by our College Data Analytics TeamEcology, Evolution & Systematics Biology is all about nature and how the webs of living and nonliving things interact. If you choose this major, you will learn how organisms develop and evolve throughout time, study their relationships with each other, and see how organisms and the environment work together in complex ecosystems.
Some of the classes may take include: biodiversity, conservation biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and advanced mathematics.
As you study, you will gain a big picture in nature as well as knowledge of the tiny creatures that make it possible. You may choose to focus on populations and the reasons behind why a particular species thrives or dies. As you continue towards your degree, you may be able to pick a specialization. Some of the concentrations available at various schools are Ecology, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography, Evolutionary Biology, Aquatic Biology/Limnology, Environmental Biology, Population Biology, Conservation Biology, Systematic Biology, and Epidemiology.
In 2020-2021, ecology, evolution and systematics biology was the 103rd most popular major nationwide with 7,247 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 7,312 graduates the prior year.
Our 2023 Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools ranking analyzes 193 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for ecology, evolution and systematics biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ecology programs later in this article.
The most successful students in this major enjoy nature and the outdoors. You will be working with all types of natural systems and you may have to hike to remote locations in order to collect specimens or observe natural environments. Be ready for a lot of lab work observing, analyzing and experimenting with a variety of animals and plants. Students will need to learn to synthesize information from a variety of classes and subjects in order to draw conclusions.
Interpersonal skills are very important in this field. You will be working very closely with your peers and your professors. You need to be able to communicate effectively and collaborate well with others. Writing skills will help you complete lab reports and document your research clearly. Most colleges will require you to get an internship or a job working in the field over the summer. Some colleges will allow you to research with your professors over the summer.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most ecology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic ecology, evolution and systematics biology program qualifications, to serve in some ecology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of ecology degrees. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest ecology degree you can get. The type of ecology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to ecology, with approximately 28.3% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for ecology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 26.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 19.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 18.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 1.8% |
66.2% of ecology workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in ecology, evolution and systematics biology careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the ecology career you are seeking.
This broad major prepares graduates for many different career paths. Some students continue their education with a Master's Degree. Others obtain work as an environmental researcher for public or private institutions. Graduates also find work as park rangers, natural science managers, bioinformatics scientists, or even biology teachers.
Want a job when you graduate with your ecology degree? Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology careers are expected to grow 17.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ecology, evolution and systematics biology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $35,579 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $18,460 to as high as $132,047. As you might expect, salaries for ecology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for ecology, evolution and systematics biology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers ecology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Medical Scientists | $96,420 |
| Life Scientists | $89,150 |
With over 749 different ecology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased ecology school rankings to help you with this.
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology is one of 14 different types of Biological & Biomedical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 2,305 |
| Marine Biology | 1,835 |
| Ecology | 1,060 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 697 |
| Environmental Biology | 466 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Biology | 107,165 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 14,535 |
| Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 11,615 |
| Physiology & Pathology Sciences | 8,813 |
| Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 6,206 |
Image Credit: By Ernst Haeckel under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
