BS Conservation Biology
Overview
In the Conservation Biology concentration, you will learn to analyze the social, economic, and biological challenges inherent in addressing biodiversity problems.
Hidden Gem: NEC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program
For more than a decade, NEC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) has been quietly helping students embark on their science and healthcare careers. Each summer, students do real research and present their work at the NH-INBRE Conference.
SURP is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the IDeA Network of Biological Research Excellence (INBRE) grant, which encourages students to pursue graduate programs in biomedical research. The program offers NEC’s students in Biology, Biology—Conservation Biology, Health Science, Kinesiology, Psychology, and Psychology—Human Services the opportunity to do paid research alongside NEC faculty members during the eight-week program.
“We have enough funding to pay approximately 12 students each year,” explains Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science and Co-Director of the Center for Undergraduate Science Research, “And every year, we have more applicants than we have spots available.”
Faculty
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Eric Simon
Professor, Biology and Health Science
Office: Science Building 212-C, Henniker Campus
Phone: 603.428.2271
Email: esimon@nec.edu
Professional website: ericjsimon.comExpertise
Dr. Simon is the author of the introductory non-majors’ biology textbooks Biology: The Core, the lead author of Campbell Essential Biology and Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, and a co-author of the introductory biology textbook Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections, all published by Pearson Education.Educational Background
PhD in Biochemistry, Harvard University
MA in Biology, Wesleyan University
BA in Biology and Computer Science, Wesleyan UniversityResearch Interests
His research focuses on innovative ways to use technology to improve teaching and learning in the science classroom, particularly among non-science major students.Bio
Dr. Simon teaches introductory biology to both science majors and non-science majors, as well as human biology, tropical marine biology, careers in science, and TA training. Dr. Simon also teaches a variety of international travel courses to destinations such as Belize, Patagonia, Galapagos, Tanzania, and Cuba. -
James Newcomb
Professor, Biology and Health Science and Co-Director of Center for Undergraduate Science Research
Office: Science Building 116C, Henniker Campus
Phone: 603.428.2374
Email: jnewcomb@nec.edu
Professional website: sites.google.com/view/newcomblabAwards and Recent Press
Recent grants include a $160,000 grant from National Institutes of Health/INBRE to study specific cellular junctions in neurons, in both mammalian and invertebrate preparations.Recent publications include a paper in Integrative Organismal Biology, reporting on the distribution and roles of a peptide neurotransmitter in a sea slug (Watson et al, 2020).
Educational Background
PhD in Biology, Georgia State University
MS in Zoology, University of New Hampshire
BS in Zoology, University of New Hampshire
BS in Chemistry and Physics, Keene State CollegeResearch Interests
My lab investigates the physiological mechanisms underlying behavior. Our latest projects include studies on cellular junctions, circadian rhythms, extraocular photoreception, non-invasive neural stimulation, and regeneration.Bio
James Newcomb has been a professor at NEC since 2006. In 2019, he also became co-director of NEC’s Center for Undergraduate Science Research. He has maintained an externally funded research lab since 2010, during which time (as of 2020), he had obtained over $800,000 in extramural grants. As of 2020, he had published a total of 19 peer-reviewed publications (cited over 800 times), including 13 NEC students as co-authors, and been a co-author on 130 presentations at research conferences. He has also coauthored chapters for two different books. He is an Associate Editor for the journal Integrative Organismal Biology and Chair of the Division for Neurobiology, Neuroethology, and Sensory Biology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Beyond the confines of post-secondary academia, he is also an elected School Board member for John Stark Regional High School.
Degree Requirements
Biology, Conservation Biology, B.S.
Biology Core
(42 Credits)
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BI 1110 - General Biology I
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BI 1120 - General Biology II
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BI 3000 - Careers in Science
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BI 4030 - Research Thesis
(4 credits required, normally taken over 2 terms.)
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CH 2110 - General Chemistry I
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CH 2120 - General Chemistry II
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MT 1600 - Algebra and Trigonometry
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MT 2310 - Statistics
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PH 2210 - General Physics I
Organismal-Level Elective
Take one of the following:
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BI 2050 - Zoology
- or
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BI 4010 - Ecology
Micro-level Elective
Take one of the following:
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BI 2110 - Introduction to Bioinformatics
- or
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BI 3030 - Genetics
- or
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BI 3210 - Microbiology
Conservation Biology Courses
Conservation Biology Courses
(20 Credits)
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BI 2060 - Marine Biology
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BI 3340 (ES 3340) - Conservation Biology
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ES 3850 - Geographic Information Systems
Conservation Biology Electives
Choose two of the following courses:
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BI 2070 (ES 2070) - New England Natural History
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ES 3300 - Research Methods
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ES 3640 - Wetlands
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ES 3850 - Geographic Information Systems
Liberal Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum, Bachelor's Degree
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LAS 1000 - Bridges to Learning
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WR 1010 - Composition
or approved LAS Writing Course.
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MT 1100 - Quantitative Reasoning
(MT courses numbered higher than 1100 are acceptable)
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LAS 1 (LAS 1110) - The Natural Environment - Understanding Our Place in the Natural World
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LAS 2 (LAS 1120) - The Civic Environment - Democratic Values
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LAS 3 (LAS 2110) - Creative Arts
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LAS 4 (LAS 2120) - Social Sciences
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LAS 5 (LAS 2130) - Natural and Biological Sciences
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LAS 6 (LAS 2140) - Humanities
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LAS 7 (LAS 3110) - Global Perspectives
- LAS Elective Credits: 4 (One additional course that meets any LAS requirement or combination of two 2-credit approved electives.)
Electives
Select additional electives to reach 120 credits for a Bachelor's degree.