Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth
Abstract Undergraduate education is a critical period for recruiting the next generation of conservation biologists and engaging a broader community of conservationists. As small liberal arts colleges (SLACs) can be particularly effective at meeting these goals, promoting conservation biology educat...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.277 |
| _version_ | 1828313278216929280 |
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| author | Cooper Rosin Paul H. Zedler |
| author_facet | Cooper Rosin Paul H. Zedler |
| author_sort | Cooper Rosin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Undergraduate education is a critical period for recruiting the next generation of conservation biologists and engaging a broader community of conservationists. As small liberal arts colleges (SLACs) can be particularly effective at meeting these goals, promoting conservation biology education at these institutions is essential. In this study, we paired a web review and e‐mail questionnaire (46 respondents) to assess conservation biology coursework and faculty expertise at the top 100 SLACs in the United States. Our results highlight that there is very strong student interest in conservation biology coursework, and that maintaining faculty expertise in the discipline is a priority for those departments that currently have it. Nonetheless, 40% of these institutions lack faculty expertise and 26% lack any coursework in the discipline. Embracing this opportunity for growth will require engaging the broader educational community, with the goal of expanding faculty expertise, coursework, and general access to education in conservation biology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:28:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-279ae609f4224795a3ac468a101078d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:28:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-279ae609f4224795a3ac468a101078d72022-12-22T02:39:39ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542020-10-01210n/an/a10.1111/csp2.277Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growthCooper Rosin0Paul H. Zedler1Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USANelson Institute for Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USAAbstract Undergraduate education is a critical period for recruiting the next generation of conservation biologists and engaging a broader community of conservationists. As small liberal arts colleges (SLACs) can be particularly effective at meeting these goals, promoting conservation biology education at these institutions is essential. In this study, we paired a web review and e‐mail questionnaire (46 respondents) to assess conservation biology coursework and faculty expertise at the top 100 SLACs in the United States. Our results highlight that there is very strong student interest in conservation biology coursework, and that maintaining faculty expertise in the discipline is a priority for those departments that currently have it. Nonetheless, 40% of these institutions lack faculty expertise and 26% lack any coursework in the discipline. Embracing this opportunity for growth will require engaging the broader educational community, with the goal of expanding faculty expertise, coursework, and general access to education in conservation biology.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.277conservation educationcourseworkfacultymentoringundergraduate |
| spellingShingle | Cooper Rosin Paul H. Zedler Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth Conservation Science and Practice conservation education coursework faculty mentoring undergraduate |
| title | Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth |
| title_full | Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth |
| title_fullStr | Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth |
| title_short | Conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges: An opportunity for growth |
| title_sort | conservation biology education at small liberal arts colleges an opportunity for growth |
| topic | conservation education coursework faculty mentoring undergraduate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.277 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cooperrosin conservationbiologyeducationatsmallliberalartscollegesanopportunityforgrowth AT paulhzedler conservationbiologyeducationatsmallliberalartscollegesanopportunityforgrowth |