Introduction
Conservation Biology
is a new, multi-disciplinary science that seeks to
manage the ecosystem health and integrity. The
conservation biology minor complements the traditional
natural resources disciplines by focusing on the theory
and practice of managing for biological diversity - at
the genetic, species and ecosystem level. This minor
works well with all College of Natural Resources (CNR)
majors, especially Wildlife, Fisheries, Forest
Management and Environmental Education and
Interpretation. It is also compatible with the Biology
major.
Why Study Conservation Biology at UWSP?
Program
strengths include an integrated resource management
curriculum, the intern program, field-oriented
instruction, small upper-level class size, intensive
academic advising, summer field camp and optional field
study in Germany, Australia, Costa Rica and Africa.
High School Preparation
To prepare for a
minor in Conservation Biology, high school students
should focus on courses in biology, chemistry,
environmental studies, mathematics, computers, and
communication.
Department Features
Since
conservation biology is a multidisciplinary approach to
ecosystem problem solving, a wide variety of faculty,
both in and out of the CNR are involved in teaching
classes. All faculty within the CNR have Ph.D.s. There
are a wide variety of graduate research projects within
the college. The CNR facility houses a variety of
state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, and computer
labs and also includes access to two biological field
stations.
Employment Opportunity
Although the
field of conservation biology is just emerging, it is
obvious that many federal, state and private agencies
are shifting toward ecosystem management. Opportunities
are emerging for students who are not just trained in
traditional natural resources, but have a perspective
that allows for them to wisely manage ecosystems to
preserve biological diversity.
Sample Program of Study for the Conservation
Biology Minor
Required Courses for the Conservation
Biology minor - 25-28 credits
- Bio 305 - General Ecology, 3 credits
- Bio 355 - Plant Ecology, 4 credits,
OR For 332 - Forest Ecosystem Ecology, 3
credits
- NR 458 - Biodiversity and
Conservation Biology, 3 credits, OR Wild
458 - Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Biology, 3 credits
- NR 459 - Ecosystem Management and
Restoration, 3 credits
- NR 491 - Seminar in Conservation
Biology, 1 credit
- NR 372 - Resource Economics, 3
credits, OR Econ 342 - Environmental
Quality and Resource Development
Economics, 3 credits
- One course (3 credits) from the
following:
- Poli 304 - Environmental Policy
- NR 473 - Resource Policy and Law
- NR 474 - Integrated Resource
Management
- NR 480 - Urban and Regional
Planning Practice
- NR 484 - Air, Water and Land Use
Planning
- NR 495 - Ecological Basis for
Natural Resource Management
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UWSP
Conservation Biology Graduates at Work
Ecologist
U.S. Forest Service
u
Volunteer
Peace Corps
u
Biologist
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
u
Wildlife Biologist
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources
|
- One course (3-4 credits) from the following:
- Bio 342 - Plant Taxonomy
- Bio 344 - Trees and Shrubs
- Bio 345 - Agrostology
- Bio 347 - Aquatic Vascular Plants
- For 232 - Forest Ecology and Systematics
- One course (3-4 credits) from the following:
- Bio 361 - Aquatic Invertebrate Zoology
- Bio 372 - Biology of the Vertebrates
- Bio 374 - Ichthyology
- Bio 376 - Herpetology
- Bio 377 - Ornithology
- Bio 378 - Mammalogy
- Water 387 - Aquatic Insects
- For 426 - Forest Entomology
- One course (3-4 credits) from the following:
- Bio 210 - Principles of Genetics
- Bio 311 - General Principles of Organic
Evolution
- Wild 353 - Population Dynamics
- Wild 451 - Management of Wildlife Habitat
- For 324 - Fire Management and Ecology
- For 325 - Range Management
- For 332 - Forest Ecosystem Ecology
- For 385 - Applied Landscape Architecture
- For 432 - Silviculture
- Soils 361 - Forest Soils
- Soils 365 - Soil Survey Interpretation for
Land Use Planning
- Soils 461 - Soil Physics
- Water 481 - Limnology
- Water 493 - Watershed Management
- Geog 476 - Geographic Information Systems
