Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The Biosciences BS with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology gives students substantial hands-on experience through laboratory, field, and independent research work. The BS specifically requires original research, while the concentration includes BIOS 213: Introductory Lab in Ecology & Evolution, followed by options such as Lab Module in Ecology, Tropical Field Biology, Conservation Biology Lab, Field Bird Biology Lab, and Plant Diversity Lab. Students also develop skills in designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, evaluating scientific literature, and communicating research findings.

Students can build this practical experience through several program-specific opportunities:

• Independent research: Students complete at least 9 credit hours of BIOS 310: Independent Research for Biosciences Undergraduates, working in Rice faculty laboratories or approved Texas Medical Center laboratories. Research can involve laboratory, field, or bioinformatics-based projects, with students producing research papers or poster presentations.
• Ecology fieldwork: BIOS 316: Lab Module in Ecology includes a required multi-day trip to a field station in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where students make field observations and collect data while studying population ecology, community ecology, habitat restoration, and conservation biology.
• Specialized field and laboratory courses: Students can choose from BIOS 319: Tropical Field Biology, BIOS 320: Ecology and Conservation of Brazilian Wetlands Laboratory, BIOS 322: Conservation Biology Lab, BIOS 330: Insect Biology Lab, BIOS 337: Field Bird Biology Lab, and BIOS 339: Plant Diversity Lab, allowing them to gain practical experience with ecosystems, species, conservation, and biodiversity.
• Research facilities: Ecology and evolutionary biology research at Rice has access to laboratories, a 3,500-square-foot greenhouse, and an experimental field site. The Houston area also provides access to diverse research environments, including coastal prairies, marshes, estuaries, ponds, lakes, and near-shore marine habitats.
• Research beyond campus: Through Rice's research network, students can pursue opportunities at the Texas Medical Center, as well as external research settings such as the Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary NOAA Office.
• Advanced research experience: Qualified students can undertake the Biosciences Honors Research Program, completing a two-semester individual research project in a Rice Biosciences laboratory or approved off-campus site, with research progress reports, laboratory meetings, scientific writing, and oral communication activities.
• Research institutes and interdisciplinary resources: Students benefit from Rice's Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, which promotes interdisciplinary research, connections with the Texas Medical Center, industry partnerships, research translation, and education.
• Research community: More than 75% of Rice Natural Sciences students participate in research before graduation, and students can work directly with faculty mentors on real research problems from their undergraduate years. 

The Biosciences BS with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology gives students a strong foundation in biology alongside advanced study of ecology, evolution, scientific research, data analysis, and scientific communication. Rice states that the program prepares graduates for graduate, medical, and other professional schools, as well as a broad range of careers in the life sciences.

Typical job roles: Ecologist, Conservation Scientist, Environmental Scientist, Biological Researcher

Career support:

• Center for Career Development: Provides 1:1 career coaching, resume and interview preparation, employer and alumni connections, internships, jobs, and externships through Rice's career ecosystem.
• 12twenty: Students can access job and internship postings, personalized recommendations, career resources, and employer opportunities through Rice's online career-management platform.
• Owl Edge Externships: Students can gain short-term professional experience, build networks, and explore different career pathways by working with professionals.

Employment stats and salary:

• 95%+ knowledge rate: Rice reports a 95%+ knowledge rate for its Classes of 2023–2025, covering 3,077 bachelor's-level graduates.
• Post-graduation distribution: 53% working, 33% continuing education, 8% seeking employment, 4% seeking education, and 2% other intentions among the Classes of 2023–2025.
• Salary figures: Rice's current official undergraduate outcomes page does not state a numerical average or median salary in the published snapshot, so a program-specific salary figure is not stated.

University–industry connections:

• Employer Partnership Program: Rice's Center for Career Development works with employers through career events, recruiting, interviews, job postings, and strategic employer partnerships, giving students access to organizations seeking Rice talent.
• Research and professional networks: The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program connects students with research environments spanning laboratories, a 3,500-square-foot greenhouse, an experimental field site, and nearby federal, state, and private refuges, parks, experimental stations, and preserves.
• Houston research ecosystem: Rice notes that the nearby Texas Medical Center provides additional research opportunities in areas including evolutionary genomics and bioinformatics.

Long-term accreditation value: Rice University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Rice's accreditation is subject to comprehensive reaffirmation review, providing an established institutional quality-assurance framework for the BS degree.

Graduation outcomes: Students completing the concentration are expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge of ecology and evolutionary biology, evaluate biological research literature, conduct original research using experiments or mathematical models, analyze and interpret data, and communicate scientific findings effectively to diverse audiences.

Further Academic Progression: After the BS, students can progress into Rice's MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, which requires original research, a master's thesis, a departmental seminar, and a public thesis defense. The BS also provides preparation for Rice's PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, while students interested in broader environmental careers can pursue the MS in Environmental Analysis, a professional master's program combining environmental science with management, policy, quantitative decision-making, and a required professional internship.