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The
Biodiversity and Conservation
Biology is a field-based major that provides the student with an
understanding
of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity (biodiversity),
the
factors that are causing a decline in biodiversity, and ways to stop
this
decline. Students will also gain experience in civic and political
engagement,
and in the analysis of public policy and contemporary political
perspectives.
Upon graduation, students will be able to pursue graduate study in
conservation
biology and environmental policy, or careers in environmental and
conservation
governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations,
conservation
education, policy and advocacy jobs, environmental consulting firms,
law
and publishing firms, and zoos and aquariums.
The core components of the major include
1. Research:
to provide experience in developing and
conducting research in biodiversity and conservation.
2. Traditional Classroom/laboratory and fieldwork: to teach and develop
fundamental concepts and research skills.
3. Field studies (short and
semester-long courses): to provide opportunities to study
concepts/issues in a global context and to further develop research
skills in habitats
not available locally.
4. Interdisciplinary approach: conservation biology is fundamentally an
interdisciplinary discipline. It combines elements of ecology,
evolution, genetics, and public policy. There are two interdisciplinary
“links” that are integral to this program:
a. Bioinformatics
and Computational Biology Program: to provide students (1) with
the tools needed to manage and analyze large amounts of biological data
and to model ecological systems and (2) with expertise in Geographic
Information Systems, one of the most powerful analytical tools used by
conservation biologists.
b. Democracy
Project: to provide students
with opportunities for political and civic engagement through service
learning and to educate students in the analysis of public policy and
the examination of contemporary political perspectives.
5.
Internships/Collaborations: to provide
students with marketable experience.
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