Ecology and Conservation Biology (B.S.Ecol.-Cons.Biol.)
Improving global environmental conditions requires researchers and other citizens who can understand ecological principles, who can analyze and interpret ecological conditions, and who can predict the consequences of alternative natural resource management decisions. Understanding the importance of social values and policy for ecology and management of rare, threatened, and endangered species and their habitat is necessary to reverse the order of their decline. In the ecology and conservation biology program, students learn to apply biological, ecological, social, and political understanding to solve problems related to long-term conservation of biological diversity and to sustainable management of ecosystems.
This degree combines the biological, ecological, and social sciences to provide (1) an interdisciplinary understanding of the composition, structure, and processes of ecosystems, and (2) the skills necessary to provide long-term planning for the conservation and sustainable management of populations, species, and ecosystems.
Students will examine topics from molecular to landscape scales and integrate the social and biophysical worlds. Graduates will be equipped to address the issues and problems of sustainable resource use, conservation of rare, threatened, or endangered biota, management of ecosystems, and long-term conservation of biological diversity. This program is flexible enough to adapt to the interests of individual students, while remaining firmly grounded in ecological principles applicable to species, populations, communities, landscapes, and ecosystems. It is distinctly different from the emphasis on management in the other forestry, wildlife, fisheries, range, and conservation social sciences programs, or the more general environmental science programs. Graduates of the program often continue advanced studies at national and international universities. This natural resources "liberal science" degree can also serve as pre-professional training for law school, or for professional positions in federal, state, and private environmental organizations including local and regional planning groups and consulting firms.
The program requires 120 credits, and students must choose either the natural resources ecology or conservation biology option. Students pursuing a B.S. in Ecology & Conservation Biology must receive a grade of 'C' or better in each of the following 4 indicator courses to register in upper division courses in CSS/Fish/For/REM/WLF and to graduate with a B.S. in either option: Biol 116, Biol 213, Stat 251, For 221 or REM 221. Before students are allowed to begin their senior thesis or project (485 or 497), they must attend two evening thesis / project sessions and one senior poster presentation.
Required course work includes the university requirements (see regulation J-3) and:
Cells and the Evolution of Life (4 cr) |
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Organisms and Environments (4 cr) |
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Principles of Biological Structure and Function (4 cr) |
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Fundamentals of Public Speaking (2 cr) |
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Natural Resource and Ecosystem Service Economics (3 cr) |
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Technical Writing (3 cr) |
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Society and Natural Resources (3 cr) |
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Introduction to Spatial Analysis for Natural Resource Management (3 cr) |
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Exploring Natural Resources (1 cr) |
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(s) Seminar (1 cr) |
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Statistical Methods (3 cr) |
One of the following (4 cr):
Introduction to Chemistry I (4 cr) |
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Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr) |
One of the following (3-4 cr):
Principles of Microeconomics (3 cr) |
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Foundations of Economic Analysis (3-4 cr) |
One of the following (3 cr):
Ecology (3 cr) |
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Ecology (3 cr) |
One of the following (4 cr):
Survey of Calculus (4 cr) |
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Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 cr) |
One of the following (3-4 cr):
Dendrology (4 cr) |
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Systematic Botany (3 cr) |
Choose one of the following (1 cr):
Senior Project Presentation (1 cr) |
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Senior Project Presentation (1 cr) |
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Senior Project Presentation (1 cr) |
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Senior Project Presentation (1 cr) |
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Senior Project Presentation (1 cr) |
Choose one of the following (3 cr):
Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr) |
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Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr) |
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Senior Thesis (3 cr) |
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Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr) |
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Senior Thesis (3 cr) |
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Senior Thesis (3 cr) |
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Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr) |
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Senior Thesis (3 cr) |
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Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr) |
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Senior Thesis (3 cr) |
And one of the following options:
A. Natural Resources Ecology Option
The natural resources ecology option combines ecological theory, field experience, and quantitative tools to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the structure and function of ecosystems. This field covers ecological topics from local, regional, and landscape scales while integrating the social and biophysical worlds.
To graduate in this option, students must achieve a "C" or better in the following six core courses: NR 200, For 330, REM 429, Soil 205/206, and WLF 316 or Fish 316.
Forest Soil and Canopy Processes (4 cr) |
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Landscape Ecology (3 cr) |
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The Soil Ecosystem (3 cr) |
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The Soil Ecosystem Lab (1 cr) |
One of the following (3 cr):
Phys 100, Phys 100L |
Fundamentals of Physics and Lab (4 cr) |
Phys 111, Phys 111L |
General Physics I and Lab (4 cr) |
One of the following (2-4 cr):
Wildlife Ecology II (4 cr) |
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Principles of Population Dynamics (2 cr) |
Quantitative Resource Analysis Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Social Research Methods in Conservation (4 cr) |
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Remote Sensing of Environment (4 cr) |
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GIS Primer (3 cr) |
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Ecological Monitoring and Analysis (2 cr) |
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Statistical Analysis (3 cr) |
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Sample Survey Methods (2 cr) |
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Fish & Wildlife Population Ecology (4 cr) |
Resource Management Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Conservation Management and Planning I (4 cr) |
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Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr) |
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Monitoring Impacts in Protected Areas and Wilderness (3 cr) |
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Fisheries Management (4 cr) |
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Forest Dynamics and Management (4 cr) |
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Watershed Science and Management (3 cr) |
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Integrated Rangeland Management (3 cr) |
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Wildlife Management (4 cr) |
Ecology Restricted Electives (at least 2 credits from Fish 315, Fish 415, Fish 430, REM 460, and/or WLF 315) (10 cr):
Advanced Evolutionary Biology (3 cr) |
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Animal Behavior (3 cr) |
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Introduction to Forest Insects (2 cr) |
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Aquatic Entomology (3 cr) |
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Fish Ecology (3 cr) |
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Fish Ecology Lab (1 cr) |
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Limnology (4 cr) |
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Riparian Ecology and Management (3 cr) |
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Global Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr) |
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Forest and Plant Pathology (2 cr) |
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Biogeography (3 cr) |
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Global Environmental Change (3 cr) |
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Microbial Ecology (3 cr) |
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Invasive Plant Biology (3 cr) |
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Wildland Restoration Ecology (3 cr) |
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Rangeland Ecology (2 cr) |
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Rangeland Ecology Current Topics and Field Studies (1 cr) |
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Wildlife Ecology I (3 cr) |
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Wildlife Ecology I Lab (1 cr) |
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Conservation Biology (3 cr) |
Social/Political Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Conflict Management (3 cr) |
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Environmental Communication Skills (3 cr) |
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Conservation Leadership (3 cr) |
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Public Involvement in Natural Resource Management (3 cr) |
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Personalities and Philosophies in Conservation (3 cr) |
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Ecotourism Principles and Issues (3 cr) |
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International Land Preservation and Conservation Systems (3 cr) |
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Forest Policy and Administration (2 cr) |
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Land, Resources, and Environment (3 cr) |
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American Environmental History (3 cr) |
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Environmental Philosophy (3 cr) |
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Politics of the Environment (3 cr) |
Courses to total 120 credits for this degree
B. Conservation Biology Option
The conservation biology option is centered around a multidisciplinary curriculum that provides students with training to work in jobs aimed at conserving the earth's biodiversity. This option provides a broad-based education that covers biological diversity from the genetic level to the landscape level, and provides additional training in social sciences and management. In the words of Hunter (1996), "Conservation biology is cross-disciplinary, reaching far beyond biology into subjects such as philosophy, economics, and sociology; disciplines that are concerned with the social environment in which we practice conservation--as well as into subjects such as law and education that determine the ways we implement conservation."
To graduate in this option, students must achieve a "C" or better in the following seven core courses: Biol 421, NR 200, REM 429, Phil 452, CSS 492 or CSS 493, Fish or WLF 316, and WLF 440.
Advanced Evolutionary Biology (3 cr) |
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General Genetics (3 cr) |
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Environmental Philosophy (3 cr) |
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Landscape Ecology (3 cr) |
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Conservation Biology (3 cr) |
One of the following (3 cr):
Ecotourism Principles and Issues (3 cr) |
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International Land Preservation and Conservation Systems (3 cr) |
One of the following (2-4 cr):
Wildlife Ecology II (4 cr) |
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Principles of Population Dynamics (2 cr) |
Quantitative Resource Analysis Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Social Research Methods in Conservation (4 cr) |
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Remote Sensing of Environment (4 cr) |
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GIS Primer (3 cr) |
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Ecological Monitoring and Analysis (2 cr) |
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Sample Survey Methods (2 cr) |
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Statistical Analysis (3 cr) |
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Fish & Wildlife Population Ecology (4 cr) |
Resource Management Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Conservation Management and Planning I (4 cr) |
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Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr) |
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Monitoring Impacts in Protected Areas and Wilderness (3 cr) |
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Fisheries Management (4 cr) |
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Forest Dynamics and Management (4 cr) |
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Watershed Science and Management (3 cr) |
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Integrated Rangeland Management (3 cr) |
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Wildlife Management (4 cr) |
Ecology Restricted Electives (at least 2 credits from Fish 315, Fish 415, Fish 430, REM 460, and/or WLF 315) (6 cr):
Animal Behavior (3 cr) |
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Introduction to Forest Insects (2 cr) |
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Aquatic Entomology (3 cr) |
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Fish Ecology (3 cr) |
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Fish Ecology Lab (1 cr) |
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Limnology (4 cr) |
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Riparian Ecology and Management (3 cr) |
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Forest Soil and Canopy Processes (4 cr) |
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Global Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr) |
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Forest and Plant Pathology (2 cr) |
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Biogeography (3 cr) |
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Global Environmental Change (3 cr) |
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Microbial Ecology (3 cr) |
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Invasive Plant Biology (3 cr) |
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Wildland Restoration Ecology (3 cr) |
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Rangeland Ecology (2 cr) |
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Rangeland Ecology Current Topics and Field Studies (1 cr) |
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Wildlife Ecology I (3 cr) |
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Wildlife Ecology I Lab (1 cr) |
Organismal Biology Restricted Elective (one course from the following):
Ichthyology (4 cr) |
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Mammalogy (3 cr) |
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Herpetology (4 cr) |
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Ornithology (4 cr) |
Social/Political Restricted Electives (one course from the following):
Conflict Management (3 cr) |
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Environmental Communication Skills (3 cr) |
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Public Involvement in Natural Resource Management (3 cr) |
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Personalities and Philosophies in Conservation (3 cr) |
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Forest Policy and Administration (2 cr) |
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Land, Resources, and Environment (3 cr) |
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American Environmental History (3 cr) |
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Politics of the Environment (3 cr) |
Courses to total 120 credits for this degree