Joint B.S./M.S. degree program in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

core courses

For detailed information on all of the program's required courses you should check the detailed descriptions of the degree requirements.  This page gives a brief description of the core courses that are specific to the program, and provides links to the course web pages.

All students in the program are required to complete the following requirements:

EEB 5310 Conservation Biology (3 credits): This graduate level lecture course is designed to introduce the ways in which principles of population genetics, population ecology, community ecology, behavioral ecology, and systematics can be used to conserve and protect biological diversity.  EEB 5310 is currently taught in the fall of alternate years only.  Students who plan to enter the program only for the MS degree, and who wish to finish within one year, should check the schedule for this course to make sure that it will be taught during the time they plan to be in the program.  For more information, visit the course web site here.

EEB 5369 Current Topics in Biodiversity (1 credit): This seminar course will typically involve a mixture of lectures, student presentations, and discussions centered around some current theme in the field of biodiversity research.  The exact topic will vary from year to year.  For more information, visit the course web site which is housed on HuskyCT (click here to login).

EEB 5370 Current Topics in Conservation Biology (1 credit): This seminar course will typically involve a mixture of lectures, student presentations, and discussions centered around some current theme in the field of conservation biology.  The exact topic will vary from year to year.  For more information, visit the course web site here.

EEB 5891 Graduate Internship in Ecology, Conservation or Evolutionary Biology (variable credits): All students in the program are required to gain at least two months worth of internship experience to provide practical experience applying their training in biodiversity and conservation biology in a real work setting.  These internships are arranged by the student in consultation with their advisors.  The internship does not have to be taken for credit.  For more information, visit the course web site here.

EEB 5889 Research (at least 4 credits):  All students are required to complete at least 4 credits of research experience at the M.S. level.  The goal of this requirement is to give students experience working in a research setting.  Since the B.S./M.S. program is not a "research Masters", students are not required to develop their own research project, and no formal thesis is required.  Students are encouraged to obtain their research experience off-campus, potentially in association with the internship component of their degree program.