The Certificate in Conservation Biology is a multidisciplinary program of study integrating theoretical and applied topics associated with conservation biology. The certificate is intended for undergraduate students with majors in biology or in any other field who wish to develop a specialization in conservation. The certificate is offered by the Department of Biology in cooperation with the departments of Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy, and Political Science. Building on a core curriculum, students can elect courses from these departments to complete their requirements. Regularly enrolled undergraduates at UMSL or individuals with baccalaureate degrees who wish to receive a Certificate in Conservation Biology are eligible to participate in the conservation certificate program. To participate, students should design their program in consultation with their regular academic advisor and the Biology faculty professor of record for the certificate program. Guidelines for admission to the certificate program are also available. Individuals with baccalaureate degrees who are interested in this certificate must apply to the university as unclassified undergraduates. The certificate requires completion of 21 credit hours, outlined below. Students should consult the Bulletin with regard to prerequisites for any of the courses listed here.
| Core Courses | ||
| Biology | ||
| BIOL 2102 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 3202 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3203 | Conservation Biology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 4299 | Practicum in Conservation | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| The remaining 11 credits must be selected from courses listed below. Five credits must be taken from within biology and 6 credits outside biology, from at least two departments. | 11 | |
Anthropology | ||
| Native Peoples of North America | ||
| Archaeology of North America | ||
| People and Plants | ||
Biology | ||
| Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Population Biology | ||
| Applications of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Field Biology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Ornithology Laboratory | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Entomology Laboratory | ||
| Flowering Plant Families: Phylogeny and Diversification | ||
Economics | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| The Economics of Government Spending and Taxation | ||
| Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences | ||
| Fundamentals of Cost-Benefit Analysis | ||
History | ||
| Special Topics in History | ||
Political Science | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| International Organizations and Global Problem-Solving | ||
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Conservation Biology Certificate program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of evolution, and wildlife and conservation biology and how they are used to manage wildlife and solve environmental problems
- Integrate aspects of social, political, and economic sciences to recognize and solve problems related to biological conservation
- Design conservation biology focused experiments and research protocols
- Collect field data using best-practice procedures
- Analyze conservation data and present evidence to scientific and lay audiences
- Synthesize conservation plans that incorporate traditional knowledge and diverse perspectives
- Apply research findings to the practical realities of managing regulated species