Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (MS)
The M.S. in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is a non-thesis, coursework-based (Plan B) Master’s degree for students preparing for careers in biodiversity management, conservation, and environmental education who want graduate-level training in the subject without the extensive research of a thesis-plan Master’s degree.
Location
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
Requirements
The M.S. in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology requires a minimum of 30 credits of coursework, comprising at least 14 credits of EEB coursework (not including the research or internship credits), at least 4 credits of master's research, and 1-9 credits of internship coursework. The internship must be with an appropriate agency and of no less than two months total duration. This internship component is designed to provide students with experience in the practical applications of biodiversity and/or conservation. Students must also fulfill the related areas course requirement.
UConn undergraduate students participating in the accelerated B.S./M.S. degree program may include on their M.S. plan of study up to 12 credits of graduate coursework (5000-level or 6000-level) that were also used to meet the student’s undergraduate degree requirements, subject to the restrictions established in the Graduate Catalog.
In addition to the Graduate School requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog, all M.S. students must pass an oral final examination.
Core Course Requirement
Students are required to take all of the following core courses.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EEB 5301 | Population and Community Ecology | 3 |
| EEB 5310 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| EEB 5369 | Current Topics in Biodiversity | 1 |
| EEB 5370 | Current Topics in Conservation Biology | 1 |
| EEB 5449 | Evolution | 3-4 |
| or EEB 5348 | Population Genetics | |
Taxonomic Diversity Course Requirement
Students are required to take one course from the list immediately below.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EEB 5200 | Biology of Fishes | 4 |
| EEB 5220 | Evolution of Green Plants | 4 |
| EEB 5240 | Biology of Bryophytes and Lichens | 4 |
| EEB 5347 | Systematic Biology | 3 |
| EEB 5250 | Biology of the Algae | 4 |
| EEB 5254 | Mammalogy | 3 |
| EEB 5265 | Herpetology | 4 |
| EEB 5271 | Systematic Botany | 4 |
Research and Internship Course Requirement
Students are required to take least 4 credits of Master's research (EEB 5889) and 1-9 credits of internship coursework. A maximum of 9 internship credits may be counted towards the degree.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EEB 5889 | Research | 1-6 |
| EEB 5891 | Internship in Ecology, Conservation, or Evolutionary Biology | 1-9 |
Related Area Course Requirement
Students must complete at least 6 credits of Environmental Policy, Economics, and Analysis coursework selected from the list below.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 5464 | Cost-Benefit Analysis and Applications | 3 |
| GSCU 5500 | Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| GSCU 5505 | Remote Sensing of Marine Geography | 3 |
| GSCU 5510 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| NRE 5200 | Sustainable Natural Resources Management | 3 |
| NRE 5205 | Decision Methods in Natural Resources | 3 |
| NRE 5215 | Introduction to Geospatial Analysis with Remote Sensing | 3 |
| NRE 5585 | Python Scripting for Geospatial Analysis | 3 |
Accelerated Biodiversity and Conservation Biology BS/MS
For students with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) from the University of Connecticut, the M.S. in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is designed as an accelerated (fifth-year) M.S. degree; such students can apply 12 credits of graduate coursework required for the M.S. towards the B.S as well. Students who have completed a B.S. in another program must complete course requirements equivalent to the undergraduate EEB major to earn this M.S. degree.
Learning Objectives
- Knowledge: Demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth of disciplinary knowledge and comprehension of the major topics, theories, and issues of the discipline.
- Applied skills: Uses, disaggregates, reformulates and/or adapts principal ideas, techniques or methods of the field of study ethically, professionally, and based on best practices of the discipline.
- Communication: Communicate proficiently and effectively to a specialist or non-specialist audience, verbally and in writing, a coherent argument or explanation summarizing aspects of the discipline.