In all of my courses, I use a variety of active teaching approaches so that students learn how to interpret data and design experiments so that they can develop as scientists. In a field like biology where the specifics are always changing and the number of specifics is growing exponentially, it is more important that students know where to find information and evaluate that information than learn a laundry list of minutiae.
BIOL120 – Concepts in Biology
Spring. For Non-majors. The lecture and laboratory portions of this course will be organized around modules that relate biology to current issues such as evolution, global warming, cloning, stem cell research, and more. The course is designed to have you think critically about biological subjects and to help you seek out reliable sources.
BIOL240 – Organismal Form and Function
Fall and Spring. For Sophomores. Major topics include an introduction to evolutionary biology, plant evolution and physiology, and comparative animal physiology. Prerequisite: Biology 141. This course fulfills the Column B requirement for the biology major.
BIOL247 – Ecology
Fall.This course provides an overview of the principles of ecology and the study of relationships between organisms and their environments, ecosystems, communities, and populations. Prerequisites: Biology 141 and 142 or permission of instructor. This course fulfills the Column C requirement for the biology major.
BIOL247L – Ecology laboratory
Fall. Writing Requirement. This is the laboratory portion of the Ecology class (Biol 247). Field studies will be conducted in various natural areas in Georgia, including a weekend trip to the mountains. Prerequisite or corequisite: Biology or ENVS 247. This course may be taken for elective credit and meets the upper-level laboratory requirement for the biology major.
BIOL349 – Ecology of Invasions
Summer on even numbered years. The Department of Biology offers a five-week summer study abroad program of classroom and field study in ecology and evolutionary biology. The course will use a combination of in-class meetings and out of class field experience. There will be a one-week field excursion to sites near Cairns, including the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, Kuranda Rainforest, and other sites. Prerequisites: Biology 141 and 142; Environmental Studies 131. This course may be taken as elective credit for the biology major.