students observing nature through binoculars

Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology

Are you interested in bettering your local environment and community, and ensuring those improvements are consistently maintained? Explore the Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology degree at Lincoln Memorial University! Our program focuses primarily on modern landscape-scale ecosystem management and research concepts.

Here, you'll learn in small classes, taught by dedicated professors serve as mentors and guides during your time in the program and beyond. You will explore a variety of ecosystems in addition to integrated social, economic, and institutional components. In addition to conservation biology, we are proud to offer you and your peers access to skills in topics like:

As you delve into these topics and others, you'll develop the skills you need to build a lasting conservation biology career. Get started today!

Apply to the Conservation Biology Program

Admission Requirements

Review the details below to ensure that you are eligible for entry into the conservation biology program at LMU! To qualify for regular admission, you must meet one of two of the following criteria:

To learn more about regular admission criteria at LMU, see our undergraduate catalog.

How to Apply

For admission into the conservation biology program, you must apply through the LMU portal. To be considered for entry, your application must be completed. We recommend you complete your application prior to the last year of your high school education. 

At LMU, we have "rolling admissions," meaning our Admissions team reviews applications once they've been received and confirmed to be complete. You can always check your application's status on your application portal. 

Are you using the Common Application? If so, we now accept the common app! Just visit www.commonapp.org and you can either sign in or create your account, then select "Lincoln Memorial University." To complete your application, please submit the following:

Program Outcomes

Past graduates of the conservation biology program at LMU have gone on to pursue fulfilling careers and even became well-respected leaders in their fields. Our alumni have worked at a variety of state and federal institutions, worked as environmental consultants, or built careers at zoos and other organizations. Others went on to earn additional certifications, taught in high schools, became veterinarians or practiced law. In short, there is an abundance of opportunities available to you following our program, such as:

Cumberland Mountain Research Center

Named after the Cumberland Mountains where LMU was founded, the Cumberland Mountain Research Center (CMRC) was established on our campus in 1990. It was intended to nurture a collaborative environment for research amongst faculty and students as part of a larger science education-oriented mission here at LMU, and ultimately to provide a wide range of research facilities, opportunities and resources to our faculty and student researchers alike.

The original idea was to make the most of our unique ecology here in southern Appalachia and the surrounding Cumberland Gap region. By working alongside an array of institutions and organizations (including state and federal agencies) our efforts expanded to include a variety of areas across the Southeastern U.S. and even into Arkansas. The CMRC even started developing multi-national opportunities in Kenya, Thailand, Belize and Costa Rica, and to this day, continues to supply and facilitate regional, national and international opportunities for our students and faculty here at LMU.

Since its origin, the CMRC has worked inn the area of species management and restoration (delisting of an endangered snail), even identifying new species (including slime molds and sponges). Ongoing endangered species projects have focused on the reintroduction of endangered mussels in the Powell River and observing efforts of an endangered species of tapir in Costa Rica. With multiple ongoing projects, the CMRC has been actively promoting both faculty and student research efforts in conservation biology and ecology publications across mediums like scientific journals, conference presentations and various outreach and education opportunities across southern Appalachia.

Contact Us

Want to learn more about conservation biology program at LMU? Contact us at any time and we would be happy to help!

Dr. Whitney Kistler
Assistant Professor of Biology
Conservation Biology
Phone: 423.869.6227
Email: Whitney.Kistler@969532.com

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