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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:

Biol 115

Cells and the Evolution of Life (4 cr)

Biol 116

Organisms and Environments (4 cr)

Biol 213

Principles of Biological Structure and Function (4 cr)

Comm 101

Fundamentals of Public Speaking (2 cr)

CSS 383

Natural Resource and Ecosystem Service Economics (3 cr)

Engl 317

Technical Writing (3 cr)

For 235 or CSS 235

Society and Natural Resources (3 cr)

For 375

Introduction to Spatial Analysis for Natural Resource Management (3 cr)

NR 101

Exploring Natural Resources (1 cr)

NR 200

(s) Seminar (1 cr)

Stat 251

Statistical Methods (3 cr)

One of the following (4 cr):

Chem 101

Introduction to Chemistry I (4 cr)

Chem 111

Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr)

One of the following (3-4 cr):

Econ 202

Principles of Microeconomics (3 cr)

Econ 272

Foundations of Economic Analysis (3-4 cr)

One of the following (3 cr):

For 221

Ecology (3 cr)

REM 221

Ecology (3 cr)

One of the following (4 cr):

Math 160

Survey of Calculus (4 cr)

Math 170

Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 cr)

One of the following (3-4 cr):

For 320

Dendrology (4 cr)

REM 341

Systematic Botany (3 cr)

Choose one of the following (1 cr):

CSS 483

Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)

Fish 483

Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)

For 483

Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)

REM 483

Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)

WLF 483

Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)

Choose one of the following (3 cr):

CSS 485

Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr)

Fish 485

Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr)

Fish 497

Senior Thesis (3 cr)

For 485

Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr)

For 497

Senior Thesis (3 cr)

NR 497

Senior Thesis (3 cr)

REM 485

Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr)

REM 497

Senior Thesis (3 cr)

WLF 485

Ecology and Conservation Biology Internship (3 cr)

WLF 497

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.

For 330

Forest Soil and Canopy Processes (4 cr)

REM 429

Landscape Ecology (3 cr)

Soil 205

The Soil Ecosystem (3 cr)

Soil 206

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):

WLF 316

Wildlife Ecology II (4 cr)

Fish 316

Principles of Population Dynamics (2 cr)

Quantitative Resource Analysis Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

CSS 310

Social Research Methods in Conservation (4 cr)

For 472 or REM 472

Remote Sensing of Environment (4 cr)

Geog 385

GIS Primer (3 cr)

REM 411

Ecological Monitoring and Analysis (2 cr)

Stat 431

Statistical Analysis (3 cr)

Stat 422

Sample Survey Methods (2 cr)

WLF 448

Fish & Wildlife Population Ecology (4 cr)

Resource Management Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

CSS 385

Conservation Management and Planning I (4 cr)

CSS 490

Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr)

CSS 496

Monitoring Impacts in Protected Areas and Wilderness (3 cr)

Fish 418

Fisheries Management (4 cr)

For 424

Forest Dynamics and Management (4 cr)

For 462

Watershed Science and Management (3 cr)

REM 456

Integrated Rangeland Management (3 cr)

WLF 492

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):

Biol 421

Advanced Evolutionary Biology (3 cr)

Biol 478

Animal Behavior (3 cr)

Ent 469

Introduction to Forest Insects (2 cr)

Ent 472

Aquatic Entomology (3 cr)

Fish 314

Fish Ecology (3 cr)

Fish 315

Fish Ecology Lab (1 cr)

Fish 415

Limnology (4 cr)

Fish 430

Riparian Ecology and Management (3 cr)

For 426

Global Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr)

For 468

Forest and Plant Pathology (2 cr)

Geog 410

Biogeography (3 cr)

Geog 450 or REM 450

Global Environmental Change (3 cr)

MMBB 425

Microbial Ecology (3 cr)

PlSc 410

Invasive Plant Biology (3 cr)

REM 440

Wildland Restoration Ecology (3 cr)

REM 459

Rangeland Ecology (2 cr)

REM 460

Rangeland Ecology Current Topics and Field Studies (1 cr)

WLF 314

Wildlife Ecology I (3 cr)

WLF 315

Wildlife Ecology I Lab (1 cr)

WLF 440

Conservation Biology (3 cr)

Social/Political Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

Comm 410

Conflict Management (3 cr)

CSS 387

Environmental Communication Skills (3 cr)

CSS 481

Conservation Leadership (3 cr)

CSS 486

Public Involvement in Natural Resource Management (3 cr)

CSS 489

Personalities and Philosophies in Conservation (3 cr)

CSS 492

Ecotourism Principles and Issues (3 cr)

CSS 493

International Land Preservation and Conservation Systems (3 cr)

For 484

Forest Policy and Administration (2 cr)

Geog 420

Land, Resources, and Environment (3 cr)

Hist 424

American Environmental History (3 cr)

Phil 452

Environmental Philosophy (3 cr)

PolS 364 or CSS 364

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.

Biol 421

Advanced Evolutionary Biology (3 cr)

Gene 314

General Genetics (3 cr)

Phil 452

Environmental Philosophy (3 cr)

REM 429

Landscape Ecology (3 cr)

WLF 440

Conservation Biology (3 cr)

One of the following (3 cr):

CSS 492

Ecotourism Principles and Issues (3 cr)

CSS 493

International Land Preservation and Conservation Systems (3 cr)

One of the following (2-4 cr):

WLF 316

Wildlife Ecology II (4 cr)

Fish 316

Principles of Population Dynamics (2 cr)

Quantitative Resource Analysis Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

CSS 310

Social Research Methods in Conservation (4 cr)

For 472 or REM 472

Remote Sensing of Environment (4 cr)

Geog 385

GIS Primer (3 cr)

REM 411

Ecological Monitoring and Analysis (2 cr)

Stat 422

Sample Survey Methods (2 cr)

Stat 431

Statistical Analysis (3 cr)

WLF 448

Fish & Wildlife Population Ecology (4 cr)

Resource Management Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

CSS 385

Conservation Management and Planning I (4 cr)

CSS 490

Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr)

CSS 496

Monitoring Impacts in Protected Areas and Wilderness (3 cr)

Fish 418

Fisheries Management (4 cr)

For 424

Forest Dynamics and Management (4 cr)

For 462

Watershed Science and Management (3 cr)

REM 456

Integrated Rangeland Management (3 cr)

WLF 492

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):

Biol 478

Animal Behavior (3 cr)

Ent 469

Introduction to Forest Insects (2 cr)

Ent 472

Aquatic Entomology (3 cr)

Fish 314

Fish Ecology (3 cr)

Fish 315

Fish Ecology Lab (1 cr)

Fish 415

Limnology (4 cr)

Fish 430

Riparian Ecology and Management (3 cr)

For 330

Forest Soil and Canopy Processes (4 cr)

For 426

Global Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr)

For 468

Forest and Plant Pathology (2 cr)

Geog 410

Biogeography (3 cr)

Geog 450 or REM 450

Global Environmental Change (3 cr)

MMBB 425

Microbial Ecology (3 cr)

PlSc 410

Invasive Plant Biology (3 cr)

REM 440

Wildland Restoration Ecology (3 cr)

REM 459

Rangeland Ecology (2 cr)

REM 460

Rangeland Ecology Current Topics and Field Studies (1 cr)

WLF 314

Wildlife Ecology I (3 cr)

WLF 315

Wildlife Ecology I Lab (1 cr)

Organismal Biology Restricted Elective (one course from the following):

Biol 481

Ichthyology (4 cr)

Biol 483

Mammalogy (3 cr)

Biol 489

Herpetology (4 cr)

WLF 482

Ornithology (4 cr)

Social/Political Restricted Electives (one course from the following):

Comm 410

Conflict Management (3 cr)

CSS 387

Environmental Communication Skills (3 cr)

CSS 486

Public Involvement in Natural Resource Management (3 cr)

CSS 489

Personalities and Philosophies in Conservation (3 cr)

For 484

Forest Policy and Administration (2 cr)

Geog 420

Land, Resources, and Environment (3 cr)

Hist 424

American Environmental History (3 cr)

PolS 364 or CSS 364

Politics of the Environment (3 cr)

Courses to total 120 credits for this degree