Field Biology Concentration
Coordinator:
Lynn J. Moseley, Biology Department
A concentration in field biology will allow students to select four courses that emphasize studies of animals and plants in their natural environment. The concentration aims to increase students' awareness of the biological diversity of plants and animals in different habitats and to enable students to develop a detailed understanding of specific groups of animals (such as birds or fish) and plants (e.g., deciduous trees).
Courses in the field biology concentration involve hands-on work in the field, supplemented by reading in the scientific literature and, where appropriate, by computer models or simulations. By careful selection of courses for the concentration, students will be able to study in all the major habitat types found in North Carolina. Through summer programs such as Seminar West, Biology and Geology of East Africa, or School for Field Studies courses, students are able to study in some of the most biologically rich field sites in the world. An independent research project could also substitute for one of the four courses in the concentration.
The concentration in field biology is not available to biology majors.
Requirements
Four courses are required for the field biology concentration, selected from the following list. At least one course must be at the 300-level. Appropriate prerequisites are necessary for upper-level courses.
- BIOL 112: Integrative Biology - Organisms, Ecology and Evoloution
- BIOL 115: General Botany
- BIOL 224: Field Botany
- BIOL 233: N.C. Freshwater Fishes
- BIOL 235: Vertebrate Field Zoology
- BIOL 240: Seminar West
- BIOL 242: Natural Science Seminars
- BIOL 332: Invertebrate Zoology
- BIOL 333: Ichthyology
- BIOL 334: Animal Behavior
- BIOL 336: Ornithology
- BIOL 438: General Ecology
- BIOL 350; 450: Special Topics (occasional one- or two-time offerings as faculty and student interest indicate)