Urban Ecology, B.A. Major in

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Students should apply to the department as soon as possible after making the decision to major in urban ecology. The department encourages interested students to speak with an urban ecology adviser about this specialization before declaring a major. Advisers are assigned when the student applies for acceptance as a major. Grades in biology courses lower than a C- do not count toward the total number of semester hours required for the biology specialization.

Program Requirements

The following courses are required for the degree:

BIO 011 - (NS) Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Semester Hours: 4
BIO 012 - (NS) Animal Form and Function Semester Hours: 4
BIO 013 - (NS) Prokaryotes, Protists, Fungi and Plants Semester Hours: 4
BIO 014 - (NS) Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Semester Hours: 4
BIO 015 - Scientific Process Skills Semester Hours: 2
BIO 020 - Urban Habitats Semester Hours: 2
BIO 100 - Biostatistics Semester Hours: 4
BIO 114 - General Ecology Semester Hours: 3
BIO 115 - Conservation Biology Semester Hours: 2
BIO 170 - Urban Ecology Semester Hours: 3
BIO 185 - Internship Semester Hours: 2-4
All majors are required to take a comprehensive examination administered by the department in their senior year.

Additional urban ecology courses:

At least 6 additional semester hours in urban ecology must be chosen from the following courses:

BIO 108 - Ornithology Semester Hours: 4
BIO 116 - Terrestrial Vertebrate Natural History Semester Hours: 2
BIO 147 - Invertebrate Zoology Semester Hours: 4
BIO 154 - Entomology Semester Hours: 4
BIO 175 - Field Botany Semester Hours: 4

The following courses are also required:

Chemistry

CHEM 003A - (NS) General Chemistry I Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 003B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory I Semester Hours: 1
CHEM 004A - (NS) General Chemistry II Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 004B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory II Semester Hours: 1
CHEM 185 - Environmental Chemistry Semester Hours: 3

Mathematics

In addition to BIO 100 , students are required to take one mathematics course chosen from:

MATH 050 - (MA) Precalculus Semester Hours: 4
MATH 071 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Semester Hours: 4
(Students planning to pursue advanced degrees in urban ecology are urged to take MATH 71.)

Geography

GEOG 005 - (BH) Population and Migration Geography Semester Hours: 3
or
GEOG 006 - (BH) Resources and Energy Geography Semester Hours: 3 (recommended)
GEOG 106 - (BH, CC) Urbanization in the Developing World Semester Hours: 3
Strongly recommended:
GEOG 161 - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the Natural Sciences Semester Hours: 3 (recommended)
or
GEOG 060 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Semester Hours: 3

Geology

GEOL 005 - (NS) Environmental Geology and Natural Hazards Semester Hours: 3

Engineering

Choose one course from the following:

ENGG 110 - Project Management Semester Hours: 3 (recommended)
ENGG 060 - Water Quality for Environmental Engineers Semester Hours: 3
ENGG 047 - Environmental Engineering Semester Hours: 3

Technology and Public Policy

TPP 001 - (NS) Introduction to Environmental Systems Semester Hours: 3
or
TPP 115 - Environmental Planning Semester Hours: 3
TPP 112 - Technology and Human Values Semester Hours: 3 (recommended)
or
PHI 091 - Technology and Human Values Semester Hours: 3
or
PHI 133 - (HP) Ethics and the Natural Environment Semester Hours: 3
or
PHI 138 - (HP) Ethics and Sustainability: Personal, Social and Corporate Responsibility Semester Hours: 3

Sociology

SOC 141 - (BH) Urban America Semester Hours: 3

Sustainability

These courses are recommended, and may substitute for other courses under advisement.

SBLY 001 - (IS) Introduction to Sustainability Studies Semester Hours: 3
SBLY 002 - (IS) Issues in Urban and Suburban Sustainability Semester Hours: 3

Complete BA Requirements

BA Requirements in HCLAS.

Note

The Urban Ecology program is flexible by design. The built-in flexibility allows students to take the complement of courses that will best meet the requirements of the urban ecology sub-discipline that they wish to pursue. Careful planning with the Urban Ecology adviser is strongly recommended to maximize the quality of the Urban Ecology degree.

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