Hi Matt, To answer your question: Yes, you probably can become a successful ecologist or wildlife biologist with either environmental studies or biology. A Masters and possibly a PhD would also likely give you helpful credentials, depending on your interests and the degree to which you want your career to be based in hard science.
My two cents is that undergraduate years are what one makes of them. While the focus of a department may influence a student’s interests, I believe self-motivation is ultimately critical in pursuing science. While maybe not the norm for a small liberal arts university such as Brandeis, I graduated in 2003 with a BA in Biology and an Env. Studies minor (there was no major at that time). After internships and working for a few years I went to U. of Maryland for my Ph.D. (2010) in Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Science with an Ecology area of specialization. I have always felt that the rigor of the (essentially pre-med) Biology major at Brandeis has been extremely helpful beyond college despite that my interests lay outside the cellular level. Cheers, Ben Fertig https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Benjamin_Fertig On Apr 8, 2015, at 8:21 AM, Judith S. Weis <jw...@andromeda.rutgers.edu> wrote: > I haven't looked at it lately, but last I knew, the Bio Dept at Brandeis > was not interested in anything outside the cell membrane - which would > explain some of these policies. I would suggest transferring to a school > that appreciates ecology. > > >> Dear Matt, >> >> What a crazy biology department you must have! Studying abroad, enrolling >> in a SFS program (or, better, helping conduct scientific research in a >> more formal setting, or taking an Organization for Tropical Studies >> course) is EXACTLY what you should be doing! Students without research >> experience in ecology will always have a hard time getting into top >> ecology departments. >> >> >> In my experience, environmental studies programs can weak in the hard >> sciences ... and you do need to know some physics and chemistry, >> certainly math (calculus, linear algebra, probability) and statistics >> (means and variances, t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, regression, multiple >> regression) and ... some real biology - get to know the ecology and >> systematics (and physiology) of at least one group very well, and it will >> serve as an inspiration and strength forever. >> >> >> Cheers, Tom >> >> >> Thomas J. Givnish >> Henry Allan Gleason Professor of Botany >> University of Wisconsin >> >> givn...@wisc.edu >> http://botany.wisc.edu/givnish/Givnish/Welcome.html >> >> On 04/07/15, Matt Smetana wrote: >>> Hey Everyone! >>> >>> My name is Matt Smetana, and I’m a current sophomore at Brandeis >>> University out near >>> Boston. I have been subscribed to this listserve for a few months and >>> have been >>> applying to various summer internships within the ecological/biological >>> field. I am certain >>> this is the career path I want to take but am unclear of the skill set >>> required to be >>> successful in this field. >>> >>> My current degree is Environmental Studies, but I am also highly >>> interested in Ecology, >>> Wildlife Biology, and Forestry. I am most drawn to internships and jobs >>> pertaining to the >>> biological field but enjoy my course work and have a real passion for >>> the environment. >>> My question is, can I become a successful ecologist or wildlife >>> biologist with a degree in >>> environmental studies or must I switch my major in order to obtain the >>> necessary skills >>> for the career that I want. >>> >>> My main concern with choosing biology is that it inhibits me from taking >>> many desired >>> courses, studying abroad at a School for Field Studies programs, >>> participating in >>> independent research opportunities, and possessing an internship this >>> summer (I would >>> need to enroll in Chemistry this summer). >>> >>> I will have already taken all of the requirements for the biology degree >>> such as the >>> introductory courses, biology lab, one semester of general chemistry and >>> lab, and all >>> required electives. But I have not finished general chemistry, organic >>> chemistry, or >>> physics. As ecologists, do you think it is more important to go for the >>> biology degree or >>> stay with environmental studies and gain experience through research, >>> study abroad, >>> and internships? >>> >>> Any input would be very helpful and could potentially change the course >>> of my future! >>> >>> Best, >>> Matt Smetana >> >> -- >> Thomas J. Givnish >> Henry Allan Gleason Professor of Botany >> University of Wisconsin >> >> givn...@wisc.edu >> http://botany.wisc.edu/givnish/Givnish/Welcome.html >>
