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Union University

Biology

Department of Biology at Union

Conservation Biology

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." - Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

students observing wetlands The foundation of the Conservation Biology major at Union University is that we are God's stewards of His creation. Conservation Biology is a science that examines the natural world around us, looking at the big picture of the inner workings of the environment and our impact on it. It is built on the assumption that humans can affect the environment positively and negatively. Conservation Biology majors learn about our natural world and the plants and animals that surround us by getting out into the fields, forests, and streams. They learn about the policies and laws that drive natural resources management in the United States and about conservation practices that can enhance wildlife and plant communities.

Conservation Biology majors at Union University should expect to have the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, where several classes will take you into the field for hands-on experiences. One exciting aspect of being a Conservation Biology major at Union University is the opportunity to work with the raptor rehabilitation program housed on campus. Injured hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles are nursed back to full health, with the hopeful anticipation of releasing them back into the wild.

The field of conservation biology is becoming increasingly specialized, and continuing your education into graduate school is becoming expected. Your education at Union University will prepare you for graduate studies. Conservation biology majors at Union University complete a three-course sequence teaching the fundamentals of research. Students have the opportunity to engage in field research on a variety of topics, including assessments of wild turkey populations, examining population genetics of small mammals, using radio-telemetry to examine the survival of box turtles, and much more.

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Major in Conservation Biology

Featured Coursework

  • Introduction to Conservation Biology
  • Zoology
  • Invertebrate Zoology
  • Natural Resources Policy
  • Conservation Techniques
  • Genetics
  • Ecology
  • Tropical Ecology
  • Environmental GIS
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology and Conservation of the Vertebrates
  • Taxonomy of the Vascular Plants
  • Environmental Ethics
  • Marine Biology
  • Ornithology
  • Plant Physiology
  • Dendrology

2025-26 Catalogue: Major in Conservation Biology

Critter Club

Critter Club is a zoology-themed animal care and education outreach club. This club promotes the love of learning about animals in local elementary schools through interactive presentations using live animals on the topics of animal care, biology, behavior, and conservation.

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Career opportunities for Conservation Biologists

  • State and federal natural resources management agencies (e.g., Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation)
  • Industries where monitoring of environmental impacts must be performed or that directly manage natural resources (e.g., forest management for a paper manufacturing company)
  • Conservation organizations