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Biological Science Applications
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Learn More
- Admissions Information
- Visit ESF
- College Catalog (Program course/credit requirements)
- B.S. Program Handbook (Complete program details)
- Option Declaration Form (PDF)
Coordinator:
Professor Charles Hall
Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology
354 Illick Hall
315.470.6870
email: chall@esf.edu
Advising Faculty:
James Gibbs, Charles Hall, Karin Limburg, Tsutomu Nakatsugawa,
William Shields
The Biological Science Applications Option is designed for students interested in careers at the interface of biology and socioeconomic issues. This Option provides solid background in the biological sciences pertinent to our natural resources and ecosystems on the one hand and a grounding in the social sciences on the other. In contrast to the traditional biology program, this Option emphasizes the interaction of both biological and societal issues. Specific goals of the Option are:
- Provide a sound background in biological sciences;
- Foster a broad systems view of our society, biological resources and ecosystems (or some other level of biology such as an endangered population or microbial process or biotechnology) affected by human activity;
- Develop a capacity to make independent judgments of environmental issues based on scientific principles and socio-political understanding; and
- Enhance effective skills in communicating scientific/technical issues of a biological nature in socio-political settings.
Students in this Option prepare for careers dealing with many environmental issues of society including regulatory, consulting and advisory positions in governmental agencies as well as employment in education or in the private sector such as environmental consulting firms and activist organizations. Many of these contexts demand practical solutions that require sound judgment of biological facts against the realities of our society. While people of various backgrounds may fill this job market, graduates of this Option will do best in careers that demand articulate communication skills supported by scientific understanding. Many of our students go on for advanced degrees in science, law or business. Some become university teachers or researchers. Increasingly, members of this Option take ESF's new energy minor and prepare for a career at the interface of energy and biology. Such careers can focus on biofuels, decreasing the environmental impacts of energy, improving the management of natural resources or in understanding the relations among energy, environment and economics. ESF provides a broad series of courses and personel that can lead to an excellent education in these areas.
Biological Science Applications Option students may wish to consider also taking ESF's new Renewable Energy Minor. This will prepare students well for a job or graduate studies in the energy field.
Biological Science Applications Option Requirements [1]
| MICROBES | Microbes Course | 3 |
| PLANTS | Plants Course | 3 |
| ANIMALS | Animals Course | 3 |
| GIS | Geographic Information Systems Course | 3 |
| POLICY or LAW |
Policy Course or Law Course |
3 |
| FOCUS | Biology Focus Area Course | 3 |
| FOCUS | Biology Focus Area Course | 3 |
| FOCUS | Biology Focus Area Course | 3 |
| FOCUS | Biology Focus Area Course | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 27 |
Biological Science Applications Breadth Requirements
Take one course from each category:
| Microbes | Plants | Animals |
| EFB 303 Intro. Env. Biology (F) | EFB 326 Div. of Plants (S) | EFB 352 Elem. of Ento. (F) |
| EFB 340 For. Shade Tree Path. (S) | EFB 336 Dendrology (F) | EFB 355 Invert. Zoology |
| EFB 440 Mycology | EFB 445 Plant Ecology | EFB 486 Ichthyology |
| EFB 443 Plant Virology (S, even years) | EFB 483 Biology of Birds & Mammals (F) | |
| EFB 505 Microbial Ecology |
Biological Science Applications Focus Area Requirements
A total of four focus area courses is required. Each student must take at least 2 advanced courses from one of the Focus Areas. The student and Advisor may develop an individualized Biological Focus that includes the Senior Synthesis. The lists below are illustrative.
| Biological Interpretation | Biological Management | Environmental Quality | Biological Systems |
| EFB 417 Perspectives on Interpretive Design | EFB 413 Conservation Biol. | EFB 510 Health & Env | EFB 445 Ecol. Biogeochem. |
| EFB 521 Prin. Interpret. Programming | EFB 487 Fisheries Biol | EST 550 Env. Impact Analysis | FOR 490 Integrated Forestry |
| EFB 490 Wildlife Conservation | EFB 351 Forest Insects And Diseases | EFB 496 Epidemics & Hst. | |
| EFB 491 Wildlife Practicum | FOR 334 Silviculture | EFB 522 Envir. Research & Developmt. | |
| EFB 493 Wildlife Habitats & Pop. | EFB 540 Forest Health Monitoring | EFB Watershed Ecology | |
| EFB 545 Forest Decline Concepts | EFB 542 Freshwater Wetlnds. | ||
| EFB 516 Ecosystems | |||
| EFB 518 Systems Ecology | |||
| EFB 519 Geog Modeling | |||
| EFB 523 Trop. Ecology | |||
| EFB 524 Limnology | |||
| EFB 542 Freshwater Wetland | |||
| EFB 578 T Community | |||
| EFB 580 Wetland Wildlife |
Geographic Information Systems Courses
- ESF 300 Introduction to Geospatial Information Technologies
Policy or Law Courses
Take one:
- EST 460 Land Use Law (S)
- EST 550 Environmental Impact Analysis (S)
- FOR 364 Soil and Water Conservation Policy (S)
- FOR 465 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy (S)
- FOR 496 Environmental Law (F)
Senior Synthesis
During the senior year, completion of an integrative summary experience in the Option is required. Options for this are outlined in the section on page 14. Students pursuing the advanced coursework option should consider the following courses:
- EFB 510 Health and Our Chemical Environment
- EFB 518 Systems Ecology
- EFB 522 Biophysical Economics
Typical Course Sequence
This is a possible sequence for the option. In consultation with your advisor, you will need to adjust this sequence to suit your specific situation.
| Junior - Fall | Credits | |
| EFB 320 | General Ecology | 4 |
| EST 361 |
History of the American Environmental Movement |
3 |
| Environmental Studies Social Science | 3 | |
| Microbes Course | 3 | |
| Animals Course | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
| Junior - Spring | ||
| CLL 410 | Writing for Environmental Professionals | 3 |
| APM 391 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| EST 321 | Government and the Environment | 3 |
| Plants Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
| Senior - Fall | ||
| Upper Division Computing or Natural Science Course |
4 | |
| GIS Course | 3 | |
| Biology Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| Biology Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
| Senior - Spring | ||
| Senior Synthesis (3) | 3 | |
| EST 494 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies | 1 |
| Biology Focus Area Course (2 courses) | 6 | |
| Policy Course or Law Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
[1] Please note the specific lower division required courses for students in the Biological Science Applications option. See catalog for requirements.
