Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Conservation Biology

 Title Abbreviation:   CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

 Department:    ENVC

 Course #:    410

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5.5

 CIP:    030101

 EPC:    16B

 REV:    2021


 Course Description  

Exploring the world's biological diversity including a wide range of species, complex ecosystems, and the genetic variation within species. Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary science that includes not only biological and ecological solutions, but includes socio-economic aspects. Includes ecological modeling.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: Admission to BASEC or Department Chair permission.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 44

Lab: 22

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory N/A  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Define and use the conservation biology discipline.
  2. Utilize ecological software to model ecological parameters.
  3. Develop a working understanding of biodiversity at several ecological and population levels.
  4. Understand and quantify the value of biodiversity in various cultural settings and its global patterns.
  5. Understand the anthropogenic causes of extinction in different socio-economic settings.
  6. Create conservation plans for populations or species that consider the local cultural values and socio-economic settings.
  7. Establish protected areas in various socio-economic settings and consider local cultural values.
  8. Understand how socio-economic aspects influence conservation biology practices across the world.
  9. Perform population growth models.
  10. Model viability analysis of endangered populations.
  11. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Understand and apply federal, state, and tribal policies driving natural resource policies.
  12. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Use landscape ecology principles and technology to analyze ecological scenarios for management decisions at the watershed level.
  13. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Apply conservation biology strategies and community ecology principles in the management of biodiversity at the landscape level.
  14. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Incorporate watershed management science in management strategies for managing watersheds sustainably for ecosystem services and natural resources.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

Course Contents

  1. Defining conservation biology.
  2. Diversity: Genetics, species, and ecosystems.
  3. Global patterns of biodiversity.
  4. Valuing biological diversity: Direct, indirect and ethical values.
  5. Causes of extinction.
  6. Conservation at the population and species level.
  7. Establishing protected areas.
  8. Conservation outside protected areas.
  9. Ecological modeling.
  10. Socio-economic aspects of species richness conservation.
  11. Population growth models.
  12. Viability of endangered populations.