Program Overview

Program Overview

The online Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Conservation Biology and Ecology at Arizona State University prepares students to find solutions to complex threats to Earth's living organisms and ecosystems. This program combines innovative technology tools with an adaptive curriculum, allowing students to explore virtual worlds as scientific investigators and gather data to solve realistic problems in biology.

Program Details

• The program consists of 40 classes, each lasting 7.5 weeks, and requires a total of 120 credit hours.
• Students will learn through a combination of courses and hands-on learning experiences, gaining an understanding of how living organisms interact with the natural world and how to reduce human interference with these natural processes.
• The program's innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills, including the use of narrative storytelling tools like Dreamscape Learn.

Conservation Biology and Ecology Courses

• The program includes a range of biology, ecology, and conservation courses, as well as core calculus and statistics courses.
• Students will take four major core and two concentration core courses, with a variety of electives to choose from, including population and community ecology, and oceanography.
• Online labs are offered to fulfill all requirements of the program, with an optional in-person lab component at ASU's Tempe campus for organic chemistry.

Course Curriculum

• BIO 181: General Biology I - Biological concepts emphasizing principles and the interplay of structure and function at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.
• BIO 182: General Biology II - Biological concepts emphasizing principles and the interplay of structure and function at the organismal, population, and community levels.
• BIO 340: General Genetics - Surveys fundamental principles of genetics, including Mendelian principles, molecular and functional genetics, gene regulation, cytogenetics, gene mapping, genetics of development, complex traits, and population genetics.
• BIO 345: Evolution - Processes of adaptive change and speciation in sexual populations.
• BIO 320: Fundamentals of Ecology - Organization, functioning, and development of ecological systems, including energy flow, biogeochemical cycling, environmental relations, and population dynamics.
• BIO 322: Conservation of Biodiversity - Species-level approaches to the protection, management, and restoration of biological resources from scientific and policy perspectives.

Career Opportunities

• Upon graduating, students will have the conservation biology expertise necessary to pursue roles in government agencies, K-12 and higher education, non-governmental agencies, and private companies focused on environmental resources.
• Career examples include Biological Sciences Professor, Climate Change Analyst, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Specialist, Fish and Game Warden, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Geographic Information Systems Technician, High School Teacher, and Hydrogeologist.

Admission Requirements

• To be admitted to ASU, students must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed at least 14 of the following courses:
  • Four years of math
  • Four years of English (non-ESL/ELL courses)
  • Three years of lab sciences (one year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences, or physics)
  • Two years of social sciences (including one year of American history)
  • Two years of the same second language
  • One year of fine arts or career and technical education
• Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
  • Top 25% in their high school graduating class
  • 3.00 GPA in competency courses (4.00 = A)
  • ACT score of 22 for Arizona residents (24 non-residents) or SAT Reasoning score of 1120 for Arizona residents (1180 non-residents)

Tuition and Fees

• Students can estimate their full-time or part-time tuition fees using the tuition calculator.
• Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Research Areas

• The School of Life Sciences takes a transdisciplinary approach to education, with a vast spectrum of degrees in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.
• The school inspires students to become socially aware critical thinkers and global citizens, with 31,572 students enrolled as of fall 2024 and $161 million in research expenditures in FY23.