I think that a geology course is important for ecologists, particularly those that go on to focus on plants. One possibility is making a geology course an optional substitute for one of your upper level biology courses.
At 02:26 PM 8/16/2007, Jonathan Horton wrote: >Colleagues, > >We are considering revising our course curriculum for our B.S. >Biology degree with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary >Biology. Many of us feel that more training in statistics and >experimental design will be beneficial to our graduates seeking >professional positions and entry into research-based graduate >programs. Our current requirements are as follows: > >1. A core curriculum (16 hours) required of all Biology majors that >includes introductory Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cellular and >Molecular Biology, Botany and Zoology >2. Chemistry (Introductory I and II with lab, Organic I and either >Biochemistry with a lab or Organic II with a lab >3. Two semesters of Physics >4. Calculus and one semester of introductory statistics >5. And many upper level biology courses > >With our general education requirements (we are a public Liberal >Arts College), this makes it a full 4 to 4.5 year schedule for graduation. > >We are discussing cutting back on the amount of chemistry (through >Organic I) and Physics (only 1 semester) and instead having our >students take additional courses in Statistics (Linear Regression >and Anova) and experimental design and analysis. > >My questions to the group is this: What are the entrance >requirements to ecology graduate programs in terms of course >work? Which would better prepare students for a research-based >graduate program or professional position, additional chemistry and >physics or additional statistical training. > >We would not want to limit our graduates chances of entering a >graduate program by failing to meet entrance requirements in terms >of supplemental science coursework. Please provide your thoughts. >Feel free to answer off the list. > >Thanks, > >Jonathan > >-- >************************* >Jonathan Horton Ph.D. >Department of Biology >One University Heights >UNC-Asheville CPO#2440 >Asheville, NC 28804 >Phone: (828)232-5152 >Fax: (828)251-6623 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >************************* Dr. Laurie Anderson (Laurel J. Anderson) Associate Professor Dept. of Botany/Microbiology Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH 43015 740-368-3501 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
