, Curator of Natural Science, Desert Museum, Palm Springs
- Mark C. Jorgensen, Associate Resource Ecologist, Colorado Desert District, California Department of Parks and Recreation
- Seymour D. Van Gundy, Dean Emeritus, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, UCR
- Edna Rey-Vizgirdas, Botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho
- Ray S. Vizgirdas, Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho
Contact Information
Linda Coco
(951) 827-5804
sciences@ucx.ucr.edu
