High-Impact Opportunities - Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology

High-impact learning happens when students are actively engaged in the educational process and their experience expands beyond the classroom and is applied in their personal and work lives. High-impact learning provides hands-on experience and the ability to work closely in a diverse setting. Students engaged in high-impact learning often see improvement in grade point averages and are more involved in their education.

Education Abroad

ECCB offers several Education Abroad programs where students travel to the Caribbean, the Amazon, and South Africa with ECCB faculty to engage in exciting exploration adventures where they experience other cultures and environments. ECCB works to keep these programs affordable by subsidizing a portion of the trip cost and offering direct scholarships to eligible students who apply. These scholarship opportunities are advertised by email to students each fall and spring.

Education Abroad Opportunities

Undergraduate Research

Hands-on research experience is critically important for the future careers of undergraduate students in ecology and conservation biology. ECCB provides a diverse array of research opportunities for interested undergraduates. Interested students may directly apply to the faculty member offering the research experience.

ECCB may have funds available to award undergraduate research mini-grants to eligible students conducting undergraduate research. This funding opportunity is advertised by email to ECCB faculty and students each fall and spring when funding is available.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

A student pipetting samples into small beakers in a lab

Internships

Internships are an important experience for all students. While course credit may not be available, internship experiences are highly recommended for all students. Internships provide a realistic view of what a career in ecology and conservation biology entails. Student interns gain practical, hands-on knowledge and experience. Internships provide an opportunity for students to network with career professionals and build valuable relationships as students prepare to embark on their professional careers.

External Internships and Research Experience

Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program

Find Your Community

With more than 1,000 student groups, you are bound to find an organization to help you get connected. Visit Texas A&M’s Maroon Link to see a comprehensive list of current student groups. There are several student organizations available for our students to get involved in. Student organizations enable students to develop professionally, expand own personal growth and knowledge, and enhance leadership skills, all while providing networking opportunities with other students. For more information on a specific organization, select the link below.

Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

The Texas A&M University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society is a non-profit, student-run organization with the mission to provide networking, volunteer, and field experience opportunities to young wildlife professionals. Although the society is primarily for students seeking degrees in the wildlife field, anyone with an interest in the outdoors is welcome to join. The organization takes pride in the diversity of our projects to give members enriching experiences and the ability to network with professionals in the wildlife field.

Visit their website: wildlife.tamu.edu
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUTWS/
Advisor | John Tomeček, Ph.D.

TAMU Society for Conservation Biology

The Society for Conservation Biology, Texas A&M Chapter, is dedicated to connecting students to careers in conservation. We strive to provide a forum for awareness and involvement for local and global conservation issues, as well as, promote developing skills needed by professionals in the field of conservation biology.

Follow TAMU Society for Conservation Biology on Facebook

ECCB Graduate Student Association

The goal of the ECCB Graduate Student Association is to serve as the collective voice of graduate students in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at the departmental, college, and university levels.

The purpose of the ECCB-GSA is:

(1)To serve as the collective voice of graduate students in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology (ECCB) at the departmental, college, and university levels.

(2) To create an atmosphere for ECCB graduate students to participate in social, academic, and professional pursuits.

(3) To provide and coordinate professional development opportunities that will benefit graduate students in ECCB, including but not limited to, fundraising for travel grants, maintaining a supportive network of alumni, and sharing resources regarding conferences, workshops, and courses.

(4) To actively participate in conservation and environmental education within the department, college, university, and local community via volunteering, outreach, and service.

Follow
ECCB GSA on Facebook
ECCB GSA on Instagram
MaroonLink
Email: eccbgsa@tamu.edu
Read their Constitution: Download the PDF

Texas A&M Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Student Guild

The Texas A&M Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Student Association will support SER’s mission of promoting ecological restoration as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.

Visit their website: ser.tamu.edu
Advisor | Dr. Joseph Veldman

Texas A&M Society of American Foresters

As a recognized student chapter of the Society of American Foresters, the Texas A&M Chapter seeks to incorporate professional and academic development aspects of SAF with the traditions and camaraderie for which Aggies are known. Students involved with SAF gain experience and professional advantage through interactions with state and local professional chapters, University and departmental events, national recognition and service, as well as through academic support from peers and professors. Any student interested in seeking a degree or career in forestry, as well as professionals currently employed in a forestry-related field, are welcome at meetings of the TAMU SAF chapter.

Visit their website: forestryclub.tamu.edu
Advisor | Dr. Asko Noormets

Texas A&M Chapter of American Fisheries Society

Our mission and purpose is to promote the conservation, development, and wise use of the fisheries; promote and evaluate the development and advancement of all branches of fisheries science and practice; gather and disseminate to Chapter members, American Fisheries Society members, and the general public scientific, technical, and other information about fisheries science and practice through publications, meetings, and other forms of communication; and encourage the teaching of fisheries science and practice in colleges and universities and the continuing professional development of fisheries workers.

Visit their website: http://tamuafs.tamu.edu
Advisor | Dr. Joshuah Perkin

Course Field Trips

Field experience is a critical component of an undergraduate degree in ECCB. ECCB offers several courses with labs and field trips that give students the necessary hands-on learning experience in the field. A few example course field trips may be found below.

Course Number	Course Title	Typical Locations	Activities
ECCB 203	Forest Trees of North America	Castle Rock Park, College Station, TX	Observation of trees
ECCB 215	Fundamentals of Ecology–Laboratory	Lick Creek Park, College Station, TX	Field sampling /observations of plants and animals
ECCB 301	Diversity and Evolution of Plants	Madisonville, TX	Conduct botanical surveys and collect research-grade plant specimens.
ECCB 311	Ichthyology	San Jacinto River, Conroe/Brazos River, Navasota River,	Ichthyological sampling (seine nets, dip nets, backpack electro shocker)
ECCB 314	Down River: Biology of Gulf Coast fishes	Guadalupe River, from headwaters to delta	Ichthyological sampling (seine nets, dip nets, backpack electro shocker)
ECCB 316	Field Herpetology	Port O’Connor, TX	Teach techniques to find and capture reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitat.
ECCB 319	Principles of Forestry	Cook’s Branch Conservancy, Montgomery, TX	Observation of the demonstration plots of forest managed with prescribed fire
ECCB 324	Forest Measurements	Forests in Huntsville, TX	Forest measurements
ECCB 325	Field Studies in Forest Ecosystems	Davy Crocket National Forest, Kennard, TX, Fairchild State Forest, Jacksonville, Forests in Huntsville, TX	Forest inventory and analysis Observation of forests in private and public lands
ECCB 402	Ornithology	Ecology and Natural Resources Teaching Area, College Station, TX	Field identification techniques, building skills used in ornithological careers, including point-count surveying and list keeping.
ECCB 405	Forest Resource Assessment and Management	Forests in Huntsville, TX	Visit 3 forest tracts to develop forest management plans
ECCB 417	Prescribed Fire	Wildland-Urban Interface, College Station, TX	Participate in field-based activity in Texas grassland ecosystems and wildfire risk.
ECCB 420	Ecological Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Systems	Discovery Center in San Marcos, TX Padre Island National Seashore	Visit San Marcos to see how the city manages and restores their parks and wetlands.
ECCB 460	Nature, Values, and Protected Areas	Padre Island National Seashore	Meeting with park staff and learning about management and conservation issues.