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2000-2001 General Catalog
University of California, Riverside

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Subject abbreviation: BLCN


______________, Chair
Program Office, 1001 Batchelor Hall North
(909) 787-4186; http://cnas.ucr.edu/~consbio/CBioHP.html

Committee in Charge
Michael F. Allen, Ph.D. (Biology/Plant Pathology)
Richard A. Redak, Ph.D. (Entomology)
William E. Walton, Ph.D. (Entomology)

 The Bachelor of Science program in Conservation Biology offers a structured curriculum to prepare students either for entry into public or private sector employment or for graduate study. Once admitted, majors are required to choose a mentor who will also serve as their undergraduate advisor. For more information, contact the program office at (909) 787-4186.

Conservation Internship Program

The Conservation Internship Program offers students opportunities to work with government agencies, private firms, and nonprofit organizations involved in conservation affairs. As excursions into professional life, internships provide "hands-on" experience in applying the principles presented in courses. Beyond the highly specialized training associated with on-the-job activities, students participating in the Conservation Internship Program can gain insights into their aptitudes, aspirations, and work habits which enable them to clarify their academic and career objectives. Professional acquaintances established during internships can continue to serve as important contacts for students after the internship is completed.

Degree Requirements

University Requirements

See the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that all students must satisfy.

College Requirements

See Degree Requirements, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that students must satisfy.

Some of the following requirements for the major may also fulfill some of the College's breadth requirements. Consult with a faculty advisor for course planning.

Major Requirements

The major requirements for the B.S. degree in Conservation Biology are as follows:

1.  Life Sciences core curriculum (65-68 units)

    a) BIOL 005A-BIOL 005B-BIOL 005C
    b) PHYS 002A-PHYS 002B-PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LA-PHYS 02LB-PHYS 02LC
    c) CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C
    d) MATH 009A-MATH 009B
    e) CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM 112C
    f) BCH 100 or BCH 110A
    g) STAT 020, STAT 100A or STAT 120A

2. Additional lower-division requirements (8 units)

    a)  ENSC 006/ECON 006
    b)  GEO 002

3. Upper-division requirements (53-60 units)

    a)  BIOL 102
    b)  ENSC 172
    c)  Breadth Electives: Courses in the disciplines important in Conservation Biology. One course from each of the following areas:
      (1)  Evolution. BIOL 105, BIOL 108
      (2)   Ecology. BIOL 117, BIOL 127/ENTM 127, BPSC 146
      (3)  Systematics. ENTM 112/BIOL 112/BPSC 112, BPSC 144
      (4)  Biodiversity. BIOL 151, BIOL 163, BPSC 130/BIOL 130, ENTM 100/BIOL 100, ENTM 109, PLPA 134/BIOL 134 and PLPA 134L/BIOL 134L, or other appropriate course that includes a laboratory and is approved by a faculty advisor.
      (5)  Abiotic and Landscape Studies. ENSC 100, GEO 160, GEO 162, GEO 168A
      (6)  Applications. BPSC 122/BIOL 142, ENTM 124, ENTM 129, GEO 167
      (7)  Human Issues. ANTH 110, ANTH 129, ANTH 132, ANTH 134, ECON 143A/ENSC 134A, ECON 143B/ENSC 143B, PHIL 117, SOC 184
    d) Specialization. 12 units of upper-division and/or substantive courses in an area of specialization chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor.

    Only the following 190 series can be included in the specialization. No more than 4 units of BLCN 197/199 may be included, and BLCN 190 may be applied when used to study graduate level material.

    e) Conservation Internship Program. BLCN 198-I (Minimum of 2 units).
    f) Conservation Biology Seminar. BLCN 193 must be taken once.

Sample Program

Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C 4 4 4

BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C

4 4 4

MATH 009A-MATH 009B,Humanities/Social Sciences

4 4 4

ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C

4 4 4
Total Units 16 16 16


Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring

CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM 112C

4 4 4

PHYS 002A, PHYS 002B, PHYS 002C

4 4 4

PHYS 02LA-PHYS 02LB-PHYS 02LC

1 1 1

GEO 002, ENSC 006/ECON 006, BIOL 102

4 4 4

Breadth electives

4 4
Total Units 13 17 17

Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
BCH 100/BCH 110A, STAT 100A/STAT 120A 4 5/4
ENSC 172     4
Breadth electives 8 4 8
Specialization   4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4   4
Total Units 16 13/12 16

Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
BLCN 198-I, BLCN 193 4 4
Specialization 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 4 4
BLCN 197, BLCN 199 2 4
Electives 4 4
Total Units 12 14 16

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES

BLCN 190. Special Studies. (1-4)

Individual study, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor and Program Chair. To be taken as a means of meeting special curricular needs. Course content, style, requirements, and grading basis is selected in consultation with the instructor and Program Chair. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 12 units.

BLCN 193. Senior Seminar. (4)

Seminar, four hours. Prerequisite(s): senior standing in Conservation Biology or consent of instructor. A synthesis course which integrates previous upper-division course work by investigating current research topics in conservation biology in a seminar and discussion format. Includes presentations by faculty, students, and invited speakers. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

BLCN 197. Research for Undergraduates. (1-2)

Research, three to six hours. Prerequisite(s): sophomore, junior, or senior standing in Conservation Biology; consent of instructor and Program Chair. An introduction to research providing the opportunity, through reading and preliminary laboratory work, to develop a research project suitable for BLCN 199. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 4 units.

BLCN 198-I. Individual Internship in Conservation Biology. (2-4)

Internship, six to twelve hours; consultation, one hour; outside reading, two to four hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing in Conservation Biology. An off-campus practical experience in the public or private sector related to conservation biology that is conducted under the joint supervision of an off-campus sponsor and a faculty mentor from the Conservation Biology Program. A written report on the internship is required. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 12 units.

BLCN 199. Senior Research. (1-4)

Laboratory, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing in Conservation Biology; consent of instructor and Program Chair. BLCN 197 is recommended. Research in conservation biology performed under the supervision of a faculty member in the Conservation Biology Program. A written research report is required. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 12 units.