Biology 489
BIOL 489: Field Biology
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
Credit Hours: (2-4)
Course will involve domestic or international travel to a location of biological interest where the students will engage in field research under the direction of Biology faculty. Course may be repeated for credit with instructor's permission.
Detailed Description of Course
Course Content will vary depending on destination. In general, content to be covered may include the flora, fauna, and ecology of the area; environmental issues; scientific literature realting to the area; methods in field biology investigation; etc.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course may be conducted through any combination of lectures, discussions, presentations, travel preparations, etc. Students will be required to travel to the study lcoation, which may incur additional costs (see IIe below).
Student Goals and Objectives of the Course
This course serves as an introduction to field biology generally, but may emphasize a particular taxonomic group or groups (e.g., birds, fungi, flowering plants), and/or the ecological interactions of a particular region. The course will stress general ecological principles, environmental issues of broad concern, and development of skills valuable to any scientist. Students will learn to record ecological phenomena and will build skills in the identification, classification and observation of native biota.
The exact goals of the course will vary with the region studied, but in general students successfully completing the course will be able to:
1) Formulate research questions based on field observations;
2) Design a research program to test a hypothesis about organisms of the region visited;
3) Make appropriate observations under the conditions of the region visited;
4) Maintain accurate and detailed field notes of their observations;
5) Interpret observations made in the field and present them in writing and/or orally, and/or by poster presentation.
If appropriate,
1) Describe and discuss the biology of the region visited or of the taxa studied;
2) Describe and discuss the environmental issues imapcting the region visited.
Assessment and Measures
Student performance may be assessed in multiple ways, including, but not limited to: quizzes, participation, discussion, presentations, design and conduct of research projects, laboratory reports, writing assignments, etc.
Other Course Information
These courses may require students to pay costs in addition to the regular tuition for the courses. Costs may include airfare, lodging, extra/unusual supplies and gear, etc.
Review and Approval
November 7, 2017