Biological Sciences Major, BS - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Tennessee

Program Overview

The Biological Sciences Major, BS – Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is designed for students interested in understanding how organisms interact with one another and their environments, how species evolve, and how ecological processes shape biodiversity. Students develop a strong foundation in biological sciences while progressing into specialized study of ecology, evolution, behavior, conservation, field biology, quantitative methods, and research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their biological foundation through introductory biology and supporting science coursework, developing the concepts needed for more advanced ecology and evolutionary biology study. BIOL 150 – Organismal and Ecological Biology introduces organismal and ecological principles that provide preparation for the concentration.

Year 2: Students begin focused EEB study with EEB 205 – Theory and Methods in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, learning fundamental theories, scientific methods, evidence evaluation, and scientific communication. Coursework can also introduce areas such as EEB 250 – Human Anatomy and EEB 251 – Human Anatomy Laboratory, where students apply anatomical knowledge through models and human cadavers.

Year 3: Students move into more specialized ecological and evolutionary topics such as EEB 310 – Evolution, Disease, and Medicine, which applies evolutionary theory to disease and public health, and EEB 411 – Biostatistics, which develops experimental design, hypothesis testing, statistical modelling, and quantitative analysis for EEB research. EEB 353 – Comparative Vertebrate Biology adds practical study of vertebrate diversity, phylogeny, ecology, behavior, and adaptations through laboratory work.

Year 4: Advanced coursework allows students to explore areas such as EEB 415 – Field Ecology, where they develop field methods, sampling, experimental design, statistical analysis, and scientific presentation skills, alongside EEB 432 – Conservation Genomics, which applies genomic data and computation to conservation. Students can also undertake EEB 400 – Undergraduate Research or complete EEB 407 – Senior Honors Thesis involving faculty-supervised research.

Focus areas: Behavior, ecology, evolution, conservation, organismal biology, disease ecology, plant biology, animal biology, field biology, biodiversity, and quantitative biology.

Learning outcomes: Scientific evidence evaluation, hypothesis development, experimental design, field observation, biological sampling, statistical and data analysis, scientific communication, research skills, critical thinking, and application of ecological and evolutionary concepts to biological and societal problems.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The university's official EEB materials emphasize preparation for STEM careers through professional-development coursework, research, internships, mentoring, and practical laboratory experience; no separate professional accreditation is stated for this specific concentration on the official program pages reviewed.

Reputation (employability rankings): The official program information emphasizes that more than 50% of EEB students work in laboratories and gain practical professional experience, with opportunities to present and publish research and build professional networks. A specific QS, Guardian, or other external employability ranking for this concentration is not stated on the official university program pages reviewed.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Biological Sciences BS with an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology concentration combines classroom study with fieldwork, laboratory research, natural-history collections, and quantitative biology. More than 50% of EEB students work in laboratories and gain practical professional experience, while the department provides opportunities to conduct research, work in groups, present findings, and build professional networks.

Students can develop practical skills through these program-specific opportunities:

Undergraduate research: EEB 400 – Undergraduate Research allows students to complete faculty-supervised research projects. Research opportunities may involve data management and basic analysis, literature reviews, greenhouse maintenance, animal care, or fieldwork, and positions can be paid, volunteer, or taken for research credit.
Research laboratories: Students can join EEB faculty laboratories and participate in active research spanning ecology, evolutionary biology, behavior, conservation, quantitative biology, organismal biology, and global change.
Advanced microscopy and imaging: The Advanced Microscopy and Imaging Center provides access to optical microscopy, including laser-scanning confocal microscopy and total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF), as well as atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy for teaching and research.
Field research: The Biology Field Station in Pittman Center, near Gatlinburg and adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, provides a dedicated setting for field trips, field courses, teaching, and research, with a separate laboratory building at the research station.
Great Smoky Mountains fieldwork: EEB 480 – Natural History of the Great Smoky Mountains provides immersive field experience studying plant and animal communities, species identification, ecological threats, and conservation. Students spend the field portion at the EEB Field Station and complete a presentation based on a research topic developed during the course.
Natural history collections: Students can engage with the department’s substantial biological collections, including the UT Herbarium and fish collection. EEB 401 – Natural History Collections Research introduces students to collections-based research involving biodiversity, conservation, invasive species, paleontology, ecology, evolution, and related topics.
Internships: The concentration includes opportunities such as EEB 482 – Animal Care Internship, EEB 489 – Avian Field Methods Internship, EEB 492 – Science Education Internship, and EEB 493 – Herbarium Internships, giving students experience in animal care, field methods, science education, and collections-based work.
Group and professional skills: Undergraduate research explicitly develops problem-solving, time management, and group-working skills, while students can present independent research, intensive class projects, or laboratory work at the EEB Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Quantitative and computational research: EEB faculty conduct theoretical and quantitative ecology and evolutionary biology research, with several faculty affiliated with the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS).
Industry and research connections: EEB researchers collaborate across UT Knoxville and with organizations including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, Nature Conservancy, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving students exposure to interdisciplinary research environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Biological Sciences BS with an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) concentration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville prepares students for careers spanning conservation, environmental science, research, natural-resource management, and data-focused biology. The EEB program reports that more than 50% of its students work in laboratories and gain practical professional experience, while the concentration provides career-focused coursework, research, internship, and professional-development opportunities.

Career roles: Research Ecologist, Conservation Biologist, Environmental Consultant, Wildlife Manager.

Career development and progression opportunities include:

Career preparation: EEB 311 Career and Professional Development introduces students to career paths and preparation strategies in ecology and evolutionary biology. EEB also provides faculty and near-peer mentoring, matching students with mentors according to their interests.
Research and internships: Students can undertake Undergraduate Research, Internship, or Independent Research through EEB 400/492/493, gaining experience that can strengthen applications for employment or graduate study.
Employment outcomes: UT Knoxville's latest university-wide data for the Class of 2025 show a 90.2% career outcomes rate within six months of graduation, including 62.9% employed and 26.3% continuing education. The reported median undergraduate salary was $60,060; these figures cover all undergraduate programs rather than this specific concentration.
Employer preparation: The university's Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration collects post-graduation outcomes and provides major-specific career information, including common career paths, employers, and strategies for maximizing opportunities.
University–research partnerships: UT's biological sciences graduate environment includes the Bredesen Center, which brings together UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory resources and provides access to nationally recognized researchers and facilities.
Research network: EEB faculty receive funding from more than 15 federal or nonprofit agencies, supporting research across ecology and evolutionary biology and creating opportunities for students interested in research careers.
Accreditation value: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has been continuously accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1897 to award bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Graduation outcomes: EEB graduates can pursue careers in conservation, environmental consulting, natural-resource management, research, wildlife, education, and related areas; the university also provides pathways into graduate and professional programs.

Further Academic Progression: After the bachelor's degree, students can continue into graduate-level study in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, including UT Knoxville's MS and PhD programs. The MS offers areas including behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology, while the PhD develops advanced expertise in ecology, evolution, quantitative methods, bioinformatics, and data science; Biological Sciences also provides graduate pathways in related areas such as microbiology and biochemistry/cellular and molecular biology.