2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R
Environmental and Organismal Biology: Ecology and Conservation Biology Concentration (6221), B.S.
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Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Major in Environmental and Organismal Biology (6220)
The environmental and organismal biology major provides a comprehensive background for students with career interests in animal health, animal and plant ecology and conservation, environmental health, biomonitoring, environmental education, and other careers that involve managing and studying interactions between organisms and their environment. Students begin with foundational courses in introductory biology, math, and chemistry. They proceed to advanced lecture and lab courses in cell biology, ecology, genetics, and evolutionary biology exploring how these concepts influence biological diversity. As a part of this major, students are encouraged to earn course credit and gain experience doing hands-on research with a faculty mentor.
This major has two concentrations so that students can individualize their education based on specific interests and goals.
- Environmental and Organismal Biology: Ecology and Conservation Biology Concentration (6221)
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The completion of a minor is optional for this major.
For more information about the Cell and Molecular Biology major, please contact:
Department of Biological Sciences
249 Brehm Hall
574 University Street
Martin, TN 38238
biology@utm.edu
731-881-7171
Concentration in Ecology and Conservation Biology (6221)
The Ecology and Conservation Biology Concentration will provide students with immersive learning experiences through fieldwork and individualized research opportunities that will prepare them for a variety of careers in ecology and conservation biology. Our graduates are currently working for state and federal agencies, private consulting companies, environmental non-profits, academic institutions, botanical gardens, zoos, environmental laboratories, and other organizations that focus on habitat restoration, climate change, environmental protection, sustainability, biomonitoring, environmental education, environmental law, and more. Before starting their careers, many of our students have continued their education in graduate programs to obtain advanced degrees in ecology and conservation-related fields.
Ecology and Conservation Biology students have many exciting opportunities available to them. Many become involved in individual faculty-mentored research projects. Students also travel to attend scientific meetings where those participating in research can share their findings. Summer field courses that can be used toward the degree are offered at the Reelfoot Lake Environmental Field Station in Samburg, TN and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS. Travel study courses give students the opportunity to observe unique ecosystems both within the U.S. and abroad. Past classes have visited marine habitats along the Gulf Coast, the Appalachian Mountains in East TN, the Rainforests in Brazil, Cloud Forests of Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands. Students can also find community with other Ecology and Conservation Biology students through the Ecology Club, a student organization where members can participate in ecology and conservation-based outreach and community service activities, learn about individual student research projects, and connect with program alumni.
| General Education |
38 hours |
| B.S. Requirements |
11-14 hours |
| Major Core Requirements |
13 hours |
| Concentration CORE Requirements |
26-27 hours |
| Concentration Elective Requirements |
18 hours |
| Unrestricted Electives to reach 120 hours |
10-14 hours |
| Minor |
Optional |
| Total |
120 hours |
UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum credits required for graduation |
120 credit hours |
| Minimum credits in upper-division courses |
42 credit hours
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| Maximum credits in any one subject counted toward graduation |
50 credit hours |
| General education core requirements |
38 credit hours |
| Complete a Major |
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COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE
Guidance for choosing general education courses:
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Biological and Physical Systems (8 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete the following courses to satisfy 8 hours of Biological and Physical Systems as part of their general education requirements:
BIOL 130 Foundations of Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity (4 credit hours)
BIOL 140 Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular (4 credit hours)
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Mathematics (3 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete the following course to satisfy 3 hours of Mathematics as part of their general education requirements:
Math 210 Elementary Statistics and Probability (3 credit hours)
If a student does not take the recommended courses for satisfying the biological and physical systems and mathematics general education requirements, he/she may need to complete additional credit hours to complete the degree.
Bachelor of Science Requirements
Guidance for choosing courses to meet the B.S. Laboratory Science Requirement:
The department recommends that students complete the following courses to satisfy 8 hours of Biological and Physical Systems as required for the BS degree:
Choose one of the following courses:
- CHEM 121: General Chemistry
- CHEM 102: Fundamentals of Chemistry (4 credit hours)
AND take:
If a student does not take the recommended courses for satisfying the Laboratory Science Bachelor of Science requirements, he/she may need to complete additional credit hours to complete the degree.
Where an honors course exists equivalent to any course listed above, that honors course will automatically substitute for the listed course. A student may use any combination of honors and regular versions of the respective courses in a given sequence.
Major in Ecology and Organismal Biology with a Concentration in Ecology and Conservation Biology (57-58 credit hours)
Program-Specific Degree Requirements
- Minimum grade of C required in all major core requirements and concentration courses.
- Directed studies (BIOL 464-465) may be repeated for a maximum 2 credit hours.
- No more than 4 credit hours of Research Participation (BIOL 451-454) may be counted towards the major.
- BIOL 130, BIOL 140, CHEM 121, CHEM 122, and MATH 210 are prerequisites to upper division courses needed for this degree. The department recommends that a student uses these courses to satisfy the university-wide general education and Bachelor of Science requirements. A grade of C or better in these courses is required to fulfill prerequisites.
Course Requirements
Required Coursework for the major: These courses are required for every concentration in the Ecology and Organismal Biology major.
The following courses are required for the Ecology and Organismal Biology major, are prerequisites to upper division courses needed for this degree and may also be used to satisfy 19 hours of General Education and Bachelor of Science requirements (as recommended above).
Major Core Requirements
These major core courses are required for every program in this major: (13 credit hours)
Concentration in Ecology and Conservation Biology
Concentration Core Requirement: These concentration core courses are required for the Ecology and Conservation Biology concentration: (33-34 Credit Hours)
Ecology Requirement (10 credit hours)
Botany Requirement: (Choose 3 hours from):
Zoology Requirement (Chose a minimum of 3 hours from):
Professional Skills Requirement (Choose 3 hours from):
Chemistry and Mathematics Requirement (Choose a minimum of 7 hours from):
Concentration Elective Requirements: (18 credit hours)
Complete a minimum of 18 additional credit hours of biology electives. Electives can be chosen from any courses not required for the major in BIOL, BOT, MBIO, and/or ZOOL. Electives must be upper division (300 and above). For the ecology and environmental biology concentration, we recommend choosing from the following courses. Up to 6 hours of Biochemistry (BCHE), PLSC 341, or SOIL 430 may be used to satisfy the elective requirement.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
A. Completion of a Minor and/or Unrestricted Electives
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. The completion of a minor is optional for this major. However, students are free to complete minors to complement their majors (such as the Sustainability Studies Minor) or enhance their career goals. Alternatively, unrestricted elective courses may be used to address prerequisites for graduate or professional programs, certificates (such as the GIS Certificate), or other micro-credentials as offered by programs across the university. Students should work closely with their advisers to make sure they meet all requirements for graduation, especially the 42 upper division hour requirement.
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