Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology B.A.

Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Major

The B.A. Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours. 

This emphasis provides training to students interested in organismal and/or ecological biology. This emphasis is appropriate for students interested in a career with private and governmental organizations conducting endangered species recovery, ecological restoration, biological surveys, toxicity evaluations, environmental impact analyses, field research, museum or herbarium curation, or who wish to work in zoos, nature centers, museums, or botanical gardens. This emphasis also provides suitable background for students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in animal behavior, botany, conservation biology, ecology, environmental toxicology, evolutionary biology, systematics, population biology, and zoology. Students should seek advice and information early in their programs so that individual goals and specific additional requirements of some graduate and professional programs can be considered in curricular planning. Field courses offered during the summer program at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory may be accepted for biology elective credit.

*

Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

^

No more than 4 credits from BIOL 3185 Readings in Biology, BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology, and BIOL 4198 Independent Study will be counted toward biology degree requirements.

Honors Research

Students invited to do Honors Research will complete 4 credit hours of BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology and 1 credit hour of BIOL 3191 Senior Thesis. The following BA degrees are eligible for Honors Research: Biology BA, Biology: Biomedical BA, and Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology BA. 

Four-Year Plan

Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, B.A. 

This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major.  University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates.  Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required.

*

To graduate from UNI with a biology major, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.0 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.

**

Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

Learning Outcomes

Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, B.A. 

Goals: Students will gain an understanding of major themes in biology (organization of life, diversity and its causes, genetics, and cellular biology) along with deeper exposure to and advanced competency in topics in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. Students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively on these discipline-specific topics.

Outcomes:

• Students will show proficiency in advanced content from the fields of ecology, evolution, and/or organismal biology that will allow students to explain biodiversity and the relationship of living things with their environment and with each other.
• Students will communicate effectively using discipline-specific vocabulary and standard written and oral scientific communication skills.
• Students will think critically about discipline-specific content as evidenced by an ability to interpret data, to effectively critique arguments, and/or to solve problems relating to natural systems.

Policies

Majors

1. Students should indicate their interest in majoring in biology by filling out a Declaration of Curriculum form any time after their admission to UNI.
2. A student's freshman year shall be devoted primarily to completing the required course work in general biology (BIOL 2051 General Biology: Organismal Diversity and BIOL 2052 General Biology: Cell Structure and Function) and chemistry (CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I and CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II, or CHEM 1130 General Chemistry I-II). UNIFI/General Education and/or math classes should be taken by students to complete their schedules.
3. For the BS Biology, the BS Environmental Science, the BA Biology, the BA Biology Biomedical Emphasis, the BA Biology-Teaching, and the BA Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology emphasis, students must receive a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in courses that are applied to their major. Prior to enrollment in a course, all prerequisites must be completed with a C- (1.67) or higher.
4. ALEKS is a mathematics placement exam used at the University of Northern Iowa. Your academic advisor will use your score on the ALEKS assessment to determine your placement in UNI mathematics, chemistry, and physics courses.
5. A student enrolled in a biology class during fall or spring semester, or who drops a biology course after the first seven days of classes, should contact the department if they want to take the class again in an immediately subsequent semester. The student will only be allowed to register if space remains after all advanced registrations are completed.
6. To graduate from UNI with a BS Biology, a BA Biology, a BA Biology Biomedical Emphasis, or a BA Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology emphasis, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.00 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.  To graduate from UNI with a BA Biology-Teaching, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.50 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.
7. With the exception of the Biology 3+1 Joint program, to graduate from UNI with a biology major, students must take at least seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.
8. Transfer students entering UNI shall be subject to the acceptance requirements listed in #3.

Minors

To graduate from UNI with a biology minor, students must have both a cumulative and a minor UNI GPA of 2.00 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the minor.

Notes:

1. A student can declare only one major within the Department of Biology with the exception of the BA Biology Teaching major, which can be paired with another degree in biology.
2. A student with a major within the Department of Biology cannot declare a Biology minor or a Biology-Teaching minor.
3. A student with a major in the interdisciplinary B.A. Environmental Resource Management: Ecosystems Track may not also declare a major or minor in biology.
4. A student with a major in the interdisciplinary B.S. Environmental Science: Environmental Life Science Track may not also declare a major or minor in biology.

Related Programs

• Biology M.S.
• Chemistry B.A. or B.S.