Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Conservation Biology

Conservation biology places more emphasis on biological diversity, population biology, environmental biology and conservation strategies.

A student who graduates from Thiel with a major in conservation biology will:
• understand biological principles and their implications from single-and multi-cell organisms to the ecosystem level or organization.
• study, analyze experimentally and interpret biological problems from single- and multi-cell organisms to the ecosystem level of organization.
• understand the interdisciplinary nature of conservation strategies.
• be able to effectively communicate about conservation biological matters in both oral and written form.
• be prepared for discipline-related employment or admission into a disciplinerelated graduate or professional program.

Suggested Schedule of Science Courses for Biology Majors

Foundational Courses l Breadth in the Discipline l Senior Capstone Experience l Specified I.R. Courses

I. Foundational Courses
1. BIO 145     Foundations of Biology
2. BIO 116     Conservation Biology
3. BIO 262     Animal Systematics
    or
    BIO 222     Entomology
4. BIO 263     Plant Systematics

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II. Breadth in the Discipline
1. BIO 322     Genetics
2. BIO 342     Introduction to Methods
3. BIO 392     General Ecology
4. and 5. Two courses from the following:
    BIO 262     Animal Systematics
    BIO 222     Entomology
    BIO 212     Microbiology
    BIO 273     Toxicology
    BIO 272     Animal Behavior
    BIO 302     Plant Physiology
    BIO 394     Aquatic Ecology

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III. Senior Capstone Experience
A complete research project under the supervision of a biology department faculty member is required for the student majoring in biology. The project is culminated with a formal scientific research paper and a formal oral presentation.
1. BIO 452     Advanced Biology
or
    BIO 482     Independent Study
2. BIO 462     Senior Seminar

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IV. Specified I.R. courses, related sciences (because of interdisciplinary nature of the major)
    CHEM 140     General Chemistry I (I.R. IV D)
    CHEM 160     General Chemistry II (I.R. IV D)
    POSC 116     American Government and Politics
    or
    POSC 236     Public Policy
    ECON 211     Macroeconomics (I.R. IV C)
    or
    ECON 221     Microeconomics (I.R. IV A)
    or
    SOC 141     Macrosociology
    or
    SOC 211     Anthropology
    REL 200     Contemporary Ethical Issues
    or
    PHIL 267     Ethics
    Foreign language, especially Spanish (I.R. I)
    MATH 107     College Algebra (minimum requirement)

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Suggested Schedule of Science Courses for Biology Majors