My doctoral environmental sciences program had a core encompassing environmental chemistry, environmental policy, environmental economics, and environmental biology.
An environmental scientist must have a grasp of atmospheric, water, and soil chemistry. They also must have a grasp of the political and economic tools that can be used to reduce environmental degradation. They also must have an understanding of mathematical principles (physics being a very important one) to operate efficiently in this field. EVS is not conservation biology or visa versa although the fields overlap. In fact, conservation biology is a subcomponent of environmental biology which is a subset of the environmental sciences. All four of these areas are essential to an environmental scientist or they cannot efficiently opperate in a multidisciplinary environment. Many environmental scientists shift to pure ecology and many ecologists work in environmental science. However, both must understand chemistry and physics. Notice I am lumping geology and chemistry together in this email, and clearly geology is important. Many concepts of physics and chemistry are fundamental to the biological sciences, and even moreso to environmental science and ecology. On Fri, August 17, 2007 9:49 am, Sarah Hurteau wrote: > Loren, > I am a recent graduate from a masters program that does just that. It is > officially call "Environmental Sciences and Policy" but the premise is > that students who graduate from this program are better suited to > address these sorts of issues. A way to bridge the gap in communication > between scientists and policy makers or community members or land > managers. My background is in the natural sciences, but there are others > in the program who are more focused on social sciences. A fellow grad > student searched other universities that had similar programs and there > were <20, but it seem that this idea is growing. I don't think I will > ever make the switch to conducting social science research, but it has > been interesting to learn how to view the ecological research from a > completely different perspective, which I think will help those of us > wanting to work in conservation biology. > > In this light, I doubt I will need the 3-4 semesters of chemistry or > year of physics I had to take as an undergrad. Statistics or > experimental design would have been much more useful! You could make > those more advanced classes elective, so for those people who are > interested in water chemistry, or similar topics, they can follow that > course. > > Sarah > > LOREN BYRNE wrote: >> This question about undergrad requirements for ecology programs prompts >> me to throw out to the community a general question that I have pondered >> for years: >> Given the increasingly recognized importance of integrating the social >> sciences into ecology for topics such as ecosystem services, urban >> ecology, etc., is it time to begin shifting our ecology education >> paradigm toward inclusion of "non-traditional" courses as suggested >> correlative courses, if not requirements, in ecology curricula, i.e., >> courses in sociology, economics and maybe even communications? >> Many might argue (legitimately so in my opinion) that such social >> science courses could be more important and beneficial for students who >> want to go into conservation biology or environmental management fields >> than the standard "full year of chemistry and physics." >> >> cheers >> Loren >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Jonathan Horton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Date: Thursday, August 16, 2007 2:26 pm >> Subject: courses required for graduate ecology programs >> >> >>> 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] >>> ************************* >>> >>> > > > -- > Sarah Hurteau > Senior Research Specialist > > Forest ERA > Northern Arizona University > PO Box 5694 > Flagstaff, AZ 86011 > Office: (928) 523-4730 > Fax: (928) 523-7423 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.forestera.nau.edu > Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor of Biology Editor Herpetological Conservationa and Biology [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
