Biology, B.S., Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Concentration

Concentration Requirements and Recommendations

The Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Concentration (EEO) prepares students for careers or advanced study in fields related to ecology, environmental science, evolutionary biology, botany, microbiology and zoology. Courses within the EEO emphasize the interconnectedness of life on Earth and provide a framework for students to examine issues related to conservation, sustainability, biodiversity, and urban ecology.

Depending on their career goals, students in the EEO concentration may also consider pursuing minors or undergraduate certificates offered by other departments. Several elective courses in the concentration can count towards the Sustainability Certificate (indicated by *) or Water Science Certificate (indicated by †) offered by the Geosciences Department. Students interested in enrolling in the EEO concentration may request to be added to the EEO iCollege page for information about job openings, internships, research and other opportunities related to ecology, evolution and organismal biology.

The following guidance is specific to this concentration.

Core IMPACTS Areas

Students may select any of the course options listed in each Core IMPACTS area. However, specific recommendations for certain areas are listed below. These recommended courses are not required in the core , but are required for the major. If not taken in the core, then they must be taken in the Field of Study or Additional Courses area.

Institutional Priority

Suggested course (this is not a requirement):

PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills

MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours
(or any higher-level mathematics course)

Technology, Mathematics, & Sciences

Recommended courses (required for the major):

CHEM 1211 - Principles of Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1211L - Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 1212 - Principles Of Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1212L - Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours

Any mathematics course not taken in the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills Area from the following choices:

MATH 1220 - Survey of Calculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours
(or any higher-level math)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

All courses above ending in K may also be offered as separate lecture and lab (L) courses. The combined (K) courses and separate lecture and lab (L) courses cover the same subject matter and are equivalent courses.
Any credit hours exceeding 18 earned to complete the Field of Study Area will count toward elective hours.

Required Courses (15 Hours)

BIOL 2107 - Principles of Biology I 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2107L - Principles of Biology I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108 - Principles of Biology II 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108L - Principles of Biology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 1111K - Introductory Physics I 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 2211K - Principles of Physics I 4 Credit Hours

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2251K - Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 2260 - Foundations of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 2100 - Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CSC 2510 - Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credit Hours
DATA 1501 - Introduction to Data Science 3 Credit Hours
ENVS 1401K - Environmental Science 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112K - Introduction to Weather and Climate 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 1121K - Introductory Geology I: Dynamic Earth 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 2000 - Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
RSCH 1203 - Research Strategies and Technology 1 Credit Hours

Major Area (37-46 Hours)

Professional Development Requirement (1-2 Hours)

It is recommended that students take their professional development course early in their courses of study for career preparation. Select at least one of the following professional development courses.

Note: Each of these courses may only be taken once for credit toward the major.

BIOL 2030 - Professional Development in the Biological Sciences 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 4960 - Biology Careers Seminar 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 4970 - Biology Seminar 1 Credit Hours

CTW Requirement (2-4 Hours)

Select one of the following CTW courses:

BIOL 4045K - Ecological Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4055K - Experimental Methods in Environmental Science-CTW 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4074 - Developmental Biology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4076 - Evolutionary Developmental Biology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4292 - Leadership in Biology-CTW 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 4448 - Investigations Into the Human Microbiome: Organisms and Impacts-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4451 - Aquatic Pollution and Toxicology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
*†
BIOL 4920 - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience-CTW 3 to 5 Credit Hours
BIOL 4980 - Senior Seminar-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Required Foundational Courses (15 Hours)

BIOL 3045 - Fundamentals of Ecology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3440 - Fundamentals of Evolution 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3880 - Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
Choose one of the following foundational courses:
BIOL 3800 - Molecular Cell Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3900 - Genetics 3 Credit Hours
Choose one of the following organismal courses:
BIOL 3820 - Plant Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3840 - Animal Biology 3 Credit Hours

Core Lab Options (2 Hours)

BIOL 3890 - Microbiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 3910 - Genetics Laboratory 2 Credit Hours

Organismal Lab Options (1-2 Hours)

BIOL 3830 - Plant Biology Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 3850 - Animal Biology Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 3890 - Microbiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
(if not taken above)

Additional Courses Area

Signature Experience Course (2-4 Hours)

Choose one Signature Experience course from the following:

BIOL 4045K - Ecological Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours
*if not taken to satisfy CTW requirment
BIOL 4050K - The Natural Environment of Georgia 4 Credit Hours
*
BIOL 4055K - Experimental Methods in Environmental Science-CTW 3 Credit Hours *if not taken to satisfy CTW requirment
BIOL 4905 - Theme-Based Biology Laboratory 2 to 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4910 - Undergraduate Research in Biology 1 to 5 Credit Hours *on a subject related to EEO
BIOL 4915 - Collaborative Internships in Biology 1-3 Credit Hours
*on a subject related to EEO
BIOL 4916 - Internships in Biology 2 Credit Hours *on a subject related to EEO
BIOL 4920 - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience-CTW 3 to 5 Credit Hours *on a subject related to EEO
BIOL 4930 - Topics in Biology 3 to 4 Credit Hours *on a subject related to EEO that has a signature experience component; requires departmental approval.

Concentration Electives (8-9 Hours)

Choose 8-9 credit hours from the following:

BIOL 3010 - Science Communication 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3020 - Introduction to Marine Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3820 - Plant Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3840 - Animal Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4011 - Principles of Paleontology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4045K - Ecological Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours *if not used to fulfill requirement in other section
BIOL 4074 - Developmental Biology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4104 - Zoo Biology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4241 - Hormones and Behavior 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4451 - Aquatic Pollution and Toxicology-CTW 4 Credit Hours *†
BIOL 4458 - Microbial Ecology and Metabolism 4 Credit Hours
Any course not already taken from the lists for this concentration above may count to fulfill these credit hours.

Biology Related Electives (6-8 Hours)

Select 6-8 credit hours from the following to complete your total biology electives:

Any BIOL course at the 3000-4000 level
ANTH 4070 - Ethnobotany 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4300 - Human Evolution 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4330 - Primate Behavioral Ecology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2251K - Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit Hours
(if not taken to satify field elective)
BIOL 2252K - Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Credit Hours
CHEM 4600 - Biochemistry I 5 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112 - Introduction to Weather and Climate 3 Credit Hours
(if not taken to satify field elective)
GEOG 4020 - Urban Environments 3 Credit Hours
*
GEOG 4051 - Introduction to the Environmental History of Georgia 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4532 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4644 - Environmental Conservation 3 Credit Hours
*
GEOG 4646 - Water Resources 3 Credit Hours
†
GEOG 4648 - Biogeography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4650 - Surface Water Hydrology 3 Credit Hours
†
GEOG 4680 - Oceanography & Climate Change 3 Credit Hours
†
GEOG 4784 - Global Climate Change-CTW 3 Credit Hours
†*
GEOL 4075 - Fundamentals of Soils 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4011 - Principles of Paleontology 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4235 - Water, Wastewater, and the Environment 3 Credit Hours
†
MATH 4544 - Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4040 - Neuroethology 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II 4 Credit Hours
RELS 4301 - Animals and Religion: Between Animals and Gods 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 3040 - Communicating Environmental Issues 3 Credit Hours
* Counts toward the Sustainability Certificate in Geosciences

† Counts toward the Water Science Certificate in Geosciences