Program: Biology, Environmental Concentration - Covenant College

Apr 01, 2025

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

This option offers a concentration in environment/ecology-related topics and is recommended for those interested in environmental issues, conservation biology and wildlife biology.

Covenant is affiliated with the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. By completing both the Covenant and Au Sable programs, a student may earn an environmental certificate from the institute. Covenant students will be billed separately for their Au Sable expenses, and Covenant will give credit for most Au Sable Institute courses. Fellowships and scholarships are available.

The core and distribution requirements for a major in biology are those listed for baccalaureate degrees with the exception that CHE 121 General Chemistry I is fulfilling the natural science lab requirement, and is already required for the major.

Requirements for Major

Core Curriculum Requirements 54 hour(s).
Electives 3-7 hour(s).

Major and Supporting Course Requirements

These requirements may include enough units in chemistry for a chemistry minor. If an additional minor is desired, the total number of units taken may exceed the 126 needed for graduation.

BIO 111 General Biology I 4 hour(s).
BIO 112 General Biology II 4 hour(s).
BIO 261 Ecology 4 hour(s).
BIO 291 Biological Perspectives 3 hour(s).
BIO 311 Practicum in Biology 0 to 3 hour(s).
BIO 490 Biology Seminar 1 hour(s).
BIO 492 Capstone Project in Biology 2 hour(s).
BIO 494 Senior Seminar 2 hour(s).
CHE 121 General Chemistry I 3 hour(s).
CHE 121L General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hour(s).
CHE 122 General Chemistry II 3 hour(s).
CHE 122L General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hour(s).
CHE 323 Organic Chemistry I 4 hour(s).
CHE 324 Organic Chemistry II 4 hour(s).
or
PHY 131 General College Physics I 4 hour(s).
PHY 132 General College Physics II 4 hour(s).
MAT 142 Precalculus 4 hour(s).
STA 252 Elementary Statistics: Concepts and Methods 3 hour(s).

Summer courses at Au Sable Institute (3 courses) - 12 hours

The following courses are taught only at Au Sable Institute (see their catalog for course descriptions of courses currently offered at www.ausable.org ):

301 Land Resources
302 Lake Ecology and Management
303 Ecological Agriculture
304 International Development and Environmental Sustainability
310 Environmental Law and Policy
311 Field Botany
318 Marine Biology
321 Animal Ecology
322 Aquatic Biology
332 Environmental Chemistry
343 Tropical Agriculture and Missions
345 Wildlife Ecology
355 Watersheds in Global Development
359 Marine Mammals
360 Applied Biodiversity Genetics
361 Field Biology in Spring
362 Environmental Applications for GIS
365 Insect Ecology of Streams, Forests, and Fields
368 Forest Ecology
471 Conservation Biology
478 Alpine Ecology
482 Restoration Ecology

Biology electives

Group 3 - three courses (see list below) 11-12 hour(s).

Group 3:

BIO 324 Biology of Invertebrates 4 hour(s).
BIO 326 Insect Biology and Ecology 4 hour(s).
BIO 327 Ornithology 4 hour(s).
BIO 331 Herpetology 3 hour(s).
BIO 335 Field Botany 4 hour(s).
BIO 361 Land Resources 4 hour(s).
BIO 384 Ecological Diversity of South America: Ecuador 4 hour(s).

Requirements for Major

Major and Supporting Course Requirements

Summer courses at Au Sable Institute (3 courses) - 12 hours

Biology electives

Group 3:

Total hours for the major: 65-69

Total degree hours: 126