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EIU Environmental Biology (EVB)

EVB

Welcome to the Environmental Biology (EVB) website!

Are you passionate about wildlife conservation, aquatic ecosystems, or solving environmental challenges? The Environmental Biology (EVB) program within Biological Sciences gives you the scientific foundation and real-world experience to turn that passion into a meaningful career.

Choose Your Path:

Beginning in Fall 2026 our three concentrations allow you to specialize in a specific career path while earning your degree.

  • Wildlife Biology – Pursue professional certification by The Wildlife Society and launch your career managing wildlife populations, restoring terrestrial habitats, and developing conservation strategies
  • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – Earn certification through the American Fisheries Society while gaining expertise in freshwater ecosystems, fish population management, and aquatic conservation
  • Environmental Sciences – Design your own journey with flexibility to explore careers in ecology, conservation, environmental consulting, renewable energy, pollution science, and beyond

What Makes EVB Different?

This isn't just classroom learning. Every EVB student completes a hands-on internship and/or research experience tailored to their career goals. You'll work alongside professionals at state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, research labs, environmental consulting firms, zoos, and nature centers, gaining the skills and connections that open doors after graduation.

Our Wildlife Biology and Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences concentrations provide all the coursework and training needed to apply for professional certification with nationally recognized organization immediately after graduation, giving you a valuable credential that sets you apart in the job market.

Whether you're tracking wildlife populations in the field, analyzing water quality data, managing fish communities, or developing conservation strategies, you'll graduate ready to make a real impact on the environmental challenges that matter most to you.



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Why Choose EIU EVB

Biology Degree

The EVB degree is first and foremost a biology degree with all of the basic requirements you will see in any biology program across the country. EVB is not an environmental studies program, which are often much more based in the humanities rather than the sciences. With an EVB degree, you are able to pursue graduate or professional school if that is the path you choose.

Organismal Biology

EIU is also unique in that it maintains a real focus on organismal biology. This means that our students may take classes covering all the major groups of organisms: Bryology, Dendrology, Entomology, Ichthyology, mammalogy and ornithology to name a few. We also have diverse course offerings in ecology, ecotoxicology, fisheries and wildlife management, behavior and many others. This diversity does not occur in many schools anymore and all of our classes are taught on a regular schedule. Please look at our course offerings for a full list to see which you may be interested in.

Faculty Collaboration

While EIU is large enough to provide diverse course offerings, we are decidedly different from the large schools. Our department prides itself in its close collaborations with students on various research and outreach projects. Students working with a faculty member conduct research, present their results at local, regional and national meetings, and publish their results in peer-reviewed journals. No matter what your interest, there are opportunities for you in EVB. Please check our faculty pages to explore the diverse research opportunities in the department.

Opportunities for EVB Students

Research

Gain valuable hands-on experience and become engaged in your chosen field of study! Our best students work with one or more faculty members and generate knowledge, not just learn it. Research experiences are key for those interested in graduate or professional schools. You can also earn credit for your research and count it towards your degree.

Composting

Following the work of one of our previous interns, EVB has partnered with the EIU Office of Sustainability to work towards composting organic wastes from EIU’s food services. We are currently exploring vermicomposting as a way to speed up the process.

Health Professions

EIU offers pre-health-professions coursework to prepare students for admission to medical programs at other institutions. Click here for more information on this program.

Biofuels

For the last few semesters, we have been converting used cooking oil from dining services into diesel fuel. We now have a Biodiesel truck and will be doing outreach to local schools in the near future. This is just a part of EIU’s commitment to renewable energy as we are also exploring fuels from algae and biomass. These efforts should continue to expand as the Renewable Energy Center develops.

GIS Minor

Geographic Information Systems, or GIS are an ever expanding tool used in mapping and developing management plans for species and landscapes. The GIS minor works well within the EVB degree with most classes counting towards your EVB electives.

Environmental Sustainability Minor

As more and more interest is placed in renewable energy and in using our existing resources more wisely, issues of sustainability have become more important to companies and agencies. The new sustainability minor explores those issues and works well within the EVB degree, with most classes counting towards your EVB electives.





Related Pages

Biology Department Home Faculty Research Interests Geographic Information Sciences Minor

Contact Information

Dr. Eden Effert-Fanta
EVB Program Coordinator

Dept. of Biological Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
eleffert@eiu.edu


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