Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other.

Degree Overview

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other (CIP 26.1399) is an advanced macro-biological frontier for scientists who study the "grand design" of life across time and space. While standard ecology focuses on existing ecosystems, professionals in this "Other" category are "Biosphere Strategists." They study paleo-genomics, niche modeling, theoretical evolutionary dynamics, and the resilience of life in extreme planetary conditions. It is a path for "big-picture thinkers" who want to decode the mathematical and historical laws that govern how species emerge, compete, and survive global shifts.

This field is ideal for "evolutionary architects"—individuals who are fascinated by the "deep time" of Earth’s history and want to apply that knowledge to modern conservation, invasive species management, or the prediction of how life will adapt to a rapidly changing climate.

What Is an "Other" Ecology and Evolution Degree?

A degree in this category is a research-heavy STEM path that emphasizes computational ecology, phylogenetics, and macro-evolutionary theory. You will study the "Ecological Core"—the relationships between organisms and their environments—but your focus will be on interdisciplinary or non-traditional scales. Because this code houses niche programs, your studies might focus on Urban Evolution (how cities change animal DNA), Molecular Systematics (using genetic "clocks" to map the tree of life), or Astrobiology (the evolution of life beyond Earth). It prepares you to be a "Global Systems Scientist" capable of managing the biological complexity of the 21st century.

Schools offer this degree to:

• Train "Computational Ecologists" who build massive digital models to predict how entire forests or oceans will react to warming temperatures
• Develop experts in Systematics, focusing on the discovery and naming of new species using "integrative" data (DNA + physical traits)
• Prepare professionals for Population Genetics, studying how small groups of animals can recover from near-extinction
• Study Evolutionary Medicine, exploring how our ancient biological history influences modern diseases like obesity, cancer, and allergies

What Will You Learn?

Students learn that "life is a continuous, interconnected data stream"; they focus on the statistical logic and historical patterns that allow life to persist through mass extinctions.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Most students learn to:

• Master Phylogenetic Analysis—using software to build the "Tree of Life" and determine how closely different species are related
• Use "GIS (Geographic Information Systems)"—mapping the movement of species and habitats across continents
• Design Field Experiments—testing how changing one variable (like soil nutrients) affects the survival of an entire community
• Perform Genomic Scans—identifying the specific genes that allow certain plants or animals to survive extreme heat or cold
• Utilize Ecological Modeling—writing code to simulate the competition between species over hundreds of years
• Understand Biodiversity Informatics—managing the massive databases used by museums and governments to track the world's species

Topics You May Explore

Coursework is a blend of field work, advanced mathematics, and genomic science:

• Macroevolution: The study of large-scale patterns of evolution, such as the origin of new groups (like birds) and the dynamics of mass extinctions.
• Chemical Ecology: How organisms use "scents" and chemicals to communicate, find mates, or defend themselves.
• Ancient DNA (Paleogenomics): Extracting genetic information from fossils to see how extinct animals lived and why they died.
• Invasive Species Dynamics: The science of why certain plants or animals "take over" new environments and how to stop them.
• Co-evolution: The "biological dance" between species, such as how flowers and bees evolved together to depend on one another.
• Landscape Genetics: How physical barriers (like mountains or cities) change the genetic flow of animal populations.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

Graduates find roles as lead researchers, conservation directors, and data scientists in government, non-profit, and academic sectors.

Common job roles include:

• Conservation Scientist: Leading global efforts to protect "hotspots" of biodiversity and restore damaged ecosystems.
• Evolutionary Biologist: Conducting research for museums or universities to uncover the origins of life's diversity.
• Ecological Data Scientist: Working for tech firms or NGOs to analyze environmental data for carbon-credit markets or climate policy.
• Systematist/Taxonomist: Working for botanical gardens or museums to identify and classify the world’s undiscovered species.
• Natural Resource Manager: Advising governments on how to manage forests, fisheries, and wildlife for long-term survival.
• Epidemiologist (Environmental Focus): Studying how the health of the environment impacts the spread of diseases from animals to humans.

Where Can You Work?

These specialists are the "architects of the wild":

• National and State Parks: Designing the long-term management plans for public lands.
• The Smithsonian and Natural History Museums: Managing the collections that tell the story of Earth’s history.
• Environmental Non-Profits (The Nature Conservancy, WWF): Leading the science behind global conservation campaigns.
• International Policy Groups (UN, IPCC): Providing the data used to set global climate and biodiversity targets.
• Biotech Companies: Searching for useful traits (like drought resistance) in the genomes of wild plants.

How Much Can You Earn?

Because this field requires a high level of technical and data-science mastery, salaries are competitive, especially in research and policy-leadership roles.

• Principal Conservation/Ecology Leads: Median annual salary of approximately $85,000–$125,000+.
• Ecological Data Scientists: Salaries typically range from $95,000 to $140,000.
• University Researchers/Professors: Median annual salary of around $80,000–$130,000.
• Entry-Level Field Ecologists: Often start between $55,000 and $70,000.

Is This Degree Hard?

The difficulty is in the scale of the thinking. You must be comfortable working with deep time (millions of years) and vast space (entire continents). It requires a highly analytical, patient, and philosophical mindset—you must love the "messiness" of nature but be able to organize it into neat mathematical models. It is a major that rewards those who are "Systems Detectives" and who find purpose in being the bridge between the history of the Earth and its future survival.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a good fit if you:

• Are the person who is fascinated by the "Big History" of life and how we got here
• Love the outdoors but want to use high-tech tools like DNA sequencing and GPS tracking
• Enjoy math and statistics but want to apply them to saving real-world species
• Are interested in the "invisible" connections that hold an entire forest or ocean together
• Believe that the biggest challenge of our time is preserving the diversity of life on a changing planet

How to Prepare in High School

• Take AP Biology and AP Statistics; these are the two languages of modern ecology
• Take AP Environmental Science; it provides the context for how humans and nature interact
• Practice Field Observation—participate in "BioBlitz" events or use the iNaturalist app to track local species
• Learn basic Coding (Python or R); modern evolution and ecology are driven by data and simulations
• Read about "The Origin of Species" and "The Anthropocene" to understand where the field started and where it is going

The ability to apply evolutionary logic and ecological mastery to the complexities of a shifting planet is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.