Science

Master of Science in Plant Taxonomy & Economic Botany

The Master of Science in Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in plant taxonomy, plant systematics, economic botany, and ethnobotany. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in plant identification, biodiversity conservation, herbarium management, and ethnobotanical research.

Core areas include plant taxonomy, plant systematics, economic botany, ethnobotany, plant identification, herbarium techniques, plant nomenclature, plant biodiversity, conservation biology, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical plant taxonomy and economic botany applications.

The programme is offered by Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with Maseno University as a college. UoN offers MSc Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a specialisation within MSc Biological Sciences at KES 731,000 total. Maseno University's Department of Botany lists Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a focus area with research collaborations with KEFRI, KEPHIS, KALRO, and National Museums of Kenya.

Students develop competencies in plant identification, taxonomic classification, herbarium management, ethnobotanical documentation, biodiversity assessment, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, field collections, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. UoN MSc Biological Sciences total fees are KES 731,000 (~KES 365,500/year). Entry requires Bachelor's degree in botany, biology, or related fields with Upper Second or Lower with experience.

Graduates pursue careers as taxonomists, botanists, herbarium curators, conservation officers, and lecturers in museums, research institutions, conservation organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Plant Taxonomy and Systematic Classification
Plant Identification and Field Botany
Economic Botany and Plant Resource Utilisation
Ethnobotany and Traditional Plant Knowledge
Herbarium Techniques and Specimen Management
Plant Nomenclature and ICN Rules
Plant Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation
Molecular Systematics and Phylogenetics
Plant Geography and Biogeography
Plant Taxonomy Research Methods

Key Subjects

Plant Taxonomy
Economic Botany
Ethnobotany
Plant Identification
Herbarium Techniques
Plant Systematics
Plant Biodiversity
Conservation Biology
Molecular Systematics
Plant Taxonomy Research Methods

Certifications

IAPT Taxonomy Certification
NMK Herbarium Techniques Certification

Specializations

Plant Taxonomy

Focuses on plant taxonomy, plant classification, taxonomic keys, species identification, family characteristics, and classifying and identifying plants.

Economic Botany

Examines economic botany, useful plants, plant resources, medicinal plants, fibre plants, timber, food plants, and understanding economically important plants.

Ethnobotany

Covers ethnobotany, traditional plant knowledge, indigenous uses of plants, traditional medicine, cultural plants, and documenting traditional plant knowledge.

Plant Systematics

Focuses on plant systematics, phylogenetics, molecular systematics, cladistics, evolutionary relationships, and understanding plant evolutionary relationships.

Herbarium Management

Examines herbarium techniques, specimen collection, pressing, mounting, labelling, cataloguing, digitisation, and managing herbarium collections.

Conservation Biology

Covers plant biodiversity, conservation, endangered species, protected areas, biodiversity assessment, Red Listing, and conserving plant biodiversity.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 354,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 12 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Plant Taxonomy
Economic Botany
Ethnobotany
Plant Identification
Herbarium Techniques
Plant Systematics
Plant Biodiversity
Conservation Biology
Molecular Systematics
Plant Taxonomy Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Plant Taxonomy and Classification
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines plant classification, taxonomic hierarchy, species concepts, family characteristics, genus and species identification, taxonomic keys, and classifying and identifying plants.
Economic Botany and Plant Resources
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers useful plants, medicinal plants, fibre plants, timber, food plants, oil plants, dye plants, beverage plants, gums, resins, and understanding economically important plants.
Ethnobotany and Traditional Plant Knowledge
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines traditional plant knowledge, indigenous uses of plants, traditional medicine, cultural plants, sacred plants, ethnobotanical documentation, and documenting traditional plant knowledge.
Plant Identification and Field Botany
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers field identification, vegetative characters, floral characters, fruit characters, using floras, using keys, field collecting, and identifying plants in the field.
Herbarium Techniques and Specimen Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines specimen collection, pressing, drying, mounting, labelling, cataloguing, identification, digitisation, herbarium management, and managing herbarium collections.
Plant Nomenclature and ICN Rules
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers ICN rules, botanical names, author citations, type specimens, nomenclatural types, valid publication, priority, synonyms, and understanding plant nomenclature.
Molecular Systematics and Phylogenetics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines molecular phylogenetics, DNA barcoding, molecular markers, sequence analysis, cladistics, phylogenetic trees, bootstrap, Bayesian analysis, and understanding plant evolutionary relationships.
Plant Biodiversity and Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers plant biodiversity, species diversity, biodiversity hotspots, endangered species, biodiversity assessment, Red Listing, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, and conserving plant biodiversity.
Plant Geography and Biogeography
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines plant geography, phytogeography, floristic regions, continental drift, vicariance, dispersal, endemism, and understanding plant distribution patterns.
Plant Taxonomy Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for plant taxonomy, field and herbarium methods, molecular methods, data analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and conducting plant taxonomy research, preparing students for their thesis.
Advanced Topics in Plant Systematics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines advanced topics including integrative taxonomy, cryptic species, hybridisation, polyploidy, speciation, phylogeography, and advanced plant systematics topics.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a plant taxonomy and economic botany topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and plant taxonomy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Plant Taxonomy
Focuses on plant taxonomy, plant classification, taxonomic keys, species identification, family characteristics, and classifying and identifying plants.
Economic Botany
Examines economic botany, useful plants, plant resources, medicinal plants, fibre plants, timber, food plants, and understanding economically important plants.
Ethnobotany
Covers ethnobotany, traditional plant knowledge, indigenous uses of plants, traditional medicine, cultural plants, and documenting traditional plant knowledge.
Plant Systematics
Focuses on plant systematics, phylogenetics, molecular systematics, cladistics, evolutionary relationships, and understanding plant evolutionary relationships.
Herbarium Management
Examines herbarium techniques, specimen collection, pressing, mounting, labelling, cataloguing, digitisation, and managing herbarium collections.
Conservation Biology
Covers plant biodiversity, conservation, endangered species, protected areas, biodiversity assessment, Red Listing, and conserving plant biodiversity.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany programme begins with morning lectures on plant taxonomy, systematics, or economic botany. Students engage in theoretical discussions on plant classification, evolutionary relationships, and plant uses. Plant taxonomy sessions cover plant classification, taxonomic hierarchy, species concepts, family characteristics, genus and species identification, taxonomic keys, and classifying and identifying plants. Economic botany sessions examine useful plants, medicinal plants, fibre plants, timber, food plants, oil plants, dye plants, beverage plants, and understanding economically important plants. Ethnobotany sessions cover traditional plant knowledge, indigenous uses of plants, traditional medicine, cultural plants, sacred plants, and documenting traditional plant knowledge. Plant identification sessions examine field identification, vegetative characters, floral characters, fruit characters, using floras, using keys, and identifying plants in the field. Herbarium sessions cover specimen collection, pressing, drying, mounting, labelling, cataloguing, identification, digitisation, and managing herbarium collections. Plant nomenclature sessions examine ICN rules, botanical names, author citations, type specimens, nomenclatural types, valid publication, and understanding plant nomenclature. Molecular systematics sessions cover molecular phylogenetics, DNA barcoding, molecular markers, sequence analysis, cladistics, phylogenetic trees, and understanding plant evolutionary relationships. Plant biodiversity sessions examine plant biodiversity, species diversity, biodiversity hotspots, endangered species, biodiversity assessment, and understanding and assessing plant biodiversity. Conservation biology sessions cover plant conservation, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, protected areas, Red Listing, conservation strategies, and conserving plant biodiversity. Field collections provide hands-on experience with plant collecting, identification, pressing, and herbarium specimen preparation. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with microscopy, floral dissection, anatomical analysis, molecular techniques, and specimen identification. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering plant taxonomy research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from UoN faculty, NMK botanists, KEFRI researchers, KWS officials, and international taxonomy experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's rich biodiversity, conservation needs, climate change research, ecological monitoring, and natural resource management create moderate demand for qualified plant taxonomy professionals.
UoN offers MSc Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a specialisation within MSc Biological Sciences at KES 731,000, providing established training.
Career opportunities with NMK, KEFRI, KWS, KALRO, research institutions, conservation organisations, and international bodies like IAPT and BSA.
Programme leverages Kenya's extraordinary plant biodiversity for taxonomy, conservation, and economic botany research.

Against it

Job market demand is moderate, with fewer dedicated taxonomy positions compared to applied botany or agriculture.
Programme requires botany, biology, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Field collections require access to natural habitats, national parks, and forests, which may require permits and be limited.
Strathmore fees at KES 150,000 per semester (~KES 300,000/year) are relatively expensive compared to public universities.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public131k to 354k

131k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology354k at University of Nairobi

Private300k to 300k

300k at Strathmore University300k at Strathmore University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 354K/yr biology.uonbi.ac.ke; MMUST 131K/yr. Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEFRI supports forestry research including tree taxonomy. NMK supports botanical research and herbarium work. IAPT supports plant taxonomy professional development. The programme's plant taxonomy and economic botany focus attracts conservation, research, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEFRI Research Funding
NMK Research Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate plant taxonomy and economic botany studies at recognised universities.
KEFRI Research Funding
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
KEFRI supports forestry research including tree taxonomy and plant conservation, providing funding for postgraduate research in plant taxonomy.
IAPT Research Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
IAPT supports plant taxonomy research globally, providing funding for postgraduate study and research in plant taxonomy and systematics.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from botany, biology, environmental science, forestry, agriculture, plant science, crop science, horticulture, and related fields. UoN requires Upper Second in relevant field or Lower with experience. Maseno University's Department of Botany collaborates with KEFRI, KEPHIS, KALRO, and NMK. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, herbarium practicals, field reports, identification tests, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering plant taxonomy, economic botany, ethnobotany, systematics, and conservation, conducted at end of each semester.
Field and Herbarium Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of field collections, plant identification, herbarium techniques, specimen preparation, molecular techniques, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a plant taxonomy and economic botany topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and plant taxonomy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). UoN offers MSc Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a specialisation within MSc Biological Sciences at KES 731,000. Maseno University's Department of Botany lists Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a focus area. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate plant taxonomy and economic botany training. NMK houses the East African Herbarium, and KEFRI supports forestry research including tree taxonomy.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MSc Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a specialisation within MSc Biological Sciences at KES 731,000. Maseno University's Department of Botany lists Plant Taxonomy and Economic Botany as a focus area. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate plant taxonomy and economic botany training.
National Museums of Kenya (NMK)
Professional accreditation
NMK houses the East African Herbarium and supports botanical research in Kenya. Graduates working in herbaria or botanical research may benefit from NMK collaboration and herbarium techniques training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Plant Taxonomist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts plant taxonomy research, overseeing plant identification, classification, taxonomic revisions, and supporting plant taxonomy and systematics research.
Botanist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts botanical research, overseeing plant studies, biodiversity surveys, ecological assessments, and supporting botanical research and conservation.
Herbarium Curator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages herbarium collections, overseeing specimen curation, cataloguing, digitisation, identification, and supporting herbarium management and plant collections.
Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages plant conservation programmes, overseeing biodiversity assessment, species monitoring, conservation planning, and supporting plant conservation.
Ethnobotanist
Low demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts ethnobotanical research, overseeing traditional knowledge documentation, medicinal plant studies, and supporting ethnobotany and traditional plant knowledge.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches plant taxonomy and economic botany in universities, conducting research and training future botany and taxonomy professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as taxonomists, botanists, and herbarium curators in museums, research institutions, and conservation organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

BLAST
SoftwarePrimary
Bioinformatics tool for DNA barcode sequence identification, sequence comparison, plant identification, and comparing plant DNA sequences in molecular systematics.
MEGA
SoftwarePrimary
Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis software for phylogenetic analysis, sequence alignment, distance matrices, tree building, and molecular systematics analysis.
BRAHMS
Software
Botanical Research and Herbarium Management System for herbarium data management, specimen cataloguing, collection management, and managing herbarium collections.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing for biodiversity data, ecological data, phylogenetic analysis, and research data analysis in plant taxonomy.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Plant taxonomy is just about naming plants.
The programme involves systematics, phylogenetics, economic botany, ethnobotany, conservation, molecular systematics, and research, covering comprehensive plant taxonomy and economic botany.
This programme is only for botany graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from botany, biology, environmental science, forestry, agriculture, and related fields.
There is limited demand for plant taxonomists in Kenya.
Kenya's rich biodiversity, conservation needs, climate change research, ecological monitoring, and natural resource management create moderate demand for qualified plant taxonomy professionals.
Economic botany is outdated in the modern era.
Economic botany remains highly relevant for sustainable plant resource use, medicinal plant research, food security, and biodiversity-based economic development.
Plant taxonomy is only about dried specimens in herbaria.
Modern plant taxonomy integrates field work, molecular systematics, DNA barcoding, phylogenetics, and digital tools, not just herbarium specimens.
A master's in plant taxonomy is redundant after a biology degree.
The master's provides specialised taxonomy skills, herbarium expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior taxonomy and conservation positions.