Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity, Ecology, & Conservation
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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 180 | Biological Diversity | 4 |
BIOL 190 | Biological Unity | 3 |
BIOL 223SI | Oral Presentation Biological Science | 3 |
BIOL 280 | Methods in Field Biology | 3 |
BIOL 290 | Basic Laboratory Techniques in Biology | 3 |
And the following required allied courses
GEOG 275TI | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
CHEM 204 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM 204L | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
CHEM 205 | General Chemistry I I | 3 |
CHEM 205L | General Chemistry I I Lab | 1 |
MATH 140 | Calculus I | 4 |
MATH 206 | Statistical Methods in Science | 4 |
PHYS 111 | Principles of Physics I | 4 |
Or | ||
PHYS 151 | General Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 76 | |
And 17-19 credit hours of additional upper division BIOL courses, one of which must be writing intensive (see notes for complete WI requirements). Of the 17-19 credit hours, two courses must be selected from the Ecology course menu and two courses must be selected from the Organismal course menu:
BIOL 314 or BIOL 337 | Evolution or Genetics | 3 |
BIOL XXX | One 300- or 400-level courses from the Ecology Course Menu | 4 |
BIOL XXX | One 300- or 400-level courses from the Organismal Course Menu | 3-4 |
BIOL xxx | One 300 or 400 level 4 credit hour from the Ecology or Organismal Course Menu* | 4 |
BIOL xxx | 300- or 400-level BIOL courses | 3 |
Or | ||
GEOG 455 | Advanced GIS | 3 |
BIOL 460 | Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Exit Exam | 0 |
Total Credit Hours: | 17-19 |
BIOL xxx: *Cannot include independent study or internship
BIOL xxx: May include independent study or internship
Ecology Course Menu
BIOL 319 | Special Topics in Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 404 | Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 412WI | Physiological Ecology | 4 |
Or | ||
MSC 412WI | Physiological Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 417WI | Conservation Ecology | 4 |
MSC 310WR | Marine Ecology | 4 |
MSC 315 | Paleontology and Paleoecology | 4 |
MSC 422 | Coral Reef Ecology | 4 |
Organismal Course Menu
BIOL 301WR | Microbiology | 4 |
BIOL 302 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
BIOL 303 | Vertebrate Biology | 4 |
BIOL 304WI | Ichthyology | 4 |
MSC 304WI | Ichthyology | 4 |
BIOL 307 | Primates | 3 |
BIOL 312 | Plant Taxonomy | 4 |
BIOL 330 | Marine Mammal Biology | 4 |
BIOL 380 | Herpetology | 4 |
BIOL 382 | Entomology | 4 |
BIOL 406 | Advanced Ornithology | 4 |
MSC 408 | Biology 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 | 22-24 |
Total Credit Hours: 120