Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The undergraduate program in ecology and evolutionary biology offers a highly interactive, intellectual environment that prepares students for a career in the natural sciences. 

Requirements

AP & Transfer Credit

Students with scores of 4 or 5 on the AP biology test receive 8 hours of credit and are exempt from the general biology sequence (EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220, and EBIO 1230 and EBIO 1240). Students who score in the 66th percentile or higher on the CLEP test in biology receive 6 hours of credit and are exempt from EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220.

EBIO majors with transfer credit in biology from other institutions or advanced placement credits must consult with the EBIO undergraduate advisor. Transfer students must complete at least 12 upper-division (3000-level or above) EBIO credit hours on the Boulder campus.

Program Requirements

In addition to the general College of Arts and Sciences requirements, students in EBIO must complete complete 9–15 credit hours in ancillary coursework, plus a statistics course and 38 credit hours of coursework in EBIO.

Up to 12 credit hours of courses taken in other departments may be counted toward the 38 credit hours required for the EBIO major. A list of acceptable courses can be obtained from the EBIO advisor. A maximum of 6 credit hours of Independent Study/Research may be applied toward the major. A maximum of 6 credit hours of internship may be applied toward the major.

All required major courses and all required ancillary courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate.

Required Courses and Credits

Other Required Coursework 

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, including the Laboratory or Field Experience, and likely the QRMS component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.

Learning Outcomes 

In light of the broad importance of ecology and evolution for fundamental understanding of living systems, the undergraduate EBIO degree emphasizes knowledge and problem-solving in the following areas:

• The ecology of organisms, populations and communities
• The distribution and function of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems
• Principles and patterns of evolution, including natural selection and the history of life on Earth
• Comparative, systematic, evolutionary and environmental aspects of botany, microbiology and zoology
• Adaptation of organisms to the physical and biotic environment
• Animal behavior and emotion
• Molecular evolution and population genetics
• Developmental biology and the evolution of development
• Conservation biology and management of ecosystems
• The relevance of mathematics, chemistry and physics to biology
• The development of biological thought
• Infectious disease ecology
• Landscape and ecosystem ecology
• Sustainability and human-nature systems
• Energy and biofuels
• Darwinian medicine
• Health and population genetics
• Genetically-engineered organisms

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

BA and MA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A combined bachelor's and master's degree with thesis is offered for highly motivated undergraduate students. The BAM program allows students to take advanced courses at an accelerated pace, engage in an independent research project and obtain both degrees in five years. In addition to preparing graduates for additional graduate study or medical school, the program is expected to position them for employment in areas such as environmental consulting, teaching at the high school or community college level or by businesses with an environmental or biomedical emphasis. 

Admissions Requirements

Students interested in this program are encouraged to consult with the EBIO associate chair for graduate studies early in their undergraduate career. In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
• Have a major GPA in EBIO of 3.0 or higher.
• Have the support of a faculty research advisor.
• Have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework.
• If a transfer student, have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at CU Boulder.
• Have completed prerequisite courses EBIO 2040, EBIO 2070 and EBIO 3080.

Applications from sophomores and juniors for the BAM degree are considered on a competitive basis. Applications are available from the EBIO graduate coordinator, and are due October 15 and March 15.

No financial support is available from the department for students enrolled in this program.

Program Requirements

Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program which can later be used toward the master's degree. However, only six undergraduate credits (at the 4000-level) may be double counted toward the bachelor's degree and the master's degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree, and apply to continue with the master's degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.