Specialization in Environmental and Biological Conservation

The Department of Biology, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Sciences, offers an opportunity for students to obtain the Bachelor of Arts or Science in Biology with a Specialization in Environmental and Biological Conservation. Candidates for the Specialization must fulfill all the requirements for the Biology major with additional Specialization requirements.

Specialization Requirements

The requirements for the Biology B.A. or B.S. must be fulfilled. The following requirements for the Specialization may also fulfill the upper level course and lab requirement for the Biology major:

Core Requirements

1. Two introductory courses in environmental conservation (EVSC 2220, BIOL 3450), population ecology (BIOL 4130) and a 3-credit seminar in conservation (EVSC 4991). For advanced students, the EVSC 2220 requirement can be replaced by another advanced course in Ecology (e.g. EVSC 3200 or an upper level course with EVSC 3200 as a prerequisite).
    
2. Biological Diversity
   Students must take at least one 3-credit course in the area of Bio Diversity that focuses on a particular group of organisms (e.g. plants, birds, mammals).
    
3. Environmental Diversity
   Students must take at least one 3-credit course in the area of Environmental Diversity that focuses on a particular habitat (e.g. wetlands, oceans, forests, grasslands, tundra).
    
4. Conservation Techniques
   Students must take at least one 3-credit course that focuses on policy, statistics, genetics, modeling, geo-spatial analysis or field methods related to techniques in conservation.
    
5. Field Experience
   Students must take at least one 3-credit course in field experience. This can be fulfilled with an independent study or field course at a University of Virginia field station (Mountain Lake Biological Station, Blandy Experimental Farm, Anheuser Busch Coastal Research Center), participation in relevant research, or an internship with a conservation agency.

Students who are interested in this Specialization (or undecided and potentially interested) should email Dr. Jessamyn Manson, the director of the Specialization for biology students.