BA in Biology—Ecology & Conservation Biology Specialization

The BA in Biology—Ecology & Conservation (SECB) is designed to provide a sound conceptual framework in ecology and conservation biology with hands-on experience for future employment positions in the academic, government, and private sectors. Additional information is available at http://www.bu.edu/cecb/resources/specialization-ecb/.

A grade of C or higher in principal and required related courses is required for the biology major and the SECB degree. CAS BI 107 and BI 108 or 118 are prerequisites for the specialization (students must receive a C- or higher in prerequisite and corequisite biology and chemistry courses).

Course titles and full descriptions are located in the Courses portion of this bulletin.

Principal Courses (10, including breadth requirements)

• Cell & Molecular Biology (CM): CAS BI 206
• Physiology and Neurobiology (PN): CAS BI 315 or CAS BI 325 (or NE 203)
• Ecology, Behavior, Evolution (EBE): CAS BI 303 and CAS BI 448

Six additional principal courses may be selected from the following:

• CAS BI 260
• CAS BI 302
• CAS BI 305
• CAS BI 306
• CAS BI 307
• CAS BI 309
• CAS BI 317
• CAS BI 407
• CAS BI 414
• CAS BI 415
• CAS BI 423
• CAS BI 486
• CAS BI 502
• CAS BI 503
• CAS BI 506
• CAS BI 508
• CAS BI 512
• CAS BI 515
• CAS BI 519
• CAS BI 530
• CAS BI 543
• CAS BI 547

Of the seven additional principal courses, at least three must be at the 300–500 level, and three must have a laboratory or field component. A 300–500-level course with a laboratory simultaneously counts toward both requirements.

Tropical Ecology Program (TEP)*:

• CAS BI/GE 438
• CAS BI/GE 439
• CAS BI/GE 440
• CAS BI/GE 441

Marine Semester (MS)*, students choose one course for each block:

• Block 1: CAS BI 550, or ES 543, or BI 546
• Block 2: CAS BI 563, BI/GE 523, ES 557
• Block 3: CAS BI 531, BI 569
• Block 4: CAS BI 532, BI/GE 578

*Note: Students must apply and be accepted into the TEP and MS to take the courses listed above. TEP and MS courses fulfill 4 of the 6 additional principal biology courses and satisfy the biology concentration requirement of three courses at the 300–500 level, and three courses with a laboratory or field component.

Undergraduate Research Options

CAS BI 191/192 or BI 291/292 may be taken for elective credit by freshmen and sophomores, respectively; these courses may only be taken for 2 credits per semester.

To receive credit toward the major, research must be done on an approved topic.

A maximum of 8 credits (two courses) from the following courses may be counted as additional principal biology courses, but no more than 4 credits (one course) will apply toward the laboratory requirement.

• CAS BI 391/392
• CAS BI 401/402
• CAS BI 491/492

Prerequisite and Corequisite Chemistry Courses

Three courses in chemistry are required for the biology major and may be chosen from the following tracks:

Standard (recommended) track:

• CAS CH 101 (or 109 or 111); and
• CAS CH 102 (or 110 or 112); and
• CAS CH 203 (or 211)

Alternative track (not for students interested in the health professions):

• CAS CH 171; and
• CAS CH 174; and
• CAS CH 273

Required Mathematics or Computer Science Courses

Two courses in mathematics or one each in mathematics and computer science are required for the biology major:

Calculus courses:

• CAS MA 121 and 122; or
• CAS MA 123 and 124; or
• CAS MA 196; or
• CAS MA 127; or
• CAS MA 129

Note: MA 127 or MA 129 can be taken to satisfy both biology math requirements.

Statistics courses:

• CAS MA 115 and 116; or
• CAS MA 213 and 214

Computer Science courses:

• CAS CS 108; or
• CAS CS 111

Combinations:

Any one course in calculus plus any one course in statistics from those listed above.

Any one course in computer science from those listed above plus any one course in calculus from those listed above.

Required Physics Courses

Two courses in physics:

• CAS PY 105/106, or
• CAS PY 211/212, or
• CAS PY 241/242

Note: A student may take PY 211 and PY 106 to satisfy the physics requirement.

Recommended Courses in Environmental Science and Policy

Students are encouraged to take the following courses in addition to the SECB requirements:

• CAS GE 275
• CAS GE 302
• CAS GE 320
• CAS GE 365
• CAS GE 425
• CAS GE 430
• CAS GE 504
• CAS GE 510