Faculty
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Lucinda McDade
Professor of Botany
Chair, Botany Department
Executive Director, California Botanic Garden
Judith B. Friend Director of ResearchResearch Interests
Family Acanthaceae; Role of hybridization in plant evolutionary history, phylogeny reconstruction, and plant reproductive biology; Tropical plants;
Systematics -
Travis Columbus
Professor of Botany, Research Scientist
Research Interests
Agrostology (study of grasses), Plant systematics, Biological nomenclature, Phylogenetics
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Naomi Fraga
Associate Professor of Botany
Research Interests
Floristics in western North America; Plant conservation; Rarity and endemism in California; Systematics of Phrymaceae; Pollination biology
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Mare Nazaire
Assistant Professor of Botany
Research Interests
California floristics, peatlands and wetlands, desert systems, alpine floras, systematics of Mertensia (Boraginaceae)
Application Guidelines
| University Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | The Botany Program waives the $80 admissions application fee and the $200 admissions deposit fee. Email botany@cgu.edu to request the application fee waiver code. |
| Official Transcripts | Undergraduate/graduate |
| English Proficiency Exam | Required (international applicants only) |
| Resume | Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume. |
| Program Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Statement of Purpose | Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals. |
| Academic Prerequisites | You must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent).You should have a demonstrated ability to perform independent research. |
| Letter of Recommendation | 3 letters required |
| Standardized Test Scores | GRE (optional) |
Key Dates and Deadlines
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Fall 2025
Application Deadline – January 15, 2025
Classes begin – August 25, 2025
Additional Information
It is strongly recommended that prospective students communicate directly with prospective faculty advisors whose research best fits their own interests. Owing to the small size of the program, “fit” is a key component of admission.