Program Overview

The Ecology and Conservation Biology track is designed to meet the needs of students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in natural sciences as well as careers with natural resource agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, environmental consulting firms, and education and research institutions with the tools for understanding issues related to conserving, managing, and restoring species, habitats, and ecosystems. Students enrolled in this track gain an understanding of the core body of knowledge required for ecologists and conservation biologists, including ecological concepts, field and lab methodologies, human-environmental interactions, and biodiversity surveys and conservation. This track accomplishes this by offering a diversity of courses, including higher-level electives, that allow students to tailor their education to fit their interests. For example, students can take courses that position them for external certification through organizations such as the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration.  Students completing this track will obtain a strong background in organism biology, evolution, ecosystem science, field methods, quantitative methods, and human and ethical dimensions of biological conservation.