ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY (ECOL)
The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology provides general and professional education for those intending to pursue graduate study or for those planning a career in fields where training in basic or applied organismic, evolutionary and environmental biology is necessary or desirable. Courses in population, community and physiological ecology, behavior, population theory, biogeography, natural history, genetics, systematics, morphology, and evolution are offered. In addition to excellent instructional facilities on campus, the department uses the Marine Biology Station at Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico; the Southwestern Research Station at Portal, Arizona; the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum at Superior, Arizona and the Research Ranch at Elgin, Arizona. It also curates excellent regional collections of plants and animals.
The department administers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees with majors in ecology and evolutionary biology and the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in general biology. The department also administers advanced degrees, the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with majors in ecology and evolutionary biology, and botany.
Within the general biology major, emphases are available in the following areas: botany, environmental biology, physiology, zoology, invertebrate zoology, marine biology, predentistry, premedicine and other appropriate preprofessional areas.
Middle and high school teachers who desire advanced, specialized training in the biological sciences to enhance their classroom teaching methods may do so through the Master of Science in General Biology degree program.Consult the Graduate Catalog for a complete description of the program and admission procedures.
The department participates in the honors program.