Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BA or BS)
In Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), students learn about how plants and animals interact, behave, evolve, and adapt, from the level of individual organisms to the population, community, and ecosystem levels.
Location
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
Requirements
Both B.A. and B.S. degree candidates must complete the following courses in addition to the general CLAS requirements for these degrees:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1107 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Biology II | ||
or BIOL 1110 | Introduction to Botany | |
| Select one of the following options: | 8-10 | |
| Option 1 | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Option 2 | ||
| Fundamentals of General Chemistry I and Fundamentals of General Chemistry II and Fundamentals of General Chemistry III | ||
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Both of the following: | ||
| EEB 2244E | General Ecology | 4 |
| or EEB 2244WE | General Ecology | |
| EEB 2245 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| or EEB 2245W | Evolutionary Biology | |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Animal Diversity Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Biology of the Vertebrates | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Field Herpetology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Biology of Fishes | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Ornithology 1 | ||
| Introduction to Animal Parasitology | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
- 1
If taken in combination with either EEB 4261 Ornithology Laboratory or EEB 4262 Field Methods in Ornithology.
Plant Diversity Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Developmental Plant Morphology | ||
| Evolution of Green Plants | ||
| Biology of Bryophytes and Lichens | ||
| Biology of the Algae | ||
| Systematic Botany | ||
| The Summer Flora | ||
| Plant Structural Diversity | ||
Physiology Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Plant Physiology | ||
| Physiological Ecology of Animals | ||
| Plant Physiology: How Plants Work | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
Extensive Laboratory and Fieldwork Courses
Students must select at least two of the following courses with extensive laboratory or fieldwork, which may include courses used to satisfy the animal or plant diversity requirement.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EEB 3203 | Developmental Plant Morphology | 4 |
| EEB 3220 | Evolution of Green Plants | 4 |
| EEB 3230 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| EEB 3240 | Biology of Bryophytes and Lichens | 4 |
| EEB 3250 | Biology of the Algae | 4 |
| EEB 3254 | Mammalogy | 3 |
| EEB 3265 | Herpetology | 4 |
| EEB 3266 | Field Herpetology | 3 |
| EEB 3267 | Field Study of Animal Behavior | 3 |
| EEB 3271 | Systematic Botany | 4 |
| EEB 3273 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| EEB 4120 | Paleobiology | 4 |
| EEB 4200 | Biology of Fishes | 4 |
| EEB 4230W | Methods of Ecology | 4 |
| EEB 4250 | General Entomology | 4 |
| EEB 4261 | Ornithology Laboratory | 2 |
| EEB 4262 | Field Methods in Ornithology | 3 |
| EEB 4272 | The Summer Flora | 3 |
| EEB 4274 | Introduction to Animal Parasitology | 4 |
| EEB 4275 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| EEB 4276 | Plant Structural Diversity | 4 |
Other Requirements
Students must also complete the following:
- At least 24 credits of EEB courses at the 2000-level or above, which may include courses in I-V above. A maximum of three independent study credits from EEB 3899 Independent Study may count toward the 24-credit requirement. A maximum of eight 2000-level or above transfer credits in EEB may count toward the major with the EEB department's approval.
- Related Course Requirements: At least 12 credits of 2000-level or above science courses outside EEB, which must include MCB 2410 Genetics. One semester of organic chemistry is recommended.
- To satisfy the Writing in the Major and Information Literacy competency requirements, all students must pass at least one W course in EEB.
Students are encouraged to complete a course in statistics.
University Common Curriculum Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see Common Curriculum Requirements.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's Common Curriculum requirements. For more information, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
Learning Objectives
- Describe biodiversity and the history of life across all levels of the ecological hierarchy, including the anatomy, physiology, behaviors, classification, and phylogenetic relationships of major plant and animal groups and the causes/patterns of biodiversity loss.
- Explain how ecological patterns and processes such as life history trade-offs, population growth, interactions among species, and the flow of energy and elements work to structure living communities and ecosystems, and how human activities affect the biosphere.
- Explain how evolutionary processes lead to changes through time, variation within and among populations, and speciation, and how evolutionary and ecological processes interact to generate macroevolutionary patterns.
- Demonstrate technical and career proficiency in the discipline by being able to: 1) use common tools, equipment and software to collect and/or summarize ecological and evolutionary data, 2) interpret the results of laboratory and/or field exercises, 3) review and/or critique primary literature, 4) communicate effectively in oral and/or written form.
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.