2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 18, 2024  
2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog

Conservation Biology [CON]


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.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Conservation Biology (CON) degree are expected to master the Biology Student Learning Outcomes in addition to the following:

  1. Achieve practical experience in conservation biology by completing a 120-hour internship in an approved professional setting.    
  2. Demonstrate their understanding of primary scientific literature by accurately communicating (written and oral) information on contemporary issues in conservation biology.
  3. Understand and apply in geographic information systems, policy and law, ethics and wilderness studies to a career in conservation biology.

Biological Sciences Department Course Retake Policy

A student is only permitted to retake a BIO course once per college policy. Any exceptions require permission of the instructor and the department chair and would only be granted on the last day of preregistration. The department considers enrollment in a course past the drop/add period as a retake, even if the student withdraws from the course before receiving a grade.

A. Biology Courses: 36 credit hours


2. Additional Related Courses


Choose three courses from the following, with at least one course from group a and one from group b:

3. Additional Biology


Select from any of the biology major's courses at the 300 level or above to total at least 36 credit hours in biology.

B. Supporting Areas: 24-27 credit hours


2. Elective courses: select three courses from the following:


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.

C. Geographic Information Systems Requirement: 3 credit hours


E. Conservation Applications: 5 credit hours


F. Additional Requirements for the B.S.


  • Composition and General Education courses: 27 credit hours
  • World Language courses: 0-3 credit hours
  • Free Elective courses: to complete 120 total credit hours

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120


Example of the major in Conservation Biology over four years


General Education ; Link to World Language Requirement   

Total credit hours for semester: 16


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Total credit hours for semester: 14


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 14


Fourth Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 14


Fourth Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15