Organismal Biology and Ecology

Department of Biological Sciences

Biology Major

Completion of this concentration provides background for advanced studies in botany, zoology,
conservation biology or ecology, and/or career opportunities in environmental education, in
government environmental regulatory agencies and in the private sector.

Students completing this concentration are encouraged to take both General Botany (BIOL 205) and General Zoology (BIOL 207). Those students taking Biodiversity (BIOL 208) are required to complete an additional elective. Students taking this concentration have the option of choosing to complete a track in either Botany or Zoology, but selection of a track is not required. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in a research experience or internship (e.g., BIOL 491 Independent Research in Biology, BIOL 493 Internship in Biology, BIOL 498 Honors Research or BIOL 499 Senior Thesis in Biology). They should consult with their advisers regarding these opportunities.

FOUNDATION COURSES
Course		Units
BIOL 201	Biology I: Cellular Biology and Genetics	4
BIOL 202	Biology II: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution	4
BIOL 204	Educational and Career Planning for the Biologist	1
BIOL 309	Principles of Genetics	3
Total units		13

BREADTH COURSES
Course		Units
BIOL 208 or BIOL 205 and BIOL 207	Biodiversity General Botany General Zoology	3 4 4
BIOL 405 or BIOL 408 or BIOL 409	Molecular Ecology Cell Biology Molecular Biology	4 4 4
BIOL 221 & 221L and BIOL 222 & 222L or BIOL 325 or BIOL 436	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II Animal Physiology Plant Physiology	4 4 4 4
Total units		11-16

ELECTIVE COURSES
Course		Units
Choose one of the following*
BIOL 310	Conservation Biology	4
BIOL 402	General Ecology	4
BIOL 406	Limnology	4
BIOL 435	Plant Ecology	4
Choose one of the following*
BIOL 334	Humans, Science and the Chesapeake Bay	3
BIOL 347	Marine Biology	3
BIOL 353	Invertebrate Zoology	4
BIOL 371	Animal Behavior	4
BIOL 413	Evolution	3
BIOL 432	Vascular Plant Taxonomy	4
BIOL 446	Tropical Ecology and Conservation	3
BIOL 447	Tropical Field Ecology	4
BIOL 452	Wetland Ecology	4
BIOL 455	Fish Biology	4
BIOL 456	Ornithology	4
BIOL 458	Mammalogy	4
BIOL 461	Entomology	4
BIOL 467	Herpetology	4
Total units		7-12

* If Biodiversity (BIOL 208) was selected to satisfy the Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration, an additional elective must be selected from among the list of Principles of Ecology or Diversity.

ORGANISMAL ELECTIVE
Course		Units
Choose one elective from the list of Principles of Ecology Electives or Diversity Electives above, or successfully complete BIOL 491 or BIOL 498 and BIOL 499	Elective independent research Honors Research in Biology Honors Thesis in Biology	3-4 3 2 2
Total units		3-4

ANCILLARY COURSES
Courses		Units
CHEM 131 & 131L and CHEM 132 & 132L	General Chemistry I Lecture General Chemistry II Lecture	4 4
CHEM 331 and CHEM 332	Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry II	5 5
PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 or PHYS 241 and PHYS 242	General Physics I General Physics II General Physics I Calculus-based General Physics II Calculus-based	4 4 4 4
MATH 211 or MATH 237 or MATH 273 or PSYC 212	Calculus for Applications Elementary Biostatistics Calculus Behavioral Statistics	3 4 4 4
Total units		25-30

Department of Biological Sciences
Smith Hall, Room 341 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-3042
Fax: 410-704-2405
E-mail: biolsci@towson.edu

Students in the organismal biology and ecology concentration get hands-on field experiences.

Connect with the Department of Biological Sciences