The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University provides advanced educational opportunities to prepare students for careers in the science and stewardship of biological diversity, ecosystems and their services, and the biosphere. Our undergraduate and graduate degrees in Ecology and Conservation Biology emphasize fundamental ecological knowledge and its application to biodiversity conservation, environmental health, and management of complex systems, involving diverse aspects of ecology, ranging from genes to ecosystems and microcosms to the entire biosphere. ECCB is home to more than 70 experts and 400 students, representing a community of scholars working to understand nature, to conserve our natural resources, and to maintain the health and services of natural and human-dominated systems that sustain our communities.

Ecology and Conservation Biology Track

The Ecology and Conservation Biology track is designed to meet the needs of students interested in understanding issues related to conserving, managing, and restoring species, habitats, and ecosystems. The curriculum prepares students for careers with natural resource agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, environmental consulting firms, and education and research institutions. Students enrolled in this track gain an understanding of the core body of knowledge used by ecologists and conservation biologists, including ecological concepts, ecological practices, human-environmental interactions, and biodiversity exploration and conservation. This track offers a diversity of courses, including several upper-level electives, that allow students to tailor their education to fit their interests. For example, students can take courses that position them for external certification through organizations such as the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration. Students completing this track successfully will have a strong background in ecosystem functioning, field experience, human and ethical dimensions, organism biology, and quantitative applications, including the skills necessary for pursuing graduate degrees.

¹

Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere.

²

Graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a general elective can be used to satisfy this requirement.

³

Select from ECCB 300/ENTO 300, ECCB 314, ECCB 316, ECCB 324, ECCB 408, ECCB 417, ECCB 446, ECCB 450/ENTO 450, ECCB 451/ENTO 451, ECCB 462, ECCB 484, ECCB 485, ECCB 491; RWFM 325, RWFM 400/ECCB 452, RWFM 408, RWFM 410, RWFM 485.

⁴

Select from ECCB 300/ENTO 300, ECCB 314, ECCB 316, ECCB 324, ECCB 351, ECCB 406/GEOG 462, ECCB 407, ECCB 408, ECCB 417, ECCB 444, ECCB 446, ECCB 450/ENTO 450, ECCB 451/ENTO 451, ECCB 462, ECCB 484, ECCB 485, ECCB 491; PHYS 201, PHYS 202; RWFM 325, RWFM 400/ECCB 452, RWFM 408, RWFM 410, RWFM 485; STAT 307.   

⁵

Select from BESC 204; ECCB 203, ECCB 311, ECCB 312, ECCB 313, ECCB 315, ECCB 401, ECCB 402; ENTO 201; RWFM 302.

⁶

Select from ECCB 351, ECCB 406/GEOG 462, ECCB 407, ECCB 444; PHYS 201, PHYS 202, STAT 307.

⁷

Select from ECCB 319, ECCB 420, ECCB 430; RWFM 301, RWFM 314, RWFM 443, RWFM 470.

⁸

Select from AGEC 350; ECCB 308, ECCB 318, ECCB 319, ECCB 405, ECCB 420, ECCB 430, ECCB 460/RPTS 460; RWFM 301, RWFM 308, RWFM 314, RWFM 443, RWFM 470.

⁹

Select from AGEC 350; ECCB 308, ECCB 318, ECCB 405, ECCB 460/RPTS 460; RWFM 308, RWFM 436.

Must make a grade of C or better in BIOL 111, BIOL 112, MATH 140, and all ECCB major core coursework or any course substituted for an ECCB major core coursework requirement (ECCB 101, ECCB 205, ECCB 301, ECCB 302, ECCB 303, ECCB 304, ECCB 400, ECCB 403, and ECCB 485).