Favorite/most essential class you took in undergrad and why?
Ask A Biologist Monday 9/11/23
Answers from Biologists:
Ecology-it helped me “get” the connections I was observing in the real world.
Population Biology-Understanding mathematical modeling and stats was essential.
Vetebrate natural history-lots of hands on class days, ID skills, and delving into life histories.
Mammology-the class that changed my life!
Ornithology-helped me develop my ID skills that I still use today.
Animal behavioral ecology
Environmental Impact Assesment-all about NEPA. Hated it at the time but it was useful.
Plant ecology
Intro to Entomology-changed my career path and I found my passion. Take a random course!
Parasitology-maybe not essential by very interesting.
Invasive ecology-great to get background in how they get around the world and how people respond.
Plant systematics-So much more than plant ID. Now I’m a plant ecologist.
Field techniques-hands on
Statistics-understanding of data and metrics use in everyday life
Modern statistical modeling-taught in R in 2012. Stats skills have stood out ever since.
Terrestrial flora-I used this ID knowledge every day at my work.
Wildlife management techniques-where I found my love for wetlands
Animal behavior
9 credits worth of plant classes-so you can be a federal wildlife biologist
GIS-I would be screwed without knowing GIS
Evolutionary Ecology-understanding function, purpose and change.
Wetlands-it had herbarium collection, ID, classification, an policy all mixed in.
Human Dimensions in Wildlife-understanding and identifying stakeholders is essential.
Natural resources economics-communicate how valuable conservation can be.
Plant ID-I got my first tech job because of it.
Natural resources history and politics-helped me better understand some challenges in conservation.
Environmental communications
Mammology
Spatial ecology-heavy on R work
Plant taxonomy-knowing the features of plant families gives you a good starting point to ID
American Environmental history-learned about policy and management through time.
Marine ecology-sparked my passion and prof gave great advice for new biologists.
Interdisciplinary courses-taught me how to think
Invertebrate Biology-taught me how to memorize species and appreciate ecological systems.
Favorite: Behavioral ecology of fishes. Most essential: Icthyology
GIS-Spatial data is essential in conservation.
GIS-I use it every day at my job.
Community ecology-I still use the theory and principles I learned in my career as a wildlife ecologist daily.
Remote sensing-basic skills/knowledge of GIS
Habitat management-learning to apply, write, and budget for real life work scenarios is so important.
Human dimensions-how to facilitate stakeholder conversations.
Dendrology-learning to see how important/varied trees are to wildlife was eye opening.
Ecosystem management and policies-got into the NEPA process and how to manage with it.
Aquatic ecosystems-real life applicable.
Biometry-learned how to use stats, analytical programs like R, and design research projects.
Human dimensions of wildlife-it is crucially important to be able to communicate with stakeholders.
Mammology-tough and pretty heavy class but worth it.
ESRI suites class-helped my a lot post grad.
Dendrology-tree skills are super useful in this field.
Wetland ecology-field portion was amazing.
Field methods in avian ecology-got me started conducting my own research.
Wildlife and Fisheries techniques-really prepped me for field work and looked great on applications.
Ecology-the gateway class that put me onto the path to becoming a field ecologist.
Aquatic botany-learned a lot about wetland delineation, which is good for consulting.
Marine ecology-introduced R and how to apply it to research and field work.
Capstone project-learned species management and finances.
Ecology-made me switch from a pre-neuroscience focus to ecology.
Plant taxonomy-plant ID has become one of my most valuable skills as a biologist.
Environmental toxicology-took it for fun but it’s surprisingly useful.
Field courses-I learned so much ID, telemetry, mist netting, research design.
Waterfowl biology-led to me getting interested in birds.
Great Plains flora-lots of vegetation monitoring in my work.
Dendrology-professor still worked in the field so it was relatable.
Wetland ecology and management-deep ecological dive!
Environmental biology-made my switch my major from philosophy.
Stats-knowing how to use R is essential to grad school and as a biologist.
Wildlife Damage Management-fun and hands on
Biocomputing-python is one of the most useful and transferrable skills I learned in undergrad.
Conservation biology-and interesting blend of scientific and human related topics.
Wildlife techniques-puts the theory to practice.
Field identification of plants-I had no idea I would be using that info so much now.
Ornithology-taught me general ID, patience, and surveys that I do now.
Stream restoration ecology-I got to learn habitat management.
Wildlife techniques-learning fieldwork techniques and even did a weekend camping.
Wildlife techniques-went through capture methods for various wildlife. Hands on field trips.
Statistics-where the magic happens.
Upland management-we has to make a whole land management program.
