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  • NAU
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  • Biological Sciences
  • BS Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Contact Biological Sciences

Email:
biology​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-2381
Get Application Information
  Course Offerings Dr. Nieto working in the lab at nau in flagstaff  Download Catalog Info (PDF) 


Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Bachelor of Science

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. 

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Requirements Accordion Open

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.
  • 69 - 71 units of major requirements.
  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

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

Minimum Units for Completion120
Major GPAC
Highest Mathematics RequiredMAT 125
Fieldwork Experience/InternshipOptional
ResearchOptional
University Honors ProgramOptional
Some online/blended courseworkRequired
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-SRecommended
Progression Plan LinkView Progression Plan

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.
    • The ethics and responsibilities of working with living organisms.
  • 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.
    • Understand the difference between ethical and unethical conduct of research.
  • Effectively communicate evidence-based findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
    • Interpret scientific data and papers in ecology and evolutionary biology.
    • Find and critically evaluate appropriate credible sources for scientific articles, proposals, and a variety of outreach and public materials regarding microbial organisms, while assessing the ethical practices of the research conducted.
    • Synthesize empirical findings related to ecology and evolutionary biology, and communicate the findings through collaboration, writing, and oral presentation.
    • Understand and apply ethical practices in communicating science by giving appropriate credit to the work of other scholars via in-text citations and reference lists.
  • 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.
    • Synthesize foundational knowledge of ethics to evaluate responsible conduct in research as it pertains to the collection and curation of data, use of living organisms, use of natural and cultural resources, or dissemination of results in microbiology.

Details Accordion Closed

Major Requirements
  • This major requires 69 - 71 units distributed as follows:

    • Biology and Biology-related Coursework: 42-49 units
      • Biology Core: 24 - 25 units
      • EEB Depth Coursework: 6 - 8 units
      • EEB Applied Coursework: 6-8 units
      • EEB Organismal Coursework: 6 - 9 units
    • Additional Coursework: 27 units


    Take the following 69 - 71 units including 42 units of Biology and Biology-related courses from the lists below with a Grade of 'C' or better in each course:

  • Biology and Biology-related Coursework (42 units)
    • Biology Core (24 - 25 units)

      • BIO 181, BIO 181L, BIO 182, BIO 182L, BIO 226, BIO 226L, BIO 240, BIO 244 (18 units)
      • BIO 365W which meets the junior-level writing requirement. (3 units)
      • Select from the following which meet the senior capstone requirement (3 - 4 units): 
        • BIO 426C, BIO 435C, BIO 471C
        • BIO 485C (3 units)
        • BIO 452C and BIO 452L

       

    • EEB Depth Courses (6 units)

      • Select from the following (6 units):
        • BIO 325, BIO 325L, BIO 344, BIO 344H, BIO 349L, BIO 350, BIO 366, BIO 367, BIO 369, BIO 373, BIO 419, BIO 424, BIO 426C, BIO 435C, BIO 441, BIO 450, BIO 458, BIO 464, BIO 464L, BIO 467, BIO 471C, BIO 479, BIO 573
        • ENV 460
        • FOR 240

       

      The following course has additional prerequisites:

      • BIO 471C
    • EEB Applied Courses (6 units)

      • Select from the following (6 units):
        • BIO 345, BIO 374, BIO 375, BIO 376, BIO 401C, BIO 432C, BIO 442, BIO 477, BIO 478, BIO 482C, BIO 488C, BIO 488L
        • ENV 425
        • FOR 213, FOR 454 
        • GSP 239, GSP 331
        • INF 413, INF 421, INF 422, INF 423

       

      The following courses have additional prerequisites:

      • BIO 432C, BIO 442, BIO 488C, INF 413, INF 421
    • EEB Organismal Courses (6 units)

      • Select from the following (6 units):
        • BIO 205, BIO 205L, BIO 221, BIO 322, BIO 322L, BIO 323, BIO 323L, BIO 346, BIO 384, BIO 384L, BIO 402, BIO 411, BIO 414, BIO 414L, BIO 415, BIO 427, BIO 427L, BIO 428, BIO 428L, BIO 431, BIO 451C, BIO 452C, BIO 452L, BIO 475, BIO 475L, BIO 526, BIO 526L
        • FOR 453
  • Additional Coursework (27 - 28 units)
    Many of the following major requirements also satisfy General Studies requirements.

    • Basic chemistry sequence (9 units)
      • CHM 151, CHM 151L, CHM 152, CHM 152L (9 units)
    • Select from the following (3 - 4 units): 
      • CHM 230, CHM 235
      • ENV 430
    • Select from the following (4 units):
      • MAT 125
      • MAT 136
    • Select from the following (3 units):
      • INF 205
      • PSY 230
      • STA 270
    • Select one of the following physics sequences (8 units):
      • PHY 111, PHY 112
      • PHY 161, PHY 262, PHY 262L

     

    The following courses have additional prerequisites:

    • INF 205, PSY 230, PHY 262, PHY 262L

     

    All prerequisite coursework must also be completed with a Grade of 'C' or better.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

    • Biomedical Science, BS
    • Exercise Physiology, BS
    • Microbiology, BS
General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Availability Accordion Closed

  • Flagstaff

Biological Sciences
Location
Room 227 Building 21
Biological Sciences
617 S Beaver
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Mailing Address
PO Box 5640
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Contact Form
Email
biology@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-2381
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