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
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- 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
