Conservation Biology [CON] (Major)
This major in the Biological Sciences Department provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and preserving Earth's plant and animal species and the ecosystems on which they depend. Students in this major can prepare for entry into a variety of environmental professions or graduate school.
Career Potential
- Ecologist
- Naturalist
- Field biologist
- Environmental Educator
- Wildlife Ecologist
1. Required Core Biology Courses
- BIO 201 - Biological Sciences I (4 cr. hr.) and
- BIO 202 - Biological Sciences II (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 210 - Cellular Biology (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 312 - Genetics (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 405 - Conservation Biology (3 cr. hr.)
- BIO 412 - General Ecology (4 cr. hr.)
Choose three courses from the following, with at least one course from each of groups a and b:
a. Organismal Biology- BIO 304 - Microbiology (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 401 - Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 402 - Biology of Vertebrates (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 411 - Ornithology (3 cr. hr.)
- BIO 418 - Fungi (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 310 - Field Biology (3 cr. hr.)
- BIO 315 - Marine Biology (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 512 - Limnology (3 cr. hr.)
- BIO 521 - Molecular Biology (4 cr. hr.)
- BIO 522 - Evolutionary Analysis (3 cr. hr.)
- BIO 524 - Physiological Ecology (3 cr. hr.)
Select from any Biology majors' courses at the 300 level or above to total at least 36 credit hours in biology.
B. Supporting Areas: 24-26 credit hours1. Required Courses: Science and Math
- CHE 221 - General Chemistry I (4 cr. hr.)
- CHE 222 - General Chemistry II (4 cr. hr.)
- CHE 301 - Organic Chemistry I (4 cr. hr.)
- GLY 281 - Data Analysis in Natural Science (3 cr. hr.) or
- MAT 201 - Statistical Methods (3 cr. hr.) (or equivalent course)
Students interested in seeking a research graduate degree are advised to take one year of physics, one year of calculus, and CHE 302 and CHE 304.
- MAT 121 - Calculus A (3 cr. hr.) or
- MAT 135 - Calculus I (4 cr. hr.)
- MAT 122 - Calculus B (3 cr. hr.) or
- MAT 236 - Calculus II (4 cr. hr.)
- PHY 105 - Elementary Mechanics and Heat (4 cr. hr.) or
- PHY 201 - Principles of Physics I (4 cr. hr.)
- PHY 106 - Elementary Electricity, Light and Sound (4 cr. hr.) or
- PHY 202 - Principles of Physics II (4 cr. hr.)
- CHE 302 - Organic Chemistry II (3 cr. hr.)
- GRY 324 - Introduction to Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (3 cr. hr.)
Choose at least three courses from the following:
- ECO 335 - Resource and Environmental Economics (3 cr. hr.)
- EST 100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (3 cr. hr.)
- GRY 315 - Ecotourism (3 cr. hr.)
- Cross-listed with REC 315
- GRY 327 - Computer Mapping (4 cr. hr.)
- GRY 328 - Geographic Information Systems (4 cr. hr.)
- GRY 370 - Will the World Provide? A Research Experience for Students (3 cr. hr.)
- PHI 320 - Environmental Ethics (3 cr. hr.)
- POL 240 - Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy (3 cr. hr.)
- POL 242 - Environmental Policy (3 cr. hr.)
- POL 308 - Environmental Law (3 cr. hr.)
- REC 310 - Wilderness and American Culture (3 cr. hr.)
- REC 315 - Ecotourism (3 cr. hr.)
Cross-listed with GRY 315 - REC 402 - Management of Recreation Resources (3 cr. hr.)
- SCI 320 - Science, Technology and Culture (3 cr. hr.)
- SOC 340 - Environmental Sociology (3 cr. hr.)
- CON 460 - Conservation Biology Seminar (2 cr. hr.)
- CON 461 - Conservation Biology Internship (3-15 cr. hr.)
- Composition and General Education courses: 27 credit hours
- Foreign language: completion through the intermediate, 202 level
- Free elective courses: to complete 124 total credit hours
Students are required to complete 72 credit hours of science and math courses which may be taken from the following prefixes: BIO, BMS, CAP (except CAP 100 104), CHE (except CHE 224, 225, 305, 306), CON, ENS, GIS, GLY, MAT MCS, PHY.
Additional requirements include:
- Composition and General Education courses: 27 credit hours
- Foreign Language courses: 0-3 credit hours
- Free Elective courses: to complete 124 total credit hours
Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 124
