Department of Ecology

http://www.montana.edu/ecology

Note: MSU's programs in the biological sciences are distributed across multiple departments.  MSU does not have a single Department of Biology.  For additional options, see Chemistry (Biochemistry) in the College of Letters and Science, or Animal Science, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Environmental Horticulture, Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology, and Plant Science in the College of Agriculture.

The Department of Ecology offers a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences which emphasizes a solid grounding in biology and the fundamental sciences, and which allows students to specialize within four options: Organismal Biology, Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management, Conservation Biology and Ecology, and Biology Teaching. Organismal Biology emphasizes the basic sciences of zoology and botany; Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management and Conservation Biology and Ecology emphasize the application of knowledge to the conservation of the biota and natural resources; Biology Teaching prepares students for career as a high school biology teacher.

Many positions for professional biologists require a graduate degree. The degree options are intended to provide the solid knowledge and skills required of all college graduates as well as the prerequisite educational background for graduate programs.

Students interested in secondary school biology teaching and Montana state certification must fulfill the Biology Teaching option which includes professional education courses as well as a solid biology and basic science core; a teaching minor or second area of certification is recommended.

Grade Requirements

To graduate with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, students must earn a grade of "C-" or better for every course required for the specific option (Conservation Biology and Ecology, Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management, and Organismal Biology), including courses taken to fulfill required biology elective credits, all required courses in non-biology rubrics, and all upper division courses. Students enrolled in the Biology-Teaching option will need to earn a grade of "C" or better in order to qualify for the Teacher Education Program.                                                    

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Minors

  • Genetics Minor (Non-Teaching) The Genetics Minor is housed in four academic departments on campus (Animal & Range Sciences, Ecology, Microbiology & Cell Biology, and Plant Sciences, & Plant Pathology) and is available to students majoring in these departments.