Biology
Ecology and biodiversity is an interdisciplinary major that integrates coursework in biology, ecology, and evolution with other environmental disciplines.
Requirements for the Major in Ecology and Biodiversity
The major1 requires successful completion of the following:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements 2 | ||
| BIOL 133 | Introductory Molecular Biology and Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 210 | Ecology (Lab) | 4 |
| BIOL 211 | Biodiversity: Pattern and Process (Lab) | 4 |
| BIOL 315 | Advanced Topics in Ecology and Biodiversity (capstone for seniors) | 4 |
| ENST 101 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 4 |
| ENST 217 | Fundamentals of GIS | 4 |
| or STAT 204 | or Elementary Statistics | |
| Select one course in ecological and evolutionary processes from the following: | 4 | |
| Plant Ecology (Lab) | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Environmental Physiology of Plants (Lab) | ||
| Freshwater Biology (Lab) | ||
| Rainforests and Coral Reefs and Field Study in Belize | ||
| Cave Biology | ||
| Ecosystems and Global Change (Lab) | ||
| Environment and Development | ||
| Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals (Lab) | ||
| Island Ecology (Lab) (counts as one course) | ||
| Select one course in taxonomy from the following: | 4 | |
| Entomology | ||
| Ornithology (Lab) | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology (Lab) | ||
| Fungi and Algae and Bryophytes | ||
| Herpetology (Lab) | ||
| Plant Evolution and Systematics (Lab) | ||
| Select one course in human dimensions from the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced Conservation Biology | ||
| Advanced Conservation Biology (Lab) | ||
| Human Health and the Environment (Lab) | ||
| Freshwater Conservation | ||
| Select one additional course from ecological and evolutionary processes, taxonomy, or human dimensions | 4 | |
| Select one course on the environment from a non-science perspective: 3 | 4 | |
| Ecological Anthropology | ||
| Archaeology of the Cumberland Plateau | ||
| Environmental Archaeology | ||
| Field School in Archaeology | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Fundamentals of GIS (if not taken as a core course) | ||
| Environmental Land-Use Policy | ||
| Poetry, Nature and Contemplation | ||
| American Environmental Literature | ||
| Water Resource Policy and Law | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| International Environmental Policy | ||
| Religion and Animals | ||
| Religious Environmentalism | ||
| Religion and Ecology | ||
| Buddhism and the Environment | ||
| Rural Religion | ||
| Environmentalism and Ecocide in Russian Literature and Culture | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 44 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Requirements | ||
| A comprehensive examination | ||
| Study abroad (recommended) 4 | ||
| 1 | The major field is defined as all Biology classes listed above, including: BIOL 130, ENST 101, ENST 140, ENST 217, ENST 240, ENST 317, ENST 400. |
| 2 | Many graduate programs in ecology and biodiversity require one or more semesters of physical science (chemistry, geology, and/or physics). CHEM 120, GEOL 121, and STAT 204 are recommended electives. |
| 3 | Other non-science environmental courses require departmental approval. |
| 4 | Study abroad is recommended from programs such as: Organization for Tropical Studies (Costa Rica or South Africa), School for International Training (from a variety of countries), and Sea Semester. Study abroad courses count inside the major field if the majority of the work in the course concerns the scientific study of ecology and biodiversity; study abroad courses will count outside the major field if the majority of the work for the course concerns social science, humanities or other work outside the natural sciences. |
Required for a B.S. (but not for a B.A.) in Ecology and Biodiversity
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| Select one course in statistics (STAT) | 4 | |
| Select three additional courses in mathematics, statistics, or science outside biology, including at least two lab science courses | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 16 | |