Colleagues, We are considering revising our course curriculum for our B.S. Biology degree with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Many of us feel that more training in statistics and experimental design will be beneficial to our graduates seeking professional positions and entry into research-based graduate programs. Our current requirements are as follows:
1. A core curriculum (16 hours) required of all Biology majors that includes introductory Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Botany and Zoology 2. Chemistry (Introductory I and II with lab, Organic I and either Biochemistry with a lab or Organic II with a lab 3. Two semesters of Physics 4. Calculus and one semester of introductory statistics 5. And many upper level biology courses With our general education requirements (we are a public Liberal Arts College), this makes it a full 4 to 4.5 year schedule for graduation. We are discussing cutting back on the amount of chemistry (through Organic I) and Physics (only 1 semester) and instead having our students take additional courses in Statistics (Linear Regression and Anova) and experimental design and analysis. My questions to the group is this: What are the entrance requirements to ecology graduate programs in terms of course work? Which would better prepare students for a research-based graduate program or professional position, additional chemistry and physics or additional statistical training. We would not want to limit our graduates chances of entering a graduate program by failing to meet entrance requirements in terms of supplemental science coursework. Please provide your thoughts. Feel free to answer off the list. Thanks, Jonathan -- ************************* Jonathan Horton Ph.D. Department of Biology One University Heights UNC-Asheville CPO#2440 Asheville, NC 28804 Phone: (828)232-5152 Fax: (828)251-6623 [EMAIL PROTECTED] *************************
