Plants are critical for sustaining life on Earth, from microscopic algae to giant sequoia trees. Through the study of these organisms, plant biologists play a major role in providing us with more and better foods, in helping to characterize and preserve the quality of our environment, and in learning more about the many ways plants can be used. The undergraduate major in Plant Biology is designed to provide students with solid preparation in the natural sciences while also offering students the flexibility to take major and elective courses that are tailored to their interests. Students can choose to pursue a general major with courses in different areas of Plant Biology, or can specialize their study in one of the following areas: Ethnobotany, Plant Biotechnology and Cell and Molecular Biology, and Plant Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation. Most Plant Biology courses include laboratory or field components that provide students with hands-on experiences.