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B.A. in Environmental Biology
The Environmental Biology (EB) major provides students with a strong foundation in areas of organismal biology including evolution, systematics, ecology, population biology, behavior, and biodiversity conservation, as well as an exposure to social sciences such as economics and government. All majors complete an environmental biology research internship, that serves as the basis for the senior thesis. The major provides the solid academic grounding and necessary training to enter the rapidly evolving environmental work force or to pursue graduate studies.
While students intending to pursue graduate education are advised to undertake the Environmental Biology major, E3B also offers a concentration in Environmental Biology for students whose main academic focus is elsewhere (e.g. pre-law, economics, chemistry), but who wish to pursue some organized study in our field. The concentration includes fewer introductory and upper division courses, no internship, and no senior seminar.
The Director of Undergraduate Studies is Matthew Palmer.
Program Requirements for Environmental Biology Major
Requirements for Major | Requirements for Concentration
The major in Environmental Biology is for students who desire a foundation of courses in the biological, environmental, and social sciences.
Lower Division
Curriculum (Main track)
| Required Subject Area with Sample
Courses |
Number required |
Total Points
Required |
| Introductory biology
sequence: EEEB W2001
Elements to Organisms, W2002
Organisms to the Biosphere
|
2 |
7 |
| Introductory
environmental science sequence: EESC V2100
Climate System, V2200 Solid Earth
System |
2 |
9 |
| General
chemistry: CHEM C1403, C1404 or C2407 & C2507 |
2 |
7 |
| Introductory
physics: PHYS V1201 |
1 |
3 |
| Statistics
: STAT W1111, W1211 or BIOL
BC2286 |
1 |
3 |
| Calculus: MATH
V1101, V1102, V1105 or V1106 |
1 |
3 |
Total points for lower
division requirements: 32
Upper Division
Curriculum (Main track)
Individual courses from the following groups must be approved by director of undergraduate studies. At least one of these courses must include a laboratory component. A list of appropriate courses is available.
- Ecology, behavior, or conservation biology
- Evolution or genetics
- Morphology, physiology or diversity
- Policy or economics
- One additional course from the proceeding four groups
Ecology and Evolution track within the Environmental Biology Major
The track in Ecology and Evolution provides a foundation of courses in biology and other science disciplines (physics, chemistry, and math) and fewer classes in environmental science and policy. This program is for students who desire to combine their interests in environmental biology with preparation for graduate programs in ecology and evolution, medical school, and veterinary school.
Lower Division Curriculum (Ecology and Evolution track)
| Required Subject Area with Sample Courses |
Number required |
Total Points Required |
| Introductory biology sequence: EEEB W2001 Elements to Organisms, W2002 Organisms to the Biosphere;
BIOL 2006 suggested for medical/veterinary school |
2 |
7 |
| General chemistry and lab: CHEM C1403-C1404 and C1500 |
3 |
10 |
| Introductory physics: PHYS V1201-1202 |
2 |
6 |
| Statistics: STAT W1111, W1211, BIOL BC2286 or EEEB W3020 |
1 |
3 |
| Calculus: MATH V1101, V1102, V1105 or V1106 |
2 |
6 |
Total points for lower division requirements: 32
Upper Division Curriculum (Ecology and Evolution track)
Individual courses from the following groups must be approved by director of undergraduate studies. At least one of these courses must include a laboratory component. A list of appropriate courses is available.
- Ecology, evolution, behavior, or conservation biology (3 courses)
- Genetics (BIOL W3031 or BIOL BC 2100)
- Morphology, physiology or diversity
List of Upper Division Electives
| Required subject area with courses offered |
Points |
Lab |
| Ecology/Behavior/Conservation Biology |
| BIOL BC3280 Animal behavior |
3 |
|
| BIOL BC3372 Population and community ecology |
3 |
* |
| EEEB W3940 Current controversies in primate behavior & ecology |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4060 Invasion biology |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4086 Ethnobotany |
3 |
Yes |
| EEEB G4100 Forest ecology |
4 |
Yes |
| EEEB G4120 Islands: ecology, evolution and conservation |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4126 Conservation genetics |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4127 Disease ecology and conservation |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4130 Restoration and urban ecology |
4 |
Yes |
| EEEB G4184 Plant conservation in theory and practice |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4185 Insect ecology and conservation |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4650 Biodiversity and ecosystem function |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3011 Behavioral biology of the living primates |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3087 Conservation biology |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4610 Case studies in conservation biology: the Hudson Valley ecosystem |
3 |
|
| EESC BC3021 Forests and environmental change |
4 |
|
| EESC W4550 Plant ecophysiology |
3 |
Yes |
| EESC W4835 Wetlands and climate change |
3 |
Yes |
| Evolution/Genetics |
| ANEB W3204 Dynamics of human evolution |
4 |
Yes |
| ANEB W3970 Biological basis of human variation |
4 |
Yes |
| ANEB G4146 Human brain evolving |
4 |
Yes |
| ANEB W4200 Fossil evidence of human evolution |
3 |
|
| BIOL BC3200 Genetics |
3 |
* |
| BIOL BC3260 Vertebrate evolution |
3 |
|
| BIOL BC3278 Evolution |
3 |
|
| BIOL W3031 Genetics |
3 |
|
| BIOL W3032 Genetics |
3 |
|
| BIOL W3208 Introduction to evolutionary biology |
3 |
|
| BIOL W4205 Origins of life |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4205 Extinction science |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4789 Biogeography |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4020 Population genetics |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4601 Biological systematics |
3 |
|
| Morphology/Physiology/Diversity |
| ANEB G4147 Human skeletal biology I |
3 |
Yes |
| ANEB G4148 Human skeletal biology II |
3 |
Yes |
| BIOL BC3240 Plant evolution |
3 |
Yes |
| BIOL BC3250 Invertebrate zoology |
3 |
|
| BIOL BC3260 Vertebrate evolution |
3 |
|
| BIOL BC3340 Plant physiology |
3 |
* |
| BIOL BC3360 Animal physiology |
3 |
* |
| BIOL W3002 Animal structure and function |
6 |
|
| BIOL W3006 Physiology |
3 |
|
| BIOL W3022 Developmental Biology |
3 |
|
| BIOL W3041 Cell Biology |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3030 Biology, systematics, and evolutionary history of the apes |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3204 Primate skeletal anatomy |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3215 Forensic osteology |
3 |
Yes |
| EEEB G4140 Ornithology |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4200 Ecotoxicology |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4210 Herpetology |
4 |
Yes |
| EEEB G4650 Biodiversity and ecosystem processes |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4660 Fish biodiversity, systematics, and evolution |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4666 Insect biodiversity |
4 |
Yes |
| EEEB W4668 Diverity in fungi |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4910 Field Botany |
4 |
Yes |
| EESC W4550 Plant ecophysiology |
3 |
Yes |
| Policy/Economics |
| ANTH V3004 Introduction to environmental anthropology |
3 |
|
| ANTH W3973 Environment and development |
3 |
|
| ANTH W4022 Political ecology |
3 |
|
| ECON BC3039 Environmental and natural resource economics |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4180 Zoological gardens as conservation partners |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4184 Plant conservation in theory and practice |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4190 Conservation in Managed Landscapes |
3 |
|
| EEEB W4610 Case studies in conservation biology: the Hudson Valley ecosystem |
3 |
|
| EEEB G4645 Cultural and Biological Diversity |
3 |
|
| EESC BC3032 Agricultural and urban land use |
4 |
|
| EESC BC3035 Environmental hazards and disasters |
3 |
|
| EESC BC3040 Environmental law |
3 |
|
| EESC W3018 Weapons of mass destruction |
3 |
|
| EESC W4917 The earth/human system |
3 |
|
| INAF U4729 Alternative energy resources |
3 |
|
| INAF U4737 Economics of the environment |
3 |
|
| INAF U4740 Introduction to environmental sociology |
3 |
|
| SOCI W3290 Environmental sociology |
3 |
|
| SUSD W3300 Challenges of sustainable development |
3 |
|
| Lab |
| BIOL C3052 Project lab in molecular genetics |
5 |
|
| BIOL W2501 Contemporary biology lab |
3 |
|
| EEEB W3208 Primate anatomy |
3 |
|
| EESC BC3014 Field methods in environmental science |
3 |
|
| ENVB 2102 AND ENVB 2103 SEE-U summer course |
6 |
|
| ENVB 2106 AND ENVB 2107 Punta Cana I and II |
6 |
|
| Senior Seminar in Enviornmental Biology |
3 |
|
*Course has a lab, but students must register for lab section seperately
Total points for upper
division requirements: 18
Research Seminar
Each student is required to
complete an environmental biology research internship
after the junior year. This research serves as the basis
for the senior thesis, which
is developed during optional independent study
(EEEB 3398 or EESC BC 3997) and the required senior
thesis seminar (EEEB 3392). Students participate in a wide
range of research projects run by scientists working at
the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) consortium
institutions. For example, they have studied
maroon-fronted parrots in Mexico, blue monkeys in Kenya,
the ecology of corals in Belize, and community gardens
in New York City. Students do real fieldwork under the
guidance of an experienced researcher who not only
assists with the field work, but also provides guidance
as the student writes up his/her thesis. Students have
the opportunity to develop a professional working
relationship with a respected researcher, and experience
first hand the realities of conducting original research
under field conditions. Many interns have found these
experiences pivotal in choosing a career path. Summer Internship
Program webpage.
Concentration Requirements
Requirements for the concentration
are 35 points. All students must take EEEB 2001 and
2002 (or equivalents); EESC 2100 and 2200; CHEM 1403
and 1404 OR equivalents; STAT 1111, 1211, OR BIOL BC
3386; EEEB 3087; and two other 3000 or 4000-level courses
from the upper division of the environmental biology
major requirements. The concentration differs from the
major in omitting calculus, physics,
the policy course, and the senior seminar with thesis
project.
SEE-U Program:
The SEE-U program (Summer Ecosystem Experiences for
Undergraduates), can be used to fullfill one upper
division course in environmental biology. The SEE-U program provides students with the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in unique natural settings in addition to participation in a combination of classroom lectures and lab work.
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