Conservation Biology

Degree: B.S., Biology
Department of Biological Sciences

Biology encompasses the study of all living things and their interaction with the environment. The Department faculty is dedicated to providing students with a strong undergraduate education in the fundamental principles of biology, while offering opportunities and encouraging students to pursue specialized interests in ecology and conservation.

The Conservation Biology major is designed for students interested in public or private-sector careers in fields such as endangered species protection and recovery, habitat conservation, conservation biology education, and fisheries and wildlife management. Additionally, it prepares students for graduate study in conservation biology in cases where graduate degrees are required for particular careers. Students who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology with a major in Conservation Biology.

The core curriculum is designed to ensure thorough command of the scientific method and access to inquiry-based learning experiences, while providing a balanced background in genetics, organismal biology, and ecology. Elective courses cover a wide variety of specialized topics to meet students’ particular interests in biology. An array of laboratory and field experiences further develop working knowledge of the scientific method, teach specific experimental techniques, and promote ongoing development of quantitative and analytical skills.

All of the equipment and facilities in the department are available for undergraduate student use. Collections of microscope slides, vertebrate and invertebrate specimens and a herbarium are available to enhance learning. Advanced laboratory instrumentation such as spectrophotometers, thermalcyclers, ultracentrifuges, and two electron microscopes allow students to engage in sophisticated research. The department also has appropriate field equipment for collecting biological data from the terrestrial, aquatic, and estuarine habitats surrounding campus.

Every student is expected to engage in undergraduate research through either research-intensive laboratory courses or undergraduate research with a UMW faculty member. Research intensive (RI) classes allow students to work in teams to design research plans, collect and analyze data and present their findings at a University symposium, while undergraduate research may be a more independent project, mentored by a faculty member. On many occasions this independent work results in presentations at state, regional, and national scientific meetings. Research students who meet minimum requirements (3.0 overall GPA and a 3.25 average in biology) may pursue Honors in Biology by writing and defending a thesis on their research project. Students can also gain focused research experience via participation in the UMW Summer Science Institute. Financial support for student research is available. Additionally, biology faculty offer research opportunities through the university’s undergraduate research (URES 197) program. 

Students may also take advantage of Biology service learning opportunities (BIOL 000 Community Service Learning), or internship opportunities (BIOL 499) to gain valuable career related experience which can count for the University’s Beyond the Classroom OR After Mary Washington general education requirement. A maximum of 2 elective credits of BIOL 499 may be counted towards the Biology major. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate knowledge of Core Concepts for Biological Literacy. Students will demonstrate knowledge of:

1. Core Concept of the concepts and processes of evolution.
2. Core Concept of the nature of structure and function.
3. Core Concept of information flow, exchange, and storage.
4. Core Concept of the pathways and transformations of energy and matter.
5. Core Concept of the nature of biological entities as systems.

Students will demonstrate abilities of Core Competencies for the Practice of Biology. Students will be able to: 

6. Core Competency for the practice of Biology of how to apply the processes of science.
7. Core Competency for the practice of Biology of how to use quantitative reasoning.
8. Core Competency of the practice of Biology of how to use modeling and simulation.

Students will demonstrate abilities of Core Competencies for Societal Issues in Biology. Students will be able to:

9. Core Competency for societal issues in Biology of the ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science. 
10. Core Competency for societal issues in Biology of the ability to communicate and collaborate with other disciplines.
11. Core Competency for societal issues in Biology of the ability to understand the relationship between science and society.   

Major Requirements

Students must earn a C- or better in most BIOL required courses that serve as prerequisites for other BIOL courses. Students must also earn a C- or better in the core courses (BIOL 210 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, BIOL 260 Biostatistics and Research Design, BIOL 341 General Genetics, BIOL 428 Conservation Biology or equivalent) to graduate with a degree in Conservation Biology. See also the Department of Chemistry’s minimum grade requirements for CHEM 111 General Chemistry I,CHEM 112 General Chemistry II. A maximum of 16 CONS course credits can count to the major.  

A minimum of 41 credits from the following:

¹

As approved by the department.

General Education Requirements

The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.

Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.

Electives

Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.

Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits

Plan of Study

This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester. 

¹

BIOL 260 is a Digital Intensive course and counts as Writing Intensive in the major.

²

BIOL 428 counts as Speaking Intensive in the major.

³

A research intensive course will count as Writing Intensive in the major.

Biological Sciences Faculty

Dianne M. Baker, Chair

Professors

Dianne M. Baker
Andrew S. Dolby
Alan B. Griffith
Lynn O. Lewis
Deborah A. O’Dell

Associate Professors

Swati Agrawal
Theresa M. Grana
Bradley A. Lamphere
Ginny R. Morriss
Abbie M. Tomba
R. Parrish Waters
April N. Wynn

Assistant Professors

Lauren A. Cirino
Laura M. Sipe

Senior Lecturer

Michael C. Stebar