BS in Ecology
Career Options
Students who complete this concentration are well qualified to pursue careers in ecology, environmental science, and conservation biology. They also may choose to further their education in graduate school.
The ecology concentration is designed for students interested in focusing on organismal level of biological organization and above (communities and ecosystems). Course choices include microbiology, botany, ornithology and vertebrate zoology, as well as marine ecology and plant ecology. The concentration also includes training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a tool used by ecologists in fields such as conservation, consulting, and research. Graduates from this program are well qualified for careers in ecology, environmental sciences, and conservation.
The minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University's Core curriculum) required for the major: 78. *All students must take at least three field labs. A grade of C- or higher is required for all courses listed below.
All of the following are required:
BIO 105, 106 Biological Principles I: Cellular Biology and Laboratory
BIO 107 Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology
BIO 109 Biological Principles III: Functional Biology
BIO 201 Genetics
BIO 217 Evolution
BIO 331 Ecological Principles
Organismal Biology courses: Choose at least 10 credits from the following:
BIO 205 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIO 231 Botany*
BIO 291 Ornithology*
BIO 311, 312 Microbiology and Laboratory
BIO 335 Entomology*
BIO 351 Invertebrate Zoology
BIO 353 Vertebrate Zoology*
BIO 361, 362 Parasitology and Laboratory
BIO 381 Plant Physiology
BIO 405, 406 Animal Behavior and Laboratory*
Ecology courses: Choose at least 10 credits from the following
BIO 332 Field Ecology*
BIO 337 Marine Ecology*
BIO 383 Plant Ecology*
BIO 403, 404 Comparative Animal Physiology and Laboratory
BIO 415, 416 Microbial Ecology and Laboratory*
Additional required courses:
Geography-Anthropology (3 credit hours)
GEO 108 Introduction to ArcGIS Chemistry (16 credit hours)
CHY 113, 114, 115, 116 Principles of Chemistry I and II and Laboratory
CHY 251, 252, 253 Organic Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
Physics (10 credit hours)
PHY 111, 114, 112, 116 Elements of Physics I and II and Laboratory
or PHY 121, 114, 123, 116 General Physics I and II and Laboratory
Mathematics (8 credit hours)
MAT 152 Calculus A
MAT 220 Statistics for the Biological Sciences
Recommended Course Sequence
Because the biology curriculum includes many support courses (chemistry, physics, math) that need to be taken in addition to biology courses, the Department offers a suggested plan of study, shown below. There is no guarantee that every course listed will be offered when the student wants the course. Students should consult their academic advisors regularly as well as the two-year schedule of Biology courses listed on the Department of Biological Sciences website.
Ecology Degree Plan
| Year 1 | Credits |
| Fall semester | |
| BIO 105 Biological Principles I: Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 106 Laboratory Biology | 1.5 |
| CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I | 1 |
| ENG 100 College Writing | 3 |
| EYE 1XX Entry Year Experience | 3 |
| Spring semester | |
| BIO 107 Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4.5 |
| CHY 115 Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHY 116 Laboratory Techniques II | 1 |
| MAT 152 Calculus A | 4 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Year 2 | |
| Fall semester | |
| BIO 109 Biological Principles III: Functional Biology | 3 |
| BIO 331 Ecological Principles | 3 |
| CHY 251 Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHY 252 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| MAT 220 Statistics for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| Spring semester | |
| BIO 217 Evolution | 3 |
| CHY 253 Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| GEO 108 Introduction to ArcGIS | 3 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Year 3 | |
| Fall semester | |
| PHY XXX Elements of Physics I or General Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 114 Introductory Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIO 201 Genetics | 3 |
| BIO XXX Ecology or organismal biology course requirement | variable |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Spring semester | |
| BIO XXX biology or organismal course requirement | variable |
| PHY XXX Elements of Physics II or General Physics II | 4 |
| PHY 116 Introductory Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Year 4 | |
| Fall semester | |
| BIO XXX biology or organismal course requirement | variable |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Spring semester | |
| BIO XXX ecology or organismal course requirement | variable |
| Core curriculum course | 3 |
| Capstone course | 3 |
Note: Total credits must add up to 120, with a minimum of 78 credits required for the ecology specialization. Suggested schedule is based on 8 semesters with approximately 15 credits per semester. Summer courses can reduce course load during the academic year.
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