B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Environmental Sciences is an interdisciplinary program offered cooperatively by the faculties of the Department of Anthropology; Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology; School of Earth and Climate Sciences; School of Food and Agriculture; School of Biology and Ecology; School of Economics; and School of Forest Resources. Students majoring in the program are advised by over thirty-five faculty from these units. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a professional career in ecology and environmental sciences in one of many applications:  management, administration, planning, education, research or graduate school.

The B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences is designed to acquaint students with the scope and characteristics of our natural resources and to introduce the scientific and economic principles that govern resource use, sustainability, and conservation.

The Ecology and Environmental Sciences curriculum is composed of eight requirement areas, amounting to at least 96 credits (depending upon selections), plus up to 24 credits reserved for unstructured electives. The requirement areas are as follows:

  1. Ecology and Environmental Sciences;
  2. Biological and Ecological Sciences;
  3. Social Sciences;
  4. Physical and Chemical Sciences;
  5. Quantitative and Information Skills;
  6. Communication Skills;
  7. General Education;
  8. Concentrations;
  9. Free Electives.

The requirements are designed so that Ecology and Environmental Sciences graduates will be well grounded in both the natural and social sciences, and will possess the skills necessary for a successful career. The program is also designed to allow students ample flexibility to pursue individual interests in preparing for careers or postgraduate study.

Six Ecology and Environmental Sciences concentrations (below) allow a student to pursue a particular aspect of natural resources in depth with an eye toward future employment or postgraduate study. Students should decide on their area of concentration early in their programs so that course choices in the first and sophomore years will include the prerequisites for courses in their chosen concentration.

Student and Faculty Resources

Concentrations