Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution BS

Overview

The Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major is appropriate for students preparing for graduate study in ecology, behavior, and evolution or for employment in areas such as environmental biology, animal behavior, conservation, teaching, museum work, and governmental positions dealing with environmental issues of wide importance and impact. A strong field component … For more content click the Read More button below.

The Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major is appropriate for students preparing for graduate study in ecology, behavior, and evolution or for employment in areas such as environmental biology, animal behavior, conservation, teaching, museum work, and governmental positions dealing with environmental issues of wide importance and impact. A strong field component involving study in terrestrial and marine locales such as coastal, desert, and mountain environments in California and the Southwest and in the Neotropics is required.

Capstone Major

The Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major is a designated capstone major. Students apply theory and technique learned through four years of classroom and laboratory experience to their own independent projects. The main purpose of the capstone is to provide a unique field experience that involves designing and executing a research project. Students are aided in the scientific process of learning about a new ecosystem, developing relevant questions, designing conceptually based projects, troubleshooting and completing the work, and writing a publication-ready manuscript. They are also expected to exhibit strong teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrated broad knowledge of fundamentals of ecology, behavior and evolution, or marine biology acquired through coursework

Development of skills in library research, data interpretation, synthesis, and scientific writing

Use of current primary scientific literature, including database searches, identification of appropriate sources, and reading and understanding papers

Understanding of key questions and hypotheses, interpretation of results and conclusions, and discrimination of quality through critique

Use of knowledge gained for conception and execution of student project that includes self-developed questions and hypotheses, design of appropriate theoretical or empirical/experimental approach, execution of that approach, and analysis and interpretation of data

Communication of original scientific work to colleagues and mentors through capstone scientific paper

Demonstrated communication skills through oral or poster presentation at a symposium

Display of strong teamwork and problem-solving skills

Entry to the Major

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of general biology with laboratory for majors, preferably equivalent to Life Sciences 7A, 7B, and 7C, one year of calculus, one year of general chemistry with laboratory for majors, and one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory. A second semester of organic chemistry or one year of calculus-based physics is strongly recommended but not required for admission.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Life Science Core Curriculum

Chemistry

Select one series from:

Chemistry 14 series

Chemistry 20 and 30 series

Life Sciences

Mathematics

Select one series from:

Life Sciences 30 series

Mathematics 3 series

Mathematics 31 series

Students may select Mathematics 31A or 31AL.

Statistics

Physics

Select one series from:

Physics 1 series

Physics 5 series

The Major

Complete the following courses (40 to 44 units) as follows: 4 units of morphology and systematics, 4 units of physiology, 12 units of ecology, behavior, and evolution, 12 to 16 capstone field quarter, and 8 units of electives.

Morphology and Systematics

Select at least four units (one course) from:

Physiology

Select at least four units (one course) from the following list. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 170 cannot also take Physiological Science 166.

Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution

Select at least 12 units (three courses) from the following list. Students with credit for Life Sciences 4 cannot also take course 107. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 120 cannot also take course 185.

Capstone Field Quarter

Electives

Select at least 8 units (two courses) from the following options:

Anthropology

Chemistry

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Geography

Life Sciences

Mathematics

Microbiology

Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

Physics

Recommended: Taxon-Oriented Courses

Field Biology

The department offers three quarter-long programs of advanced courses in field biology: the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), the Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ), and the joint Field Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ). These programs focus on the biology of organisms living in their natural environments, emphasize independent student research projects, and take place at field sites away from the UCLA campus. The course composition varies somewhat from year to year, but each program always carries 16 units of course credit. The Field and Marine Biology quarters may occur during fall, winter, or spring quarter, depending on location and faculty participation. To participate, students must enroll in all courses in the respective program. Participants in both programs are selected by personal interview. Information and applications are available in the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Field Biology Quarter (FBQ)

The Field Biology Quarter involves some combination of the following list of courses:

Marine Biology Quarter

The Marine Biology Quarter includes some combination of the following list of courses:

Honors Program

An overall grade-point average of 3.4 and a 3.4 in the major are required for graduation with honors. Highest honors are awarded to majors who have a GPA of 3.6 overall and a 3.6 in the major at graduation and who have successfully completed Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 198A and 198B. Students do not need to apply for departmental honors. All students are reviewed for honors.

Computing Specialization

Majors may select a specialization in Computing by (1) satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the specified major, (2) completing Program in Computing 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, and 60, and (3) completing one course from Computer Science CM186, Psychology 186A, or 186B. A grade of C– or better is required in each course, with a combined grade-point average in the specialization of at least 2.0. Students must petition for admission to the program and are advised to do so after completing Program in Computing 10B (petitions should be filed in the Undergraduate Advising Office). Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their major and a specialization in Computing.

Program to Computing

Additional Course

Policies

Preparation for the Major Policies

The Major Policies

A maximum of 8 units of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 198 series or 4 units of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 199 may be applied toward the major. Credit for 199 courses from other departments may not be applied.

Courses offered as part of the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ) are open to all qualified students, but strict priority is given to students who are Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution majors, are graduating seniors, have taken a broad range of ecology, behavior, and evolution coursework, and have maintained a good grade-point average.

With consent of the instructors and department, students may enroll in 200-level courses and apply them toward major requirements.

Each course applied toward requirements for preparation for the major and the major must be taken for a letter grade. Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution majors must earn a C– or better in each course taken as preparation for the major, and at least a 2.0 (C) overall average in all courses applied toward the major. Courses applied to upper-division major requirements must have a minimum of 4 units. A 6-unit course counts as one course on the requirements for the major.

As requisites for the Marine Biology Quarter, students must have a 3.0 overall grade-point average and have taken Statistics 13 or equivalent. Preference for the Marine Biology Quarter is given to Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and Marine Biology majors. It is strongly recommended that students complete Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 109 and 109L prior to applying for the Marine Biology Quarter. Contact the Undergraduate Advising Office for all requirements for the Marine and Field Biology quarters.