The M.S. in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is a non-thesis, coursework-based (Plan B) Master’s degree for students preparing for careers in biodiversity management, conservation, and environmental education who want graduate-level training in the subject without the extensive research of a thesis-plan Master’s degree. For students with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) from the University of Connecticut, it is designed as an accelerated (fifth-year) M.S. degree; such students can apply 12 credits of graduate coursework required for the M.S. towards the B.S as well. Students who have completed a B.S. in another program must complete course requirements equivalent to the undergraduate EEB major to earn this M.S. degree. The M.S. requires a minimum of 30 credits, comprising at least 14 credits of core course work, at least six credits of related area courses, at least four credits of research, and one to nine credits of internship.

Core Courses: EEB 5301, 5310, 5369, 5370; EEB 5348 or 5449; and EEB 5347 or one of the following taxonomic diversity courses: EEB 3266, 4250, 4252; EEB 4260 and 4261; EEB 4272, 4274, 4275, 5200, 5204, 5220, 5240, 5250, 5254, 5265, 5271, or 5477.

Related Areas. Students must complete a course from any two of the following related areas: Environmental Policy, Ethics and Management; Environmental Economics, and Environmental Analysis. Advisory committees may approve alternative courses within these three related areas.

Environmental Policy, Ethics, and Management Course Options: ARE 3434; EVST/POLS 3412; GEOG 4210; NRE 3155, 3245, 4165, 4335, 5200, 5345; PHIL 3216; SOCI 3407.

Environmental Economics Course Options: ARE 4438, 4462, 5464.

Environmental Analysis Course Options: ARE 3464; GEOG 3505, 5500, 5510; NRE 3535, 4535, 4665, 5205, 5215, 5575, 5585.

Research and Internship Credits. Research credits are earned by completing one or more sessions of EEB 5889. Internship credits are earned by completing one or more sessions of EEB 5891, possibly in conjunction with sessions of EEB 5881.

The program is offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.