About the Program

In 1966-67 the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia established an Institute of Ecology. This organization formally connected scientists in several departments on the university campus with others at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the Sapelo Island Marine Laboratory into a single unit. The Institute soon began a Ph.D. program in Ecology, and an ecology building was constructed near the center of south campus. This program has expanded greatly since its founding, with more than 200 students receiving a doctorate and research from the Institute published in hundreds of books and technical papers.
 
This research oriented program evolved into a School within the Franklin College of the University of Georgia in 1993, retaining the name, Institute of Ecology, because of its worldwide recognition and continuing doctoral programs. A Bachelor of Science in Ecology degree was offered in 1994, an interdisciplinary Masters of Science in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development in 1992, and a Master of Science in Ecology in 1997. These degree programs build upon the experience of the ecology faculty in all areas of modern ecology.

In 2001, the Institute of Ecology merged with the School of Environmental Design to form the College of Environment and Design.

In 2007, the Institute became the Odum School of Ecology, the first of its kind in the world.

Currently the ecology undergraduate degree program has upwards of 100 students actively enrolled. Graduates of this program have gone on to receive positions ranging from research technicians to consultants with local and national government organizations, nongovernment organizations, or to pursue graduate and law degrees.


The Ecology Major
 
All students entering the University of Georgia are required to take 60 hours of liberal arts requirements during their first two years, including the humanities and fine arts, science, mathematics, and the social sciences. Introductory chemistry should be taken as early as possible, followed closely with introductory biology, statistics and mathematics. The final two years of the Ecology curriculum are designed around the specific interests of the student, involving a mixture of core courses, elective courses, regional and international travel, internships and research opportunities. Entering students with some Advance Placement in these fundamental sciences are particularly well suited for the Ecology Degree.

The ecology major is made up of core and elective courses. A student begins with general ecology (ECOL 3500) and a junior seminar (ECOL 3400). The prerequisites for ECOL 3500 are completion of the first courses in general chemistry and biology. After ECOL 3500, students enter the core sequence of two courses. These are population and community ecology (ECOL 4000), and ecosystem and landscape ecology (ECOL 4010). In addition a senior seminar (ECOL 4950) is required of all graduating seniors.
 
The ecology electives are courses from departments of Franklin College and the Odum School of Ecology. These are designed to broaden the degree. All students must take a course in taxonomy or natural history to give them familiarity with a group of plants or animals. They take three more electives from an approved list, which includes courses such as genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, statistics, geomorphology, bioclimatology, historical geology, marine ecology and others. A major in ecology requires 26-29 hours. Students who begin meeting their science requirements early in their college career usually complete the degree in four years. 


Opportunities at the Odum School of Ecology

College life is more than attending classes. The ecology major provides many opportunities for the student to form a professional attitude about ecology. First, students may associate formally with professors to carry out research, to follow a topic through directed readings, to go outside the Odum School on an internship or write a senior thesis. All of these activities carry credit toward meeting the electives of the major.
 
Second, ecology students have organized their own club, the Ecology Club, which sponsors technical, practical and social activities. The students have organized workshops on finding employment after graduation, and on how to select and apply to a graduate school. They also explored the criteria used to identify old forests in a field exercise. All ecology undergraduates are eligible to be members of the Ecology Club.
 

Career Opportunities
 
Every student asks what will a degree in ecology lead to? Until recently that question was relatively easy to answer. Most students went to graduate school and then on to a career in research, practice or college teaching. With downsizing of government, universities and corporations the situation has changed. The new opportunities are with consultant or environmental businesses that provide environmental services to local communities and industries. We see substantial opportunity in this sector of the economy, and encourage students to include appropriate broadening courses in their curriculum. For example, successful students should be able to write and speak effectively, collect and analyze data, and have skills needed to monitor changes in environmental and human resources. They should be able to interact with a wide array of citizens, and should be sufficiently flexible to learn new techniques that can be applied to new problems. Students may also work with the Career Planning and Placement Office for career information and job vacancy information.

Application to enter The University of Georgia may be obtained from:  The UGA Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 212 Terrell Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1633.


Contact:
The University of Georgia
Undergraduate Ecology Program Office
Odum School of Ecology
Athens, GA  30602-2202
Phone: (706) 542-0800; Fax: (706) 542-4819
e-mail: mlboyd@uga.edu

Students or parents desiring to visit the campus and the ecology program should make arrangements in advance.