Biology, Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration, B.S.

Biology

Especially valuable to students who pursue advanced study for careers in academia, conservation organizations, or the medical field.

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Biology, Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration, B.S.

The Organismal Biology and Ecology major is intended for students interested in exploring the biology of organisms. Courses allow students to focus on the structure, function, and physiology of a broad array of organisms: from algae, fungi and plants to fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Faculty involved in this major integrate their research to additionally address issues in behavioral ecology, climate change, evolutionary ecology and history, population dynamics, community ecology, and wildlife diseases. The major provides a comprehensive background for students with career interests in being a field ecologist, a park ranger or naturalist, an environmental consultant, a natural resource manager, or for students to further their education to pursue a graduate degree.

Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Careers
Requirements
Faculty

News Briefs

A region's richness

A region's richness

Biology isn't all microscopes and petri dishes. The department has a number of professors whose research takes them — and many of their students — into the field to study the visible world and its creatures. Whether helping Dr. Vincent Cobb in his study of the thermal ecology of snakes in the region or assisting Dr. Brian Miller in his research on hellbenders, one of the largest (and some would say ugliest) salamanders in the world, Biology majors will find that there is plenty to see and learn about right here in middle Tennessee.

Research that matters

Research that matters

For more than a decade, Dr. Elliot Altman has explored the mysteries of peptide therapy research. His work has been part of a process that could revolutionize the treatment of types of arthritis and cancer in years (as opposed to decades). (His research also includes discovering ways to increase the efficiency of certain alternative fuels.) Motivated students in the Biology Department can be part of that process or other fascinating areas of work that makes a difference in people's lives.

News Briefs

A region's richness

Biology isn't all microscopes and petri dishes. The department has a number of professors whose research takes them — and many of their students — into the field to study the visible world and its creatures. Whether helping Dr. Vincent Cobb in his study of the thermal ecology of snakes in the region or assisting Dr. Brian Miller in his research on hellbenders, one of the largest (and some would say ugliest) salamanders in the world, Biology majors will find that there is plenty to see and learn about right here in middle Tennessee.

Research that matters

For more than a decade, Dr. Elliot Altman has explored the mysteries of peptide therapy research. His work has been part of a process that could revolutionize the treatment of types of arthritis and cancer in years (as opposed to decades). (His research also includes discovering ways to increase the efficiency of certain alternative fuels.) Motivated students in the Biology Department can be part of that process or other fascinating areas of work that makes a difference in people's lives.

Related Media

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CAREERS

Biology, Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration, B.S.


A degree in biology is a “foundation degree” — a direct door-opener for a large number of careers, as well as a crucial first undergraduate step on the path toward those careers that require additional graduate training.

Examples include

  • Agricultural scientist
  • Animal behaviorist
  • Bio-engineer
  • Desert ecologist
  • Medical laboratory tech
  • Medical librarian
  • Microbiologist
  • Molecular endocrinologist
  • Park ranger
  • Safety manager
  • Science teacher
  • State park resource ecologist
  • Toxicologist
  • Virologist
  • Wildlife biologist
  • Zoo biologist

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • Aegis Sciences Corporation
  • American Red Cross
  • Area High Schools
  • Arnold Air Force Base
  • Austin Peay State University
  • Biomimetic Therapeutics
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Covance
  • Cytometry Associates
  • Environmental Science Corp.
  • Erlanger Medical Center
  • GenHunter Corporation
  • ICON Clinical Research
  • Jack Daniels Distillery
  • Local Community Colleges
  • Merck and Co.
  • Monsanto
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Pathgroup Laboratories
  • Pfizer Inc.
  • Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
  • Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  • USDA
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Vi-jon
MTSU Career Development Center

MTSU’s Career Development Center

MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.  

Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career

Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake

Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides. 

REQUIREMENTS

Biology, Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration, B.S.

  
615-898-2847
Dennis Mullen, program coordinator
Dennis.Mullen@mtsu.edu

Every Biology major is required to declare a concentration area. Each area requires hours to be selected from a set of designated courses. Four tracks are available under the Organismal Biology and Ecology concentration: botany, zoology, ecology, or general.

All Biology majors are assigned a professional advisor. The student is responsible for seeking the assistance of the advisor. This catalog is not intended to provide the detail necessary for self-advising.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

 

Degree Requirements

True Blue Core (TBC) 41 hours
Major Requirements 42 hours*
     Major Core      29 hours
     Concentration      10 hours
     Major UD Electives      3 hours
Supporting Courses 19-20 hours*
Electives 17-29 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

 *This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the True Blue Core curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the number of elective hours will increase.

True Blue Core (41 hours)

 requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following courses required by the major meet True Blue Core requirements:

Major Requirements (42 hours)

Biology Core (29 hours)

Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration (10 hours)

Students may select from the Organismal Biology and Ecology concentration courses or may choose to follow one of the tracks below.

Botany Track (12 hours)

Ecology Track (10 hours)

Choose two of the following:

General Biology Track (11-12 hours)

This track satisfies teacher education requirements.

Area One (4 hours)

Choose one:

Area Two (4 hours)
Area Three (3-4 hours)

Choose one:

Zoology Track (10 hours)

BIOL UD elective (3 hours)

Supporting Courses (19-20 hours)

Electives (17-29 hours)

Curriculum: Biology, Organismal Biology and Ecology

Freshman

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Sophomore

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Junior

Subtotal: 32-34 Hours

Senior

  • BIOL 4200 - Senior Seminar

    BIOL 4200 - Senior Seminar

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  • BIOL upper-division 3-4 credit hours
  • Electives* 15-16 credit hours
  • BIOL concentration courses 6-8 credit hours

Subtotal: 25-28 Hours

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FACULTY

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Preview Day February 8 and March 22

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