Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The major in ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) is designed for students with interests in the fields of biodiversity, biological systematics, evolution, ecology, and organismal biology, including the fields of botany, zoology, environmental biology, and conservation biology.

To review graduation requirements for the major, please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog and the Major Requirements Worksheet for your catalog year. To look up your catalog year and keep track of graduation requirements, review your Standard Advisement Report in Student Admin. Catalog year is found at the top of your Standard Advisement Report.

Students can earn a BS or BA degree in this major. Both degrees require a full sequence of introductory biology and general chemistry, but only the BS degree requires calculus and physics.

Major Requirements

Students must complete at least 24 credits of 2000-level or higher courses in EEB. The 24 credits must include courses from the major requirements below.  Students must maintain a cumulative GPA in their major of 2.0 or higher. 

Notes: Students may apply no more than three independent study credits from EEB 3899 toward the 24-credit requirement. Students must complete MCB 2410 as part of their related course requirement.

Core Requirements

Complete all of the following:

  • BIOL 1107. Principles of Biology I (4 credits)
  • BIOL 1108. Principles of Biology II (4 credits) or BIOL 1110. Intro to Botany (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1127Q/1128Q. General Chemistry I and II (8 credits total) or CHEM 1124Q/1125Q/1126Q. Fundamentals of General Chemistry I, II, III (10 credits total)
  • EEB 2244. General Ecology (4 credits)
  • EEB 2245. Evolutionary Biology (3 credits)
  • MCB 2410. Genetics (3 credits)

Plant Diversity

Complete at least one of the following courses:

  • EEB 3203. Developmental Plant Morphology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3204. Aquatic Plant Biology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3220 or 3220W. Evolution of Green Plants (3-4 credits)
  • EEB 3240. Biology of Bryophytes & Lichens (4 credits)
  • EEB 3250. Biology of the Algae (4 credits)
  • EEB 3271. Systematic Botany (4 credits)
  • EEB 4272. Summer Flora (3 credits)
  • EEB 4276. Plant Structural Diversity (4 credits)

Animal Diversity

Complete at least one of the following courses:

  • EEB 2214. Biology of Vertebrates (3 credits)
  • EEB 3254. Mammalogy (4 credits)
  • EEB 3265. Herpetology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3266. Field Herpetology (3 credits)
  • EEB 3269. Social Insects (3 credits)
  • EEB 3273. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 credits)
  • EEB 3895. Special Topics - Mammology (3 credits)
    • Please note EEB 3895 ONLY applies to this area when taken as Mammalogy - no other topics will satisfy this area.
  • EEB 4200. Biology of Fishes (4 credits)
  • EEB 4250. General Entomology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4252. Field Entomology (3 credits)
  • EEB 4260. Ornithology (2 credits) and EEB 4261. Ornithology Laboratory (2 credits)
    or EEB 4262. Field Methods in Ornithology (3 credits)
  • EEB 4274. Animal Parasitology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4275. Invertebrate Zoology (4 credits)

Physiology

Complete one of the following courses:

  • EEB 2250. Introduction to Plant Physiology (3 credits)
  • EEB 3360. Physiological Ecology of Plants (3 credits)
  • EEB 4215. Physiological Ecology of Animals (3 credits)
  • PNB 2250. Animal Physiology (3 credits) **
  • SPSS 4210. Plant Physiology: How Plants Work (3 credits) **

** These courses can be used to satisfy the Physiology group for the EEB major, but the credits will NOT apply to the 24 total EEB credits needed for the major.  An additional EEB elective may be needed to reach 24 EEB credits.

Writing in the Major

Complete at least one of the following:

  • EEB 2254W. Current Research Topics in EEB (3 credits)
  • EEB 2256W. Current Research Topics in Evolutionary Medicine & Disease Ecology (3 credits)
  • EEB 2258W. Current Research Topics in Conservation & Climate Biology (3 credits)
  • EEB 3200W. Writing in Evolutionary Biology (3 credits)
  • EEB 3220W. Evolution of Green Plants (4 credits)
  • EEB 3244W. Writing in Ecology (2 credits)
  • EEB 4230W. Methods of Ecology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4896W. Senior Research Thesis in EEB (3 credits)
  • EEB 5335W. Vertebrate Social Behavior (3 credits)

Lab or Field Courses

Complete at least two of the following courses (note: may include courses used to fulfill animal or plant diversity requirements above):

  • EEB 3203. Developmental Plant Morphology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3204. Aquatic Plant Biology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3220. Evolution of Green Plants (4 credits)
  • EEB 3230. Marine Biology (3 credits) - also offered as MARN 3014
  • EEB 3240. Biology of Bryophytes & Lichens (4 credits)
  • EEB 3247. Freshwater Ecology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3250. Biology of the Algae (4 credits)
  • EEB 3254. Mammalogy (4 credits)
  • EEB 3265. Herpetology (4 credits)
  • EEB 3266. Field Herpetology (3 credits)
  • EEB 3267. Field Study of Animal Behavior (3 credits)
  • EEB 3271. Systematic Botany (4 credits)
  • EEB 3273. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 credits)
  • EEB 4120. Paleobiology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4200. Biology of Fishes (4 credits)
  • EEB 4230W. Methods of Ecology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4250. General Entomology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4252. Field Entomology (3 credits)
  • EEB 4260 and 4261. Ornithology Lab (4 credits)
  • EEB 4262. Field Methods in Ornithology (3 cr)
  • EEB 4272. The Summer Flora (3 credits)
  • EEB 4274. Introduction to Animal Parasitology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4275. Invertebrate Zoology (4 credits)
  • EEB 4276. Plant Structural Diversity (4 credits)

Related Courses

Students must complete 12 credits of 2000-level or higher related courses outside of EEB.

  • MCB 2410 is a required related course that counts toward the 12-credit requirement.
  • You can pick additional courses from the list of pre-approved EEB related courses below. Pre-approved related courses are also listed on your Academic Requirements Report in Student Admin.
  • You can count PNB 2250 or SPSS (PLSC) 4210 as related courses since these courses fulfill the physiology requirement.
  • With the approval of your assigned advisor, you can choose other courses to count toward your related course requirements.
  • Some of the courses listed below may have restricted enrollment or pre-requisites outside of biology.
  • Anytime an entire department is listed, that means that all 2000+ level courses from that department will satisfy the related requirement.

EEB Pre-Approved Related Courses

    Allied Health (AH)
    AH 3174. Environmental Laws, Regulations and Issues
    AH 3175. Environmental Health
    AH 3320. Introduction to Infectious Diseases

    Animal Science (ANSC)
    ANSC 3122. Reproductive Physiology
    ANSC 3311. Comparative Exercise Physiology
    ANSC 3313. Growth Biology and Metabolism in Domestic Livestock
    ANSC 4311. Advanced Animal Nutrition

    Anthropology (ANTH)
    ANTH 2502. Human Evolution
    ANTH 3200. Human Behavioral Ecology
    ANTH 3300. Medical Anthropology
    ANTH 3302. Medical Ecology
    ANTH 3340. Culture and Conservation
    ANTH 3522. Ecological Anthropology Seminar
    ANTH 3703. Zooarchaeological Method and Theory
    ANTH 3705. Paleoanthropology
    ANTH 3706. Archaeobotany

    Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE)
    ARE 3150. Applied Resource Economics
    ARE 3235. Marine Resource and Environmental Economics
    ARE 3434. Environmental and Resource Policy
    ARE 3437. Marine Fisheries Economics and Policy
    ARE 3440W. Writing in Environmental and Resource Policy
    ARE 4444. Economics of Energy, Climate, and the Environment
    ARE 4438. Valuing the Environment

    Chemistry (CHEM)
    CHEM 2241. Organic Chemistry
    CHEM 2242. Organic Chemistry Lab
    CHEM 2443. Organic Chemistry
    CHEM 2444. Organic Chemistry
    CHEM 2445. Organic Chemistry Lab
    CHEM 4370. Environmental Chemistry – Atmosphere
    CHEM 4371. Environmental Chemistry – Hydrosphere

    Cognitive Science (COGS)
    COGS 2201. Foundations of Cognitive Science

    Earth Sciences (ERTH)

    Economics (ECON)
    ECON 2467. Economics of the Oceans
    ECON 3466. Environmental Economics

    Environmental Sciences (ENVS)
    ENVS 2000. Integrating Humans and the Environment

    Environmental Studies (EVST)
    EVST 3340. Culture and Conservation
    EVST 3412. Global Environmental Politics

    Geography (GEOG)

    History (HIST)
    HIST 2206. History of Science
    HIST 3540. American Environmental History
    HIST 3542. New England Environmental History

    Journalism (JOUR)
    JOUR 3046. Environmental Journalism

    Landscape Architecture (LAND)
    LAND 3230W. Environmental Planning and Landscape Design

    Marine Sciences (MARN)

    Mathematics (MATH)

    Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB)

    Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE)

    Nutritional Sciences (NUSC)
    NUSC 2200. Nutrition and Human Development

    Pathobiology (PATH)
    PATH 3100. Histologic Structure and Function
    PATH 3201/W. Principles of Animal Virology
    PATH 3341. Pathobiology of the Avian Species
    PATH 3501. Diagnostic Techniques for the Biomedical Sciences
    PATH 3700. Emerging Infectious Diseases and Pandemics
    PATH 4300. Principles of Pathobiology

    Philosophy (PHIL)
    PHIL 2170W. Bioethics and Human Rights in Cross-Cultural Perspective
    PHIL 3216. Environmental Ethics
    PHIL 3216W. Environmental Ethics

    Physics (PHYS)
    PHYS 3101. Mechanics I
    PHYS 3102. Mechanics II

    Physiology and Neurobiology (PNB)

    Political Science (POLS)
    POLS 3209. Sustainable Energy in the 21st Century
    POLS 3412. Global Environmental Politics

    Psychological Sciences (PSYC)
    PSYC 2200. Physiological Psychology
    PSYC 2500. Learning
    PSYC 3104. Environmental Psychology
    PSYC 3200. Introduction to Behavioral Genetics
    PSYC 3200W. Introduction to Behavioral Genetics
    PSYC 3253. Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory
    PSYC 3270. Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience

    Public Health (PUBH)
    PUBH 3001. Introduction to Epidemiology

    Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
    SLHS 2203. Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing

    Sociology (SOCI)
    SOCI 2709W. Society and Climate Change
    SOCI 3407/W. Energy, Environment, and Society
    SOCI 3971/W. Population

    Statistics (STAT)

    Plant Science (PLSC), Formerly Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems (SPSS)

    Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
    WGSS 2105/W. Gender and Science

    Suggested Courses

    While not required, EEB majors are encouraged to complete a course in statistics. It is also suggested that students complete one semester of organic chemistry.

    Additional Notes and Restrictions

    • Use the EEB Requirements Worksheet, General Education Audit Sheet, and major sample sequence (below) to keep track of general education requirements and major requirements. These forms list the specific requirements for each catalog year. Visit the Forms page.
    • A maximum of three independent study credits from EEB 3899 can count toward the 24 credits in the major.
    • Honors students: refer to the honors page for honors requirements in your major.

    8 Semester Plan

    Students majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology can earn a BS or BA degree. Students must complete the CLAS requirements for a BS or BA to receive their degree. While no sample program can apply to every student, the following example assumes that the student has met the foreign language requirement in high school and is pursuing the BS degree.

    First Semester (Fall)

    BIOL 1107 OR 11081 (4 credits)
    CHEM 1127Q or 1124Q (4 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)
    First-year writing or Gen Ed (3-4 credits)
    UNIV 1800 (FYE) (1 credit)

    Total credits: 15-16

    Second Semester (Spring)

    BIOL 1107 or 1108 (4 credits)
    CHEM 1128Q or 1125Q (3-4 credits)
    Gen Ed or Elective (3 credits)
    Gen Ed or First-year writing (3 credits)
    Total credits: 13-15

    Third Semester (Fall)

    EEB 2244 (4 credits)
    MATH 1131Q (4 credits)
    CHEM 1126Q or MCB 24102 (3 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)

    Total credits: 17

    Fourth Semester (Spring)

    EEB 2245 (3 credits)
    2000+ EEB course3(3-4 credits)
    MATH 1132Q (4 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)
    Total credits: 16-17

    Fifth Semester (Fall)

    Animal or Plant Diversity (3-4 credits)
    Physiology4 or 2000+ EEB course (3-4 credits)
    Related (3 credits)
    PHYS 1201Q or 1401Q (4 credits)
    Non-Major Writing (W) course (3 credits)

    Total credits: 16-18

    Sixth Semester (Spring)

    Animal or Plant Diversity (3-4 credits)
    Physiology or 2000+ EEB course (3-4 credits)
    PHYS 1202Q or 1402Q (3 credits)
    Gen Ed (4 credits)
    Elective (3 credits)

    Total credits: 16-18

    Seventh Semester (Fall)

    2000+ EEB course (3-4 credits)
    Related (3 credits)
    Gen Ed (3 credits)
    Elective/s (3-6 credits)

    Total credits: 12-18

    Eighth Semester (Spring)

    2000+ EEB course (3-4 credits)
    Physiology or 2000+ EEB course (3-4 credits)
    2000+ EEB course or elective (3-4 credits)
    Related (3 credits)
    Elective/s (3-6 credits)

    Total credits: 15-16

    1 Biology 1110. Introduction to Botany may be taken in place of BIOL 1108.

    2 Students must take 12 credits of 2000-level or above courses outside EEB for the related requirement. This group must include MCB 2410. Students who choose related courses that are not on the pre-approved list should talk with their advisor to ensure they will be approved on their final plan of study.

    3 Students are required to take 24 credits of EEB coursework including at least two courses that require extensive laboratory or fieldwork. Plant/animal diversity courses may also fulfill the lab/field requirements. No more than three credits of EEB 3899 may count toward the 24-credit requirement. Note: many EEB courses are offered in alternate years so it is important to plan ahead.

    4 EEB majors must take one of the following to satisfy the physiology requirement: EEB 2250. Introduction to Plant Physiology, EEB 3360. Physiological Ecology of Plants, EEB 4215. Physiological Ecology of Animals, SPSS 4210. Plant Physiology: How Plants Work, or PNB 2250. Animal Physiology to satisfy the physiology requirement. EEB 2250, 3360, and 4215 can count toward the 24-credit requirement, while SPSS 4210 and PNB 2250 can count toward your related courses.