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Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity, Ecology, & Conservation

The Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation (B.E.C.) major is designed to ensure that students have a broad and balanced exposure to basic principle s in ecology and biodiversity. The B.E.C. major prepares students by focusing on conducting field experiments, on animal behavior, on geographic information systems, and different ecological niches. The B.E.C. major allows for flexibility in course work that uniquely fits to a student’s interests.

Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Requirements

Students pursuing a degree in B.E.C. must complete the following required courses.

Major Requirements

Core
University Core Requirements

37

Major Course Requirements

BIOL 180Biological Diversity

4
BIOL 190Biological Unity

3
BIOL 223SIOral Presentation Biological Science

3
BIOL 280Methods in Field Biology

3
BIOL 290Basic Laboratory Techniques in Biology

3

And the following required allied courses

GEOG 275TIGeographic Information Systems

3
CHEM 204General Chemistry I

3
CHEM 204LGeneral Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 205General Chemistry I I

3
CHEM 205LGeneral Chemistry I I Lab

1
MATH 140Calculus I

4
MATH 206Statistical Methods in Science

4

PHYS 111Principles of Physics I

4
Or
PHYS 151General Physics: Mechanics

4
Total Credit Hours:76

And 23-25 credit hours of additional upper division BIOL courses, one of which must be writing intensive (see notes for complete WI requirements). Of the 23-25 credit hours, two courses must be selected from the Ecology course menu and two courses must be selected from the Organismal course menu:

BIOL 337Genetics

3
BIOL 314Evolution

3
BIOL XXX
Two 300- or 400-level courses from the Ecology Course Menu

7-8
BIOL XXX
Two 300- or 400-level courses from the Organismal Course Menu

6-8
BIOL xxx
One 300 or 400 level 4 credit BIOL lab course

4
BIOL xxx
300- or 400-level BIOL courses

3
Or
GEOG 455Advanced GIS

3
BIOL 460Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Exit Exam

0

BIOL xxx: *Cannot include independent study or internship

BIOL xxx: May include independent study or internship

Ecology Course Menu
BIOL 319Special Topics in Ecology

1-4
BIOL 404Ecology

4

BIOL 412WIPhysiological Ecology

4
Or
MSC 412WIPhysiological Ecology

4

BIOL 417WIConservation Ecology

4
MSC 310WRMarine Ecology

4
MSC 315Paleontology and Paleoecology

4
MSC 422Coral Reef Ecology

4
Organismal Course Menu
BIOL 301WRMicrobiology

4
BIOL 302Invertebrate Zoology

4
BIOL 303Vertebrate Biology

4
BIOL 304WIIchthyology

4
MSC 304WIIchthyology

4
BIOL 307Primates

3
BIOL 312Plant Taxonomy

4
BIOL 330Marine Mammal Biology

4
BIOL 380Herpetology

4
BIOL 382Entomology

4
BIOL 406Advanced Ornithology

4
MSC 408Biology of Marine Plants

3

Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Major Important Notes:

• Students may not double major in Biology.

• Two writing intensive (WI or WR) courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C-“. One must be a 300- or 400-level BIOL course; the other WI course may be from any discipline.

• A minimum grade of “C” is required of B.E.C. majors in the following courses: BIOL 180, BIOL 190, BIOL 223SI, BIOL 280, and BIOL 290.

• A minimum grade of “C” is required of B.E.C. majors in allied courses: PHYS 111, PHYS 151, MATH 140, MATH 206, CHEM 204, CHEM 204L, CHEM 205, and CHEM 205L.

• CS 150 is a prerequisite for BIOL 280 and BIOL 290

General Electives Requirement

General Electives
Requirement

14-18

Total Credit Hours: 120