Biodiversity and Conservation

Program Overview

We all depend on the diversity of life for personal and societal survival. We need all forms of life for the beauty they hold, the food they supply, the life-saving drugs they provide, the clean water we use, and many other important reasons. The services that healthy ecosystems perform are immense and irreplaceable.

Conservation Biology deals with the identification, protection, maintenance, development, and restoration of the earth’s biological diversity (biodiversity), including genetic diversity within species, species richness in different regions, and the diversity of ecological communities. This focus differs substantially from traditional wildlife management and forestry-range programs in two fundamental ways: (1) it seeks to protect all life on earth; and (2) it seeks to preserve biological processes (ecological and evolutionary interactions) that generate and maintain biodiversity over time. Our program offers a large number of natural history courses (botany, mammalogy, entomology, etc.) and includes courses relevant to policy, management, ethics, and socioeconomic factors.

Program Summary

Program Credits: 60.0 Credits

Status: Open Enrollment

Introductory Course: BIO 220 or BIO 230

Beyond The Classroom

Engaging in internships, mentored research, associations, and clubs related to your program are important steps in linking your education with the real world. These experiences enhance your education and prepare you for both further schooling and your future career.