Biology Major - Ecology Concentration

This major and concentration provides a background for further study or for introductory positions of employment in fish and wildlife management, forestry, environmental science and other natural resource fields. Students interested in a career in wildlife biology should obtain information from the Biology Department on course selection for certification as an associate wildlife biologist by the Wildlife Society.

A minimum 2.0 grade point average is required for graduation in this major, based on all courses within the major. Exceptions must be requested via petition to the department’s academic programs committee.

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Biology department page.

For related information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/home.htm

Total Credits Required

120

General Education

30-40

Biology Core	24

Ecology Concentration	35-38
Core Courses for Ecology Concentration	8
BI 310 Ecology Theory and Methods	4
DATA 109 Introduction to Statistics [QUAR]; or	4
BI 412 Biostatistics (4 cr.)
Electives for Ecology Concentration	27-30
Physiology Elective	4
Choose one course from the following:
BI 327 Animal Physiology (4 cr.)
BI 431 Plant Physiology (4 cr.)
Conservation and Management Elective	4
Choose one course from the following:
BI 240 Conservation Biology (4 cr.)
BI 441 Fisheries Management (4 cr.)
BI 442 Wildlife Management (4 cr.)
Advanced Ecology Electives	8
Choose two courses from the following:
BI 314 Introduction to Marine Biology (4 cr.)
BI 402 Microbial Ecology (4 cr.)
BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes (4 cr.)
BI 411 Limnology (4 cr.)
BI 428 Behavioral Ecology (4 cr.)
BI 434 Plant Ecology (4 cr.)
BI 435 Boreal Ecosystems (4 cr.)
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology (4 cr.)
BI 466 Stream Ecology (4 cr.)
Other Biology Electives	7
Choose from the groups above or from the following:
BI 229 Field Marine Biology (1 - 4 cr.)
BI 230 Plant Kingdom (4 cr.)
BI 262 Field Ornithology (3 cr.)
BI 288 Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)
BI 290 Fisheries and Wildlife Seminar (1 cr.)
BI 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4 cr.)
BI 324 Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr.)
BI 390 Field Experience (1 - 2 cr.)
BI 412 Biostatistics (4 cr.)
BI 423 Parasitology (3 cr.)
BI 424 Entomology (4 cr.)
BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology (4 cr.)
BI 429 Advanced Field Marine Biology (1 - 4 cr.)
BI 433 Boreal Flora (3 - 4 cr.)
BI 460 Ichthyology (4 cr.)
BI 461 Herpetology (4 cr.)
BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.)
BI 463 Mammalogy (4 cr.)
BI 488 Advanced Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)
BI 498 Directed Studies in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)
BI 499 Internship (1 - 6 cr.)
Geography Electives	4
Choose from the following list:
GC 202 Soils (4 cr.)
GC 225 Introduction to Maps (2 cr.)
GC 255 Physical Geology (4 cr.) [SCII]
GC 335 Geographic Information Systems (4 cr.)
GC 401 Biogeography (4 cr.)

Other Required Courses	19-20
Outside of the major concentration. See Biology Major for complete list of other required courses.

This major does not require a minor.

Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Undergraduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.