BIOL 3201 - Conservation Biology

4 hours

Prerequisites: BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108 This course will allow students to deepen and broaden their interest in the conservation of biological diversity; a relatively new multidisciplinary science that represents a fusion of theory, basic research, applied research and public education. Through the use of lectures, labs and off-campus venues, students will be exposed to the core foundation of conservation biology incorporating aspects of population biology, community ecology, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, wildlife ecology, agriculture, forestry and zoo management. The course will also address elements of history, philosophy, ethics, economics, anthropology and public policy. Students with a basic background in biology, ecology or evolution would be well prepared for this course; however, as an introductory course it is well suited to the non-major advanced student who has taken non-science major courses and others in history, economics and other fields. Suggested readings will allow students to delve deeper into any given subject area than this introductory course allows.