Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Bachelor of Science

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

• At least 69 units of major requirements

• Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

• Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Purpose Statement

This degree is for students who are fascinated by questions of how life has evolved and how organisms function in the nature. Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge of ecology and evolution to environmental and societal problems and to experience fieldwork among the diverse habitats of the Colorado Plateau. Opportunities to specialize include any of the diverse areas of expertise of our faculty from wildlife to plants to microbes and from evolutionary genetics to population ecology to ecosystem ecology.

This degree is offered by the Department of Biological Sciences, ensuring a well-rounded foundation in the understanding life of earth. In the course of this major, students will identify, describe, and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in ecology and evolution. Students will master the theory of evolution; examine the genetic and environmental bases of variation in organisms; and describe how populations are regulated, species interact in communities, and the major nutrients cycle in natural ecosystems. These objectives are supported by a comprehensive set of courses addressing ecology, evolution, and genetics in the sophomore year and by research investments in faculty and facilities made by NAU.

In their upper division coursework, students will apply this knowledge to scientific and societal problems by using quantitative reasoning, synthesizing, and effectively communicating theory and empirical findings in ecology and evolutionary biology. Students will connect this body of knowledge to specific organisms and how they function in nature though examining a group of organisms in depth and conducting field studies on the Colorado Plateau. Students will be poised to contribute to managing the increasing environmental impact of humans on the Colorado Plateau and beyond. The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree will assist students in preparing for research and internship experiences to help make them competitive for positions in graduate and professional schools and for jobs in natural resources, public, non-profit, and educational sectors.

This major is a great foundation for many careers across diverse fields where expertise is required in genetics, evolution, natural history, ecology, organismal biology, natural history, agriculture, or environmental impacts and their mitigation. Career options with the BS degree include technicians in everything from molecular genetics laboratories to field survey for universities, non-profits, consulting firms, and government agencies. Positions in informal science education and interpretation are also available at a range of institutions from zoos to arboreta to parks. Environmental compliance professionals are in demand for environmental consulting firms and agencies.

Many students in this major will also go on to complete master’s degrees which open a range of higher-level job classifications with the further development of technical skills. This pathway is particularly applicable for skilled technical positions at agencies and consulting firms. An EEB degree at NAU also provides a strong background for continuing to professional school in veterinary, law, and public health arenas or to PhD programs in ecology, evolution, and related fields.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Identify, describe, and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings of ecology and evolution using the fundamental principles of the natural sciences, including: 
  • The basic molecular and cellular units of structure that define the function of all living things.
  • The limits and functions of biological systems as they operate through chemical transformations and energy flow in biological systems.
  • The theory of evolution and how the diversity of life evolved and is evolving via population genetic mechanisms.
  • The molecular, genetic, and environmental bases of variation and how the phenotype of an organism is controlled by genotype and environment.
  • The mechanisms that regulate populations, species interactions in communities, and the major chemical elements that cycle in natural ecosystems.

• Apply scientific and quantitative reasoning to ecological and evolutionary biology (EEB) data analysis and interpretation by:
  • Applying the scientific method to further our knowledge in EEB
  • Applying quantitative reasoning using the analytical tools of chemistry, physics, population genetics, or demographic or energy flux models.
  • Applying and interpreting basic statistical methods and graphically presenting scientific data to communicate scientific findings.
  • Developing quantitative skills within the students’ area of interest, including: mathematical modeling, statistics, computational analyses, and/or informatics, as appropriate.

• Effectively communicate evidence-based findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Interpret scientific data and papers in ecology and evolutionary biology
  • Find and evaluate primary sources, assess the quality of information, and determine a source’s credibility.
  • Synthesize empirical findings related to ecology and evolutionary biology, and communicate the findings through collaboration, writing, and oral presentation. 

• Synthesize fundamental concepts, apply core knowledge, and conduct civil discourse in EEB as it relates to organisms, habitats, ecosystems, and management questions.
  • Apply empirical findings in ecology and evolutionary biology to current issues in conservation, climate change, natural resource management, forestry, agriculture, and/or human health. 
  • Apply EEB concepts to a group of organisms and how they function in ecosystems of the Colorado Plateau. 
  • Apply ecological and evolutionary principles and the ability to interpret data in evaluating the strength of evidence and conclusions.