The Botanic Garden of P. J. Šafárik University as a scientific and teaching unit participates in the teaching of the P. J. Šafárik University students. The Department of Botany of the Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Science of P. J. Šafárik University, is the natural partner for the BG. The BG employees teach at the Bachelor’s degree level in the single-subject and interdisciplinary study of Biology, as well as at the Master’s degree level in the field of Botany and Plant Physiology and in the field of Teaching Academic Subjects – Biology. Independently or in cooperation with the staff of the Department of Botany or the staff of other departments of the Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences, they teach courses of Botany II, Plant Taxonomy, Phytogeography, Evolutionary Biology, Integrated Plant Protection, Plant Embryology, Dendrology, and General Botany and also provide exercises in Plant Physiology. They also supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s degree theses of students in these fields. Some of them act as supervisors or consultants in the PhD. degree in the field of Plant Physiology.
A special chapter of adult education represents the involvement of the Botanic Garden in the University of the Third Age (U3A) at P. J. Šafárik University. The Botanic Garden guarantees the study programme of “Plants in the Environment”, where it offers the standard three-year study and, for those who are persistent, a fourth one, the extension year is offered. Students of the University of the Third Age will get acquainted with the theoretical foundations of Botany, Plant Evolution, Phytogeography and imaginatively visit remote areas of the Earth through lectures and practical exercises by the BG staff and the staff of the Department of Botany of the Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences of the Faculty of Science of P. J. Šafárik University. Much of the teaching is focused on cultivating, treating, and protecting plants that students encounter when growing in gardens, but also when cultivating exotic plants such as cacti or citruses, medicinal plants or ornamental bulbs. The great interest of the participants is also related to the lectures on garden and landscape creation and the application of modern methods and elements in these fields. After the third grade, the graduates are awarded a diploma at graduation. You may learn more about studying at the University of the Third Age of P. J. Šafárik University on the website of the P. J. Šafárik University Centre for Lifelong Learning and Project Support.
