Marine Biology Concentration Description:
(These are the
descriptions of the courses required that are taught by the Department of
Biology.)
BI 211 - Environmental Issues:
Global problems, local solutions Students learn
to relate important environmental issues such as global warming, overpopulation,
resource use and the consequences of industrialization to current positions of
scientists, educators, politicians and the general public. Emphasis is placed on
issues of global concern and local actions proposed to address them. A
background of ecological principles begins the course which concludes with
students presenting a portfolio on a local grassroots movement. (Fall 2007 and
alternate years Group III )
BI 255 - Animal Behavior:
Students explore various aspects of species-specific
animal behavior with emphasis on the relationship of these behaviors to the
animal’s environment and circumstances. Topics include causes, types, and
controls of behavior, as well as abnormal behavior. (Spring 2010 Group III)
BI 280 - Ethical Issues in Science and Technology:
America’s Moral Dilemmas
Ethics is the disciplined reflection on the moral intuitions and the moral
choices that people make. Bioethics is the analysis of these choices in science
and medicine. This course uses a case method of instruction and focuses on the
major ethical dilemmas of twenty first century medicine and the natural
sciences. (Spring 2008 and alternate years Group III )
BI 301 - Cell Biology:
This course will focus on the structure and function of
eukaryotic cells. The course begins with a very brief review of cell composition
and metabolism, and continues to the fundamentals of molecular biology. Further
topics include the organization of the genome, DNA replication, RNA
transcription, translation, and protein processing, cell signaling and
communication, the cell cycle, cell death and renewal, cellular
transformation/cancer induction. The text will be supplemented with readings
from the lay and research literature. (Fall 2008 and alternate years)
Prerequisite: BI 102, CH 110 or permission Group III
BI 391 - Biology of Whales:
This upper-level course examines the biology and conservation
of cetaceans, whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Topics include physiology,
population biology and life history analysis, molecular genetics, morphology,
distributional ecology, and social behavior. Early lectures focus on the biology
of cetaceans and how they are adapted to the marine environment. Later lectures
use case studies to review how biological principles can be applied to the
conservation of a wide range of cetacean species.
Spring Prerequisites: One year of general biology and two upper-level
biology courses. Group III
BI 394 - Coastal Zone Management:
This course presents a survey of the coastal environment, its
physical characteristics, natural system economic uses, and development
pressures. Lectures examine strategies formulated in the United States for land
and water management in the coastal zone. The roles of federal, state, and local
government, environmental groups, and resource users are also explored. Finally,
by comparing coastal zone management problems in the United States with those
elsewhere in the world, students gain a global perspective.
(Spring Group III)
BI 395 - Wetlands: Ecology, Hydrology,
Restoration:
This course examines the vital role of wetlands in the
hydrology and ecology of global landscapes. The function of inland and coastal
marshes, swamps, and bogs, and their role in water and nutrient cycles will be
examined. We will also survey the biodiversity of wetlands habitats, from
microbes to vertebrates. The biological links between wetlands and human
activities, such as agriculture, coastal development, and fisheries will be
considered, as well as the legal framework for the protection and restoration of
endangered wetlands.
Fall Prerequisites: One year of an introductory science (geology,
chemistry, biology, physics or engineering, or economics); and two semesters of
upper–level (elective) science courses. Group III