OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Field Ecology Major (B.A.) |
Major code BA2119
College of Arts and Sciences
Environmental and Plant Biology
Porter Hall 315
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1126
plantbio@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/plant-biology/undergraduate/field-ecology-ba
Harvey Ballard, contact person
ballardh@ohio.edu
Program Overview
The B.A. degree in field ecology is designed for students interested in the plant sciences and who desire a broad liberal education. In addition to providing a strong background in field ecology, the program offers students experience in a variety of marketable skills, including plant identification, vegetation survey techniques, and GIS. The flexibility in this program allows for either a minor or second major in another discipline, such as economics, business administration, computer science, anthropology, sociology, geography, geological sciences, or biological sciences.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirement beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
The Field Ecology program prepares students for entry-level environmental science jobs immediately after graduation. Graduates have jobs in environmental monitoring, rare-plant surveys, high school teaching, project management for nonprofit organizations, park management, and tree care. Students are strongly encouraged to select the internship option in order to enhance job prospects. Listings of internship opportunities can be found at the following websites:
- www.theasca.org
- www.americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-vista
- https://careers.conbio.org
- ecophys-jobs.org/temp.html
- ecophys-jobs.org/undergrad.html
- Handshake
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for conferral of a bachelor’s degree. However, the Field Ecology major requires completion of a minimum of 121 hours. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .
Environmental and Plant Biology Hours Requirement
Complete a total of 48 semester hours of PBIO coursework (excluding PBIO 2170 , PBIO 2200 , PBIO 2250 , and PBIO 2840 ), including all of the requirements below.
Plant Biology Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- PBIO 1140 - Foundations of Plant Biology Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 1150 - Plant Structure and Development Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 2090 - Plant Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3300 - Plant Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3080 - Structural Botany Credit Hours: 4
Plant Physiology
Complete one of the following courses:
- PBIO 3240 - Plant Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 3260 - Plant Ecophysiology Credit Hours: 4
PBIO Professional Skills
Complete the following courses:
- PBIO 2180 - Introduction to Biological Research and Writing Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3150 - Statistical Methods in Plant Biology Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 4170 - Biological Research and Science Ethics Credit Hours: 1
PBIO Research
Complete one of the following for a minimum of 2 hours:
- PBIO 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 2 - 15
- PBIO 4940 - Undergraduate Research Credit Hours: 2 - 4
- PBIO 4941 - Undergraduate Research/Written Presentation Credit Hours: 3
PBIO Specialty Courses
Complete the following:
- PBIO 2480 - Dendrology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3190 - Ohio Flora Credit Hours: 3
Ecology
Complete one of the following courses:
- PBIO 3330 - Restoration Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 4350 - Plant Population Biology and Community Ecology Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 4380 - Soil Properties and Ecosystem Processes Credit Hours: 4
PBIO Electives
Complete three additional PBIO courses at the 2000 level or higher (excluding PBIO 2170 , PBIO 2200 , PBIO 2250 , PBIO 2840 , PBIO 4910 , PBIO 4940 , PBIO 4941 ).
Biological Sciences
Complete one of the following courses:
- BIOS 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3
- BIOS 3220 - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
-
and
- BIOS 3225 - General Microbiology Laboratory Credit Hours: 2
- BIOS 3760 - Field Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- BIOS 4360 - Field Entomology Credit Hours: 3
Chemistry
Complete the following courses:
- CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
- CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
Geography or Geology
Complete one of the following courses:
- GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOL 2150 - Environmental Geology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 2310 - Water and Pollution Credit Hours: 3