Specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology

Twelve courses in Biology, with an emphasis on coursework in the Evolution, Behavior and Ecology division of the Department of Biology:

Core Biology Courses (5)
* BI 107, Biology I
* BI 108, Biology II
* BI 206, Genetics
* BI 303, Ecology
* BI 448, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Additional Biology Courses (7)
* Three courses must be at the 300-500 level.
* Three courses must have a lab component.

One course must be BI 315 or BI 325 (Physiology, Endocrinology & Reproduction; Neurobiology- PER/NEURO group)
The other 6 courses in Biology must be selected from the following:
* BI 260, Marine Biology
* BI 301, Invertebrate Zoology
* BI 302, Vertebrate Zoology
* BI 305, Plant Biology
* BI 306, Biology of Global Change
* BI 309, Evolution
* BI 407, Animal Behavior
* BI 414, Ornithology
* BI 415, Biology of Mammals
* BI 417, Lakes and Rivers
* BI 423, Marine Biogeochemistry
* BI 466, Marine Ecology
* BI 468, Marine Microbial Ecology
* BI 477, Principles of Marine Pollution
* BI 486, Biological Design for Sustainable Development
* BI 503, Symbiosis
* BI 506, Phenotypic Plasticity
* BI 508, Evolution and Development
* BI 512, Mammalian Ecology
* BI 515, Population Genetics
* BI 530, Forest Ecology
* BI 531, Ichthyology I
* BI 532, Ichthyology II
* BI 547, Marine Invertebrates: Natural History and Molecular Phylogeny

4 of the 7 required biology courses may be taken as part of the Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador (These courses fulfill the lab and 300-500 level requirements for Biology)
* BI 438, Tropical Montane Ecology
* BI 439, Tropical Coastal Ecology
* BI 440, Tropical Rainforest Ecology
* BI 441, Studies in Tropical Ecology

Required Related Courses
* 2 semesters of Math and/or Computer Science: minimally two courses in college-level calculus or statistics, or one course in calculus or statistics and one course in college-level computer science (MA 121 & 122; or 123 & 124; or 213 & 214)
* 2 semesters of Physics (PY 105 & 106 or PY 211 & 212)
* 3 semesters of Chemistry - CH 101/102 (or 109/110 or 111/112) and CH 203 (or 211), OR
CH 171/172 and 273

Undergraduate Research Options
One semester of research, either Work for Distinction (BI 401/402) or Undergraduate Research (491/492), on a topic approved by an EBE faculty member, may also be accepted towards the concentration.

Geography and Environment Courses

Courses from the following list are recommended:
* GE 275, Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
* GE 302, Remote Sensing of Environment
* GE 365, Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
* GE 425, United States Environmental Policy
* GE 448, Remote Sensing of Vegetation
* GE 504, Physical Climatology
* GE 510, Physical Principles of the Environment
* GE 511, Ecological Economics

Additional Notes
* A grade of C or better is necessary for all required biology-related courses for concentration credit, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the Biology Concentration.
* All biology or related courses must be approved for concentration credit by the Department of Biology.
* Selected courses in Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, and MMEDIC are available for concentration credit by petition.
* The following courses must be completed prior to attending the Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador: BI 107 and BI 108, BI 303 or BI 306, and one year of college level Spanish (or equivalent). A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to participate in the program.