Undergraduate Minor

Elisabeth Frasch

Interested in Solving Real-World Problems?

Undergraduate Minor Coordinator

Contact Us

Dr. Erin McKenney
Office phone: (919) 515-5089
Email: eamckenn@ncsu.edu

The applied ecology minor is intended for students interested in applying ecological concepts and principles to solving real-world problems. Students with an expertise in applied ecology will be well-equipped to address local and global challenges associated with a wide variety of important issues such as water quantity and quality, natural resource management, environmental conservation and restoration, climate change, and maintenance of biodiversity. To earn a minor in applied ecology students will be required to complete challenging courses and an in-depth research experience.

Requirements and Electives

For admission, students should first complete BIO 181 and AEC 360 with letter grades of C- or better before contacting the minor coordinator.

For completion: Students must complete AEC 360, AEC 400, AEC 492 (At least 3 CR) and at least two additional courses from the ‘optional courses’ list. This will result in a minimum of 16 credit hours. All letter-graded courses must be completed with a C or better.

Required Courses (7 credit hours total)

AEC/PB 360 – Ecology (Prerequisite: C- or better in BIO 181) – 4 credit hours
AEC 400 – Applied Ecology (Prerequisite: AEC/PB 360) – 3 credit hours

Research Experience (3-6 credits)

AEC 492/493 – Learning Experience in Applied Ecology (on or off campus) – 1-6 credit hours

Electives

Minor Electives (Must choose a minimum of two courses from this list) – at least 6 credit hours:

  • AEC 295 – Special Topics in Applied Ecology (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • AEC 419 – Freshwater Ecology (Prerequisite: C- or better in AEC/PB 360)
  • AEC 420 – Introduction to Fisheries Science (Prerequisite: C- or better in AEC/PB 360)
  • AEC 441/442 – Biology of Fishes (Prerequisite C- or better in AEC/PB 360)
  • AEC 460 – Field Ecology (Prerequisite: C- or better in AEC 360 and ST 311)
  • AEC 495– Advanced Special Topics in Applied Ecology (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • BIO 220– Marine Biology (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • BIO/FW 353 – Wildlife Management (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • BIO 624.004 – Marine Fisheries Ecology
  • CS 213 – Crops: Adaption & Production
  • CS 230 – Introduction to Agroecology (Prerequisite: BIO 105 or BIO 181 or BIO/ZO 160 or BO 200 or BO 205 or HS 201 or CS 213)
  • CS 411 – Crop Ecology (Prerequisite PB 321 or PB 421)
  • CS 430 – Advanced Agroecology
  • ENT 203 – An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping
  • ENT 207 – Insects and Human Disease
  • ENT 212 – Basic Entomology
  • ENT 425 – General Entomology (Prerequisite: BIO 181 or BIO 140 or BIO 350)
  • FOR 404 – Forest Wildlife Management
  • FW 221 – Conservation of Natural Resources
  • FW 312 – Fisheries Techniques and Management (One week of FWCB summer camp; 1 credit)
  • FW 314 – Coastal Ecology and Management (One week of FWCB summer camp; 1 credit. Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • FW 403 – Urban Wildlife Management
  • FW 405 – Tropical Wildlife Ecology in Nicaragua
  • FW 453 – Principles of Wildlife Science (Prerequisite: FW 353 and ST 311)
  • HS 201 – The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices
  • HS 302 – Gardening with Herbaceous Perennials (Prerequisite: BIO 183 or BO 200)
  • HS 303 – Ornamental Plant Identification I (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • HS 304 – Ornamental Plant Identification II (Prerequisite: BIO 181)
  • MEA 150 – Environmental Issues in Water Resources
  • MEA 200 – Introduction to Oceanography
  • MEA 210 – Oceanography Lab
  • MEA 250 – Introduction to Coastal Environments (Prerequisite: MEA 200/210 or MEA 100/110)
  • MEA 251 – Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory
  • MEA 469 – Ecology of Coastal Resources (Prerequisite: MEA 250 and MEA 220 or MEA 449)
  • NR 300 – Natural Resource Measurements (Prerequisite: PB 360 or AEC 360 and ST 311)
  • NR 303 – Humans and the Environment
  • NR 350 – International Sustainable Resource Use
  • NR 420 – Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology (Prerequisite: SSC 200 and PB 360 or AEC 360)
  • PB 200 – Plant Life
  • PB 213 – Plants and Civilization (Prerequisite: BIO 125, BIO 105 or PB 200)
  • PB 220 – Local Flora (Prerequisite: BIO 125 or PB 200)
  • PB 250 – Plant Biology
  • PB 403 – Systematic Botany (Prerequisite: PB 200, PB 250, BIO 183)
  • PB 464 – Rare Plants of North Carolina (Prerequisite: One of the following-PB 200, PB 220, or PB 403)
  • PB 480 – Introduction to Plant Biotechnology (Prerequisite: BCH 454 or BIT 510 or CS 211 or GN 311 or PB/BIO 414 or PB 421)
Undergraduate ecology

Undergraduate Courses

Choose from an interesting variety of undergraduate courses such as applied ecology, field ecology and methods, science communication and more.

See the list of undergraduate courses

Apply for the Minor

  1. Download and complete the “Declare a Minor” form.
  2. Download, complete and sign the “AEC 492/493 Memorandum of Agreement” form. Note: Your academic advisor must also sign this form prior to submission.
  3. Submit both completed forms to the minor coordinator (Dr. Erin McKenney, Department of Applied Ecology, Campus Box 7617)