Ecology
Bachelor of Science
(Faculty of Science)
The variety of life on Earth raises a great variety of questions such as why does Alberta have only half as many tree species as New Brunswick? Why do male birds sing, but not females? How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics within a few decades? Is the human species unique, or are our interactions with other species and the environment merely variations on a theme?
Ecology and the related fields of evolutionary biology and environmental biology provide scientific approaches to answering these and many related questions. Ecology seeks to explain how organisms respond to all aspects of their environment, including physical and chemical conditions and other individuals of the same or different species.
General Admission Requirements
Application/Document Deadlines
Transfer Students:
- Transfer students must present the competitive average plus the following specified courses:
Ecology
Students are required to present the following courses with a minimum grade of C- or better in each course:
- Biology 241 and 243 (formerly 231 and 233)
- Biology 311
- Biology 313
- Biology 331
- Chemistry 201 or 211 and Chemistry 203 or 213
- one of Mathematics 249 or 251 or 281 or AMAT 217
- one of Mathematics 211 or 221 or 253 or 283 or AMAT 219
Why Study Ecology?
Humans are ecological players. As with all organisms, human existence depends on suitable physical and chemical conditions and interactions with other species. In addition, as competitors and predators, we affect both our own environment and that of many other species. Humans differ from all other species, because we alone can understand the ecological role we play. Given this unique ability and the recognition that every action we take has ecological consequences, it is logical to consider the ecological effects whenever we act as producers or consumers. Because this ecological consciousness requires knowledge, ecology is a valuable subject for any student.
What do I need to get in?
You’ll need to meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Science.
What will I study in my first two years?
All students entering programs in the Department of Biological Sciences will complete a common Biological Sciences core (20 half-courses) before selecting one of the six major programs (Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Botany, Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology, Ecology, Zoology).
The first and second years in Biological Sciences serve as the interlocked foundation for all programs offered by the Department of Biological Sciences. During these two years, you will complete the core Biology courses that are required of all Biological Science students. These courses will expose you to the diversity and unity of life and provide a foundation allowing you to appreciate the factual and conceptual context of specialized disciplines in Biological Sciences. In addition, these courses will expose you to the language of biology and a common set of tools that will allow you to analyze life from a variety of perspectives.
You will also complete supporting courses in Biochemistry, Chemistry and Mathematics during your first two years. Courses in Biochemistry and Chemistry provide you with a basis for understanding the chemical context of life. Required courses in Mathematics give you a basic understanding of calculus and/or linear algebra for application in subsequent major field courses. Throughout these two years there is a heavy emphasis on experiential learning in biology and chemistry courses.
What will I study in later years?
In your third and fourth years you’ll take courses which build a foundation of modern concepts and techniques in all aspects of ecology (including environmental biology) and evolutionary biology. These courses consider the breadth of ecology and evolutionary biology, including the ecological interactions of individual organisms, populations and aquatic and terrestrial communities and ecosystems, as well as the evolutionary processes responsible for biological diversity. You’ll also investigate these perspectives in a natural context during a field course. In addition, you’ll learn to apply mathematical and statistical techniques to formulate mathematical models of nature, design studies and analyze numerical results before completing the required portion of your Ecology program with a class-project course. This course will allow you to apply your understanding of ecological and evolutionary concepts and your analytical skills to investigate selected ecological and evolutionary problems in detail.
As an Ecology major, you’ll also be able develop a perspective on ecology and evolutionary biology that best serves your own objectives. Available biological options include courses focusing on specific organisms or environments and courses that provide individual research experience. In addition, you can use your non-science options to broaden your view of the interaction between human activity and nature (e.g. Economics, Geography, Philosophy).
The Ecology Honours Program extends the regular program to prepare students for additional education (M.Sc. and/or Ph.D.) leading to a research career. In addition to the courses required of all Ecology students, Honours students complete a two-term research project (Ecol. 530) under the guidance of a faculty member. Honours students are also encouraged to take 600-level seminar courses to develop an advanced understanding of topics of particular interest.
The Ecology Co-operative Education Program expands the regular program to include four terms working in jobs related to their education. These periods of employment form the basis of four courses. which provide practical work experience and greatly enhance the chance of obtaining an ecological job after graduation.
You will also have the opportunity to take courses off main campus that will enhance your undergraduate experience including exchange programs, travel study courses and field schools. You might wish to spend Fall term taking courses at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre located off the west coast of Vancouver Island, or take spring or summer courses at the Biogeoscience Institute in Kananaskis Country 80 km west of Calgary. You could also look further afield and participate in an overseas field schools offered frequently to destinations such Belize, Costa Rice, Ghana or Madagascar or embark on a term or full year exchange program to one of the U of C’s numerous partner institutions.
Students are also expected to take a number of courses from outside their major field and are encouraged to take courses that will provide breadth and contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of their degree.
What can I do with my degree?
Training in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology will help prepare you for employment as a medical laboratory assistant, research technician in biotechnology industries, or in cellular and molecular biology research laboratories. Depending on your choices in the final years of the program, this degree serves as an excellent preparation for professional schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and more. Many students continue their training in graduate programs.
Additional Information
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