In the Biological Sciences program .
In addition to the concentration requirements outlined below, all students must complete the Biological Sciences foundation requirements:
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Ecologists study the interactions between organisms and their environments, and the consequences of those interactions for individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Evolutionary biologists study the history of organisms and the processes that have resulted in adaptation, phenotypic variation, and biotic diversity. Ecology and evolutionary biology are interdependent fields that both rely on a deep understanding of the diversity of organisms, their physiology and anatomy, and how they are modified through natural selection, which is why biodiversity/organismal biology is the third pillar of our curriculum.
Learning in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (E&EB) concentration is not confined to the classroom and lab. In Field Ecology, for example, students spend one afternoon each week in the fields, forests, and ponds of the area, investigating animals and plants by observation and experiment. Many of our courses (e.g. Field Ecology, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Limnology, Stream Ecology) include field trips and short field-based student projects. E&EB students can also earn credit for off-campus field courses, such as courses at Shoals Marine Lab and through the Organization for Tropical Studies. Hands-on laboratory work is a basic feature of many courses. Quantitative methods are used in laboratory and field research and in theoretical studies, and molecular biology has become crucial in all areas of ecology and evolutionary biology.
Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell has greatly enhanced our understanding of natural ecosystems, and how ecosystems are changing in response to the major global challenges in the Anthropocene: climate change, biodiversity loss, emerging infectious diseases, and providing food for an ever-increasing human population. Students have many opportunities to participate in original field- and lab-based research, either as a member of a research team or independently under the guidance of a faculty member. In addition, students can receive credit for research in E&EB through BIOG 2990 (Introduction to Research Methods in Biology) and BIOG 4990 (Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology).
Graduates from this concentration have entered a wide variety of careers. Many go on to graduate school in ecology or evolutionary biology. Others take jobs with government agencies doing conservation work, management, or environmental education, or with non-governmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or World Wildlife Fund. Students have also used their backgrounds to enter careers in environmental law, journalism, medicine, and business.