该专业从进化的角度研究了生物如何与其物理环境和其他生物相互作用。生态学家的工作包括涉​​及种群遗传和进化的研究和/或教学，适应性生存策略，种群性质以及社区生态学。生态学家还提供有关环境影响决策和区域规划的技术服务，以及以教师，博物学家或新闻工作者的身份进行各个级别的环境教育。本科生的常见职业道路包括研究生学习，以担任学术职务（在小型学院和大型大学中进行研究和教学），在行业中担任技术职务（主要涉及环境评估）以及在州和联邦环境机构任职。
This major investigates how organisms interact with their physical environment and other organisms, from an evolutionary perspective. Ecologists work includes research and/or teaching involving population genetics and evolution, adaptive strategies for survival, the nature of populations, and community ecology. Ecologists also offer technical services in connection with environmental impact decisions and regional planning, and environmental education at various levels as teacher, naturalist, or journalist. Common career paths for undergraduate students include graduate study leading to academic positions (research and teaching in small colleges and major universities), technical positions in industry (mostly dealing with environmental assessment), and employment in state and federal environmental agencies.