The Major Elements
Does the thought of studying the planet earth and how the interactions of its inhabitants (plants, animals, and humans) intrigue you? Ecology is a multidisciplinary science that incorporates sciences like geology, botany, microbiology, entomology, and wildlife. To provide a solid education in ecology it is important that students learn principles and relationships between all these sciences, including: 1. The movement of materials and energy through living communities, including the basic understanding of life processes, 2. The distribution and diversity of both producers (plants) and consumers (animals), 3. The ecological interactions among organisms at different trophic levels. The Ecology major will be interdisciplinary, with the Department of Biological Sciences supplying training in the basic tenets of biology, and the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology offering courses related to the diversity, behavior, and ecological interactions among organisms.

The requirements for completing the Ecology major are:

Foundation Courses (23 credits)

MATH 241 Analytic Geometry and Calculus A (bio section available and preferable) (4)
CHEM 103 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 104 General Chemistry II (4)
BISC 207 Introductory Biology I (4)
BISC 208 Introductory Biology II (4)
FREC 408 Research Methods OR STAT 200 Basic Statistical Practice OR BISC 643 Biological Data Analysis (3)

1. The movement of materials and energy through living communities including basic understanding of life processes (28-30 credits)

CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 322 Organic Chemistry II (4)
PHYS 201 Introductory Physics I (4)
PHYS 202 Introductory Physics II (4)
BISC 403 Genetic and Evolutionary Biology (3)
BISC 495 Evolution (3)

Earth Processes - Select 2 of the following:

GEOG 101 Physical Geography: Climatic Processes (3)
GEOG 106 Physical Geography: Land Surface Processes (3)
GEOG 220 Meteorology (3)
GEOG 342 Bioclimatology (3)
GEOL 107 General Geology (4)
GEOL 113 Earth Science (4)
PLSC 204 Intro to Soil Science (3)

2. The distribution and diversity of both producers and consumers (13-14 credits)

Producers

PLSC 201 Botany II (4)

Select 1 of the following:

PLSC 214 Indigenous Woody Plants of the Eastern US (4)
PLSC 404 Plant Taxonomy (3)

Consumers - Select 2 of the following:

ENWC 406 Insect Taxonomy (requires ENWC 205 prerequisite) (3)
ENWC 418 Ornithology (3)
ENWC 424 Herpetology (3)
ENWC 425 Mammalogy (3)
MAST 630 Ichthyology (3)

3. Ecological interactions among organisms at different trophic levels (15 credits)

BISC 302 General Ecology (3)
BISC/ENWC 312 Field Ecology (3)
ENWC/BISC 635 Population Ecology (3)

Select 2 of the following:

BISC 306 General Physiology (3)
BISC 317 Tropical Ecology (3)
BISC 318 Tropical Amphibians and Reptiles (3)
BISC 321 Environmental Biology (3)
BISC415/615 Vertebrate Developmental Morphology (3)
BISC442 Vertebrate Morphology (3)
BISC 480 Vertebrate Natural History (3)
BISC 641 Microbial Ecology (requires BISC 300 prerequisite) (3)
ENWC 419 Biological Control (3)
ENWC 444/BISC 440 Conservation of Tropical Biodiversity (3)
ENWC 452 Conservation of African Wildlife (3)
ENWC 453 Community-Based Conservation (3)
ENWC 456 Conservation Biology (3)
ENWC/BISC 620 Behavioral Ecology (3)
ENWC/MAST 314 Comparative Terrestrial and Marine Ecology (3)
MAST 421/621 Coastal Field Biology (3)
MAST 427/627 Marine Biology (3)
MAST 442 Ecology and Evolution of Coral Reefs (3)
MAST 451/651 Marine Invertebrate Diversity (3)
MAST 618 Marine Microbial Ecology (3)

Communication Skills (7 credits)

ENWC 465 Senior Capstone Experience (1)

Written - Select 1 of the following:

ENGL 301 Expository Writing (3)
ENGL 307 News Writing & Editing (3)
ENGL 312 Written Com. in Business (3)
ENGL 410 Technical Writing (3)
UNIV 402 Senior Thesis (completed) (3)

Oral - Select 1 of the following:

AGRI 212 Oral Com. in Ag & Natural (3)
COMM 212 Oral Com. in Business (3)
COMM 350 Public Speaking (3)
LEAD 209 Presentation Strategies (3)
THEA 204 Intro to Voice and Speech (3)

Additional University and College Requirements:

ENGL 110 (3)
Multicultural (3)
Discovery Learning Experience (satisfied by BISC312, Field Ecology) (3)
FYE - ENWC 165 New Student Seminar (1)
Agriculture & Natural Resources (Satisfied by PLSC 201, possibly FREC 408 or STAT 200) (9)
Physical Sciences (Satisfied by Chemistry 103-104) (8)
University Breadth Requirements (Groups A, B, and C) 12
Additional Electives: to reach 124 cr. (minimum number of required credits: 105)

(Note: Meeting the requirements for the Ecology major will provide a student with the minimum educational requirements required for certification as an Ecologist through the Ecological Society of America, a professional society.)

A Place To Learn
Classes and laboratory sections meet both on the main campus and in the recently-renovated Townsend Hall, which is the cornerstone of our 350-acre teaching and research complex. Townsend Hall houses faculty offices; teaching and research laboratories; several classrooms; a student Commons; a library branch; and one of the best computing sites on campus. We also maintain an impressive Insect Reference Collection, containing more than 150,000 specimens, as well as extensive collections of birds and mammals, all of which are available for teaching, research, and student projects.

Our outdoor research center, located on site, means easy access for field trips to our farm, botanical gardens, field plots, hedgerows, small wetlands, and 35-acre woodlot. An active apiary provides a unique resource for students interested in learning about bees and their behavior. The farm harbors numerous species, including migratory birds, red foxes, box turtles, white-tailed deer, and great-horned owls. Nearby, several state parks, a wildlife refuge, and many forests offer additional field opportunities for observation and experimentation.

Enriching the Experience
From freshman orientation to graduation, Ecology majors enjoy close interaction with faculty, who are the common thread in many experiences that make the undergraduate years meaningful.

In addition to getting to know faculty as instructors, students work with faculty advisors who assist with course selection, academic issues, and career planning. This relationship is an important one, as students often rely on faculty for recommendation letters and referrals for jobs and graduate school admissions.

Ecology majors also may work with faculty as part of the Science Scholars program, where they conduct research, present posters on their findings, and may earn publication in scientific journals. Some students take their research even farther and write and defend a thesis, which earns them a Degree with Distinction. Throughout this process, a faculty mentor guides and advises the student researcher.

Ecology majors also have the opportunity to earn credits for summer internships. A "Field Agreement" form must be signed and agreed upon with their major advisor.

For students who want to learn beyond the borders of Delaware, faculty-led programs in Antarctica, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and Tanzania give students the opportunity to study biodiversity in other ecosystems under the supervision and instruction of UD faculty.

Life After College
The Ecology major provides a broad background that students could apply to many career directions including conservation biology, wetland management, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, city planning (urban ecology), and community health. Upon completion of the major, students are competitive for graduate programs in ecology and prepared to seek certification in Ecology by the Ecological Society of America.

Many career-preparation programs are held throughout the year, and cover topics such as resume writing, interviewing, networking, and graduate school. Career Fairs are held each year, allowing students to mingle with prospective employers. We encourage all students to participate in these events; to seek related experience through internships; to develop their communication skills; and to learn to network with prospective employers. This, in addition to doing well academically, greatly enhances post-graduate opportunities.