The Department of Botany commenced Academic activities in 1948 as one of the foundation Departments of the Faculty of Science in the then University College Ibadan.  Currently, the Department’s activities are in line with the prescription of ‘NUC’ Approved minimum standard in sciences for Nigerian Universities.  Our courses are also in line with NUC prescribed curriculum for Botany programme.  Courses offered are rated Compulsory, Required or Elective and they include Lower Green Plants, Plant physiology, Plant anatomy Plant taxonomy, Genetics, Plant pathology, Mycology, Economic Botany, Palynology, Ecology and Molecular Biology.  The programme so far has continuously matriculated students each consecutive academic session for the past 70 years.
RESEARCH UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT:
    1. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
    2 .Plant Taxonomy and Morphology
    3 .Plant Anatomy and Palynology
    4. Pathology, Mycology and Plant Biotechnology
    5 .Lower Green plants and Ethnobotany
        6. Plant Ecology and Environmental Biology
        7. Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology
        8. Plant Tissue Culture

 Students Welfare
Handling of academic grievances
At Departmental level, students are encouraged to have collective (through the activities of course representatives) and individual access to all staff and the Head of Department.
Students’ academic complaints are normally submitted in writing to the Head of Department for resolution by appropriate organ of the Faculty board or the University.
Student academic advising
This is done regularly as the situation demands, both by the Head of Department and Academic advisory committee. Each student is allocated to a Course Adviser who is an academic Staff of the Department. Students attend counseling sessions before registration, during which the student’s academic standing as indicated by his/her current transcript is reviewed with the student by his/her course adviser.
Examination
Examinations are conducted under the rules and regulations approved by senate of the University. Individual lecturers handling various courses are responsible for setting the examination questions and for preparing marking schemes which are moderated and fine-tuned by the Head of Department (as the Chief Examiner) and the external examiner.
After the examinations, lecturers submit the examination questions with the marking schemes to the Head of Department along with the marked examination scripts at the end of marking exercise. The Departmental Board of examiners sits to moderate the results before forwarding such to the Faculty board of examiners for further scrutiny.  The moderated results are finally submitted to the Senate in the prescribed format for final scrutiny and subsequent approval.
Final year assessment is based on 7.0 grade point while the lower level is on 5.0 grade point.

Academic Atmosphere
The academic atmosphere in the Department is conducive for learning.  The university’s policy is that of excellent academic standard and the Department carries this out to the letter.  The university has an academic calendar of 18-19 weeks per semester of two semesters a session for adequate lecture periods.  The approved academic structure for the programme is adhered to and adequate provision is made in the time-table for all the courses as it reflects each course total units (of lectures and tutorials).  The university does not allow unapproved changes in program structure.  As stated earlier, in order to ensure that the implementation of the programme is in line with the NUC bench mark, the Department from time to time reviews the curriculum by recommending the changes for Senate approval through the Faculty board of studies.  The changes approved by the University Senate are thereafter incorporated into the structure of the programme.  The last review was 4-5 years ago.
There is a continuous effort to improve teaching aids to enhance effectiveness of lecture delivery. White boards as well as interactive boards and multi-media projectors with internet connectivity are being provided to facilitate online access to electronic information.
Philosophy:   
The philosophy of the Department in the Botany programme is to train men and women who will understand Botany as a discipline in pure and applied science and apply it to everyday life of the people.  Graduates who will know and appreciate the importance conference workshop of Botany in areas of biodiversity, bioremediation, Herbal medicine and the Environment.
The graduates are expected to have acquired enough skill during their training theoretically and practically to enable them get employment in Government establishments and parastatals, Non-governmental organizations, private sectors such as manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.  Apart from these we expect them to be self-employed and create employment in the area of Horticultural products, landscaping as well as in plant and soil health consultancy and Herbal medicine,
Objective of Botany Programme:  
Sound theoretical knowledge and understanding of basic principles in Botany and development of these fundamental principles of plant sciences in application for skills useful    in human development
To prepare students for careers in Agriculture, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, research institutes and in Environmental/Bioremediation issues.
To develop skill to ensure competence in the study of plant science and biotechnological research in plant science that will contribute to building of the nation.
To acquire knowledge and skill in plant science that will allow the student to participate/contribute meaningfully in interdisciplinary research in human development.
Admission Requirements
All candidates seeking admission into the programme must apply through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), either by the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheme or by direct entry.  UTME candidates must show evidence of haven obtained the minimum UTME score prescribed by JAMB in the required subjects.
(ii) Additional to the UTME score, the candidate must possess a minimum of five (5) O’ Level Credit at one sitting or six (6) O’ Level credits at two sittings.  
Two of the credit passes must be in English language and Mathematics.  Candidates seeking admission into the B.Sc. Botany programme through UTME must possess O’ Level credits including English language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  
Prospective Direct Entry candidate must possess GCE A-Level passes in Biology and Chemistry.
Transfer students: