BSc in Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (E&EB) program extends learning beyond traditional classroom and laboratory settings. Courses like Field Ecology involve weekly outdoor sessions where students explore local ecosystems through hands-on observation and experimentation. Numerous classes, including Field Ecology, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Limnology, and Stream Ecology, incorporate field excursions and student-led research projects. Students can also gain academic credit through off-campus programs at institutions like Shoals Marine Lab and the Organization for Tropical Studies. Laboratory work forms a core component of many courses, while quantitative approaches are applied in both field research and theoretical studies. Molecular biology now plays an essential role across all ecological and evolutionary disciplines. Ecologists examine how organisms interact with their surroundings and the resulting effects on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Evolutionary biologists investigate species' histories and the mechanisms driving adaptation, phenotypic diversity, and biological variation. These interconnected disciplines both require thorough knowledge of organismal diversity, physiology, anatomy, and evolutionary processes, making biodiversity studies the third foundational element of our academic program.