Courses

The Department of Biology offers a wide array of courses for non-majors and majors alike. The following links will be useful in helping you to learn more about the courses being offered in Biology:

New and Returning Courses for Fall 2013

Biology 2005: Doing Science: The Biology of variation

Instructor: Dr. Jon Seger

Fall 2013 3 CR[L2] For first year honors students.

Biology 3440: Global Change Ecology

Instructor: Dr. Lindsay Christensen

Fall 2013 (3 CR; meets with BIOL 3460) Rescheduled from spring.

Biology 3450: Rainforest Ecology and Conservation

Instructor: Dr. Jael Malenke

Fall 2013 (3 CR)

BIOlogy 3460: Global environmental issues

Instructor: Dr. Lindsay Christensen

Fall 2013 (3 CR; meets with BIOL 3440) Rescheduled from spring.

BIOlogy 3480/5430: Biography of an Urban Stream

Instructor: Prof. P. Shea

Fall 2013 (3 CR) Note new class numbers!

New and Returning Courses for Summer 2013

Biology 5345/6: Natural History of the colorado plateau (New course)

Instructor: Dr. Franz Goller

Summer semester (3 CR; 1 lab unit). The course will be conducted in the two weeks between spring and summer semesters at the Rio Mesa Ctr in SE Utah.

An intensive and broad Biology course focused on the natural history and environmental biology of southeastern Utah

Biology 5455: desert ecology field course (returning)

Instructor: Dr. Dale Clayton

Summer semester (5 cr; 3 lab units). Details TBA.

Students will visit and conduct field research in the major deserts of the American Southwest. Details TBA.

New and Returning Courses for Spring 2013

Biology 2021: Principles of Cell Science (moved from fall)

Instructor: Dr. David Gard

Spring semester (4 CR).

Targeted at motivated students desiring a more "in-depth" introduction to the science of cell biology. Lectures and discussions will explore the relationship between cell structure and function and the experimental foundation underlying the science of cell biology, using examples from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes (plants, animals, and fungi). Fulfills cell biology reqmt for Biology majors. Honors.

Applications will be available on-line or in Biology Advising.

Biology 3400/5400: The role of mathematics in medicine (new)

Instructor: Dr. Fred Adler.

Spring semester (3 cr). Details TBA.

This course develops 12 case studies where mathematics played a fundamental role in imroving medical care. Students will learn the underlying mathematical methods from the ground up, program simple simulations on the computer, and use mathematics and the computer simulations to evaluate the medical implications of different therapies or control measures.

Biology 5210: Cell Structure and Function (returning)

Instructor: Dr. Marcus Babst

Spring semester (3 CR).

Biology 5385: ornithology (returning)

Instructor: Dr. Cagan Sekercioglu

Spring semester (4 CR; 2 lab units).

Details TBA.

New Courses for Summer 2012

Biology 3045: Landscape ecology of the colorado plateau

Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Torti

Summer semester (3 cr, 1 lab unit). Meets 5/7/12 - 5/8/12 1:30-5:00pm on the U of U main campus and 5/9/12 – 5/19/12 at the Rio Mesa Center in SE Utah.

This class will introduce students to the Colorado Plateau ecosystem within the context of the Intermountain West and the discipline of Landscape Ecology. Topics will include issues of spatial heterogeneity and scale, role of human activity and disturbance in influencing landscape patterns over local and regional scales, specific evolutionary adaptations and ecological/behavioral strategies plants and animals (including humans) use to inhabit this landscape. Students will develop expertise to “read” the landscape and define ecological and physiological processes that govern the major habitats, including riparian, lowland salt-shrub, uplands and canyons microhabitats.

Will be taught with Landscape Painting (Art 3045-002; this is a step-by-step approach for both beginners and intermediate painters). Students are encouraged to sign up for both courses.

Biology 5665/6665 computational paleophysiology

Instructor: Dr. Colleen Farmer

Summer semester, second session (3 cr, 1 lab unit). Meets June 21- August 3. Schedule TBA.
Prerequisite: Instructor consent.

This course examines the methods scientists use to 'put flesh on the bones' of extinct animals. It is designed to give students the quantitative tools needed to build computational models that reconstruct the biology of extinct organisms as well as to teach them how to frame hypotheses, select appropriate methods for investigating hypotheses, analyze data, use logic and evidence to reach conclusions, write a scientific paper, and communicate findings as an oral presentation. The class emphasizes project-based learning. The course includes 30 hours of lecture and 40 hours of fieldwork. Dates TBA. Instructor's permission is required. Please complete the on-line application and submit it to the instructor.

New Courses for Spring 2012

Biology 3960 Special Topics in Biology: Conservation Biology.

Instructor: Dr. Cagan Sekercioglu

Spring semester (3 cr) Lectures T/H 2:00 - 3:20. Four field trips (TBA). Student fee.
Prerequisite: BIOL 1400 or BIOL 2400

Conservation biology is a crisis discipline that aims to prevent extinctions and their negative consequences for ecosystems and people. The course will cover topics including the value of and threats to biodiversity, conservation of species and populations, conservation practice, climate change and other global conservation issues, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. Field trips will visit protected areas and conservation projects in progress.

Biology 5555: Ecology & Evolution of Parasites & Pathogens

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Bush

Spring semester (3 cr, 1 lab unit) Lectures: T/H 10:45-12:05, Lab: H 12:55-3:55
Prerequisite: BIOL 2010

This course addresses key concepts in the ecology and evolution of parasites and pathogens, such as: origins of parasitism, evolution of virulence, disease ecology, host-parasite co-evolution, influences on human history, and Darwinian medicine.