Skip to main content

Biology B.S. - Ecology and Organismal Biology

Bachelor of Science - Biology; Ecology and Organismal Biology Concentration

College of Humanities & Sciences

Degree Specific Credits: 71-85

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2019-2020

Note: The Ecology and Organismal Biology concentration is for students interested in the biology of organisms (plants or animals) or the biology of populations or communities. Course offerings include those from organismal biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. This concentration is a graduate prep program, and it is designed for students interested in academia or employment with government or environmental consulting agencies. This concentration is also an excellent choice for pre-veterinary students.

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

Summary

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Biology/Microbiology Lower-Division Core

17

Upper-Division Core Courses Required by Ecology & Organismal Biology Concentration

5

Additional Upper-Division Courses Required for the Ecology & Organismal Biology Concentration

21

Organismal Course Requirement

-Ology Course Requirement

Specialized Ecology Course Requirement

Evolution Course Requirement

Required Courses Outside of the Major

28-42

Mathematics - Calculus

Mathematics - Statistics

Chemistry

Physics

Advanced College Writing Requirement

Total Hours

71-85


Biology/Microbiology Lower-Division Core

Note: The lower-division core should be completed before attempting most upper-division major courses. AP Biology credit with a score of 3 may be substituted for either BIOB 160N/BIOB 161N or BIOB 170N/BIOB 171N.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

3

BIOB 161N

Prncpls of Living Systems Lab

1

BIOB 170N

Princpls Biological Diversity

3

BIOB 171N

Princpls Biological Dvrsty Lab

2

BIOB 260

Cellular and Molecular Biology

4

BIOB 272

Genetics and Evolution

4

Total Hours

17

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Core Courses Required by Ecology & Organismal Biology Concentration

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

5

BIOE 370
& BIOE 371

General Ecology
and Gen Ecology Lab (equiv to 271)

BIOE 342

Field Ecology (taken at the Flathead Lake Biological Station)

Total Hours

5

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Additional Upper-Division Courses Required for the Ecology & Organismal Biology Concentration

Rule: Complete a minimum of 21 credits of upper-division BIOB, BIOE, BIOH, BIOL, BIOM, BIOO, or BCH course, with at least one course from each of the following subcategories. Other recommended courses include BCH 380 or BCH 480-BCH 482. 21 total credits required.

Organismal Course Requirement

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete at least one organismal course (lab must also be taken, if available) from the following list:

3-4

BIOB 301

Developmental Biology

BIOB 375

General Genetics

BIOB 468

Endocrinology

BIOE 403

Comparative Vert Anatomy

BIOL 435

Comparative Animal Physiology

BIOO 433
& BIOO 434

Plant Physiology
and Plant Physiology Lab

Total Hours

3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

-Ology Course Requirement

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete at least one course with a focus on a group of organisms (lab must also be taken, if available) from the following list:

3-5

BIOM 360
& BIOM 361

General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab (equiv to 260)

BIOM 427
& BIOM 428

General Parasitology
and General Parasitology Lab

BIOO 320

General Botany

BIOO 335

Rocky Mountain Flora

BIOO 340

Biology and Mgmnt of Fishes

BIOO 462

Entomology

BIOO 470

Ornithology

BIOO 475

Mammalogy

Total Hours

3-5

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Specialized Ecology Course Requirement

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3-5

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

BIOE 448

Terrestrial Plant Ecology

BIOM 415

Microbial Dvrsty Eclgy & Evltn

WILD 470

Conserv of Wildlife Populatns

Flathead Lake Biological Station courses (summer only):

BIOE 400

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

BIOE 416

Alpine Ecology

BIOE 439

Stream Ecology

BIOE 440

Conservation Ecology

BIOE 451

Landscape Ecology

BIOE 453

Ecology of Small & Large Lakes

BIOE 458

Forest and Grassland Ecol

Total Hours

3-5

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Evolution Course Requirement

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BIOB 480

Conservation Genetics

BIOB 483

Phylogenics and Evolution

BIOB 486

Genomics

BIOE 406

Behavior & Evolution

BIOL 484

Plant Evolution

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Required Courses Outside of the Major

Mathematics - Calculus

Note: Students should choose M 171 if they plan to take additional calculus courses if they plan to double major or minor in a field that requires more calculus (e.g. astronomy, math, physics, biochemistry, computer science).

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

4

M 162

Applied Calculus

M 171

Calculus I

Total Hours

4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics - Statistics

Note: Students should choose the full year of statistics for graduate preparation in ecology.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete either one semester or a full year of statistics from the following:

4-8

One Semester:

STAT 216

Introduction to Statistics

Full Year:

STAT 451
& STAT 452

Statistical Methods I
and Statistical Methods II

STAT 457
& STAT 458

Computer Data Analysis I
and Computer Data Analysis II

Total Hours

4-8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Chemistry

Notes:

  • Students who begin in the advanced chemistry sequence may substitute those courses for introductory sequence courses at the discretion of the major advisor.

  • Students should choose the advanced sequence for graduate preparation in organismal biology or pre-veterinary medicine.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete a sequence of general and organic chemistry:

10-20

Introductory Chemistry (10 credits):

CHMY 121N

Introduction to General Chemistry

CHMY 123
& CHMY 124

Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab

Advanced Chemistry (20 credits):

CHMY 141N
& CHMY 142N

College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Lab

CHMY 143N
& CHMY 144N

College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Lab

CHMY 221
& CHMY 222

Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab

CHMY 223
& CHMY 224

Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab

Total Hours

10-20

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physics

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following Physics sequences:

10

Algebra- and Trigonometry-based Physics:

PHSX 205N
& PHSX 206N

College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory

PHSX 207N
& PHSX 208N

College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory

Calculus-based Physics:

PHSX 215N
& PHSX 216N

Fund of Physics w/Calc I
and Physics Laboratory I w/Calc

PHSX 217N
& PHSX 218N

Fund of Physics w/Calc II
and Physics Laboratory II w/Calc (require M 171 and M 172)

Total Hours

10

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Advanced College Writing Requirement

Rule: To complete the Advanced College Writing Requirement, Biology students take 2 or 3 partial writing courses (either three 1/3 writing courses or one 1/3 writing course and one 2/3 writing course) or one complete writing course. The Ecology & Organismal Biology concentration requires one 2/3 writing course (BIOE 371). The Advanced College Writing Requirement is completed with one more course, chosen from any of the following.

1/3 Advanced Writing Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

BCH 482

Advanced Biochemistry II

3

BIOB 410

Immunology

3

BIOB 425

Adv Cell & Molecular Biology

3

BIOB 483

Phylogenics and Evolution

3

BIOE 403

Comparative Vert Anatomy

4

BIOE 409

Behavior & Evolution Discussion

1

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

5

BIOL 484

Plant Evolution

3

BIOM 402

Medical Bacteriology& Mycology

3

BIOO 320

General Botany

5

BIOO 434

Plant Physiology Lab

1

BIOO 470

Ornithology

4

BIOO 475

Mammalogy

4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

2/3 Advanced Writing Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

BCH 486

Biochemistry Research Lab

3

BCH 499

Senior Thesis/Capstone

3-6

BIOB 411

Immunology Laboratory

2

BIOB 499

Undergraduate Thesis

3-6

BIOE 342

Field Ecology

5

BIOE 371

Gen Ecology Lab (equiv to 271)

2

BIOM 411

Exprmntl Microbial Genetcs Lab

1

BIOM 499

Undergraduate Thesis

3-6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Complete Advanced Writing Course

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

BIOH 462

Principles Medical Physiology

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-