Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Prerequisites: BI 210 and CH 112 or consent of instructor
- Prerequisites: MA 111 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Application of statistics to biological data, with emphasis on experimental design, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics. Topics include elementary parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses, various ANOVA designs, analysis of covariance, correlation, linear and non-linear regression, multiple regression, categorical analysis, and an introduction to multivariate statistics. This course emphasizes problem-solving using SPSS and other statistical software.
- Prerequisites: BI 312 and either BI 406, BI 321, or CH 450 or consent of instructor
The biochemical and genetic events accompanying and influencing embryonic developments, with emphasis on pertinent literature and techniques.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: BI 215 and BI 312
This course examines the details of evolutionary theory as it explains the complexities of biodiversity. Lecture topics include sexual selection, evolutionary genetics, natural selection and speciation. Discussions cover the application of analytical techniques to biological systems and require critical analysis of primary literature.
- Offered: Fall
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, BI 218, and BI 207, BI 208, or BI 221 and BI 327 or instructor permission
This course provides a(n): (1) evolutionary anatomical history of vertebrate brain structures, (2) lectures and laboratory exploring the anatomical divisions of the vertebrate brain and spinal cord, and (3) a survey of how brain structure and function relates to vertebrate behavior.
- Prerequisites: BI 218, and credit or enrollment in CH 450, or instructor’s permission.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene structure and expression. Laboratories explore some of the techniques used for manipulating genes in vitro, including DNA isolation, DNA electrophoresis, sub-cloning, and work with the bacteriophage. This course will cover some of the theory and applications of biotechnology.
- Prerequisites: BI 312, BI 406 or CH 450, junior standing or consent of instructor
- Offered: Winter
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, BI 207, BI 218 or instructor’s permission
This course covers: (1) the electrical, cellular, and molecular properties of neurons/neural networks, (2) developmental processes of neurons and neural networks, and (3) system neuroscience including anatomy and physiology of sensorimotor networks and learning and memory processes.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: Instructor permission
Life histories, ecology, physiology and host-parasite relationships. Laboratory includes examination of hosts for parasites and preparation of specimens for study.
Note: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112, or consent of instructor
Insect evolution, ecology, physiology and morphology. Emphasis is placed on the biology and in-field recognition of the local fauna.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, CH 111, CH 112, BI 218, and BI 207 or BI 327 or instructor's permission.
Structure and physiology of endocrine glands, biological actions and biochemistry of hormones, emphasizing their role (at the systems level) in multisystem homeostasis, intermediary metabolism, reproduction and behavior of mammals.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, or CLS 201, BI 201 or BI 221 or consent of instructor
- Prerequisites: BI 210, and BI 327 or BI 207 or consent of instructor
The course emphasizes physiological adaptations of animals to their environment. It covers topics such as thermoregulation, nutrition and digestion, osmoregulation, nitrogen metabolism, sensory physiology and reproductive physiology.
- Prerequisites: BI 210 and BI 215, or consent of instructor
Behavior, just like any phenotype, is shaped by selection associated with various environments and ecological interactions. This course considers the diversity of behavior exhibited in natural populations, how it evolves under various ecological conditions, and approaches to testing hypotheses about behavioral evolution and adaptive functions.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112 and CH 112
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112 or equivalent, or consent of the instructor
Lecture and field studies dealing with recognition, taxonomy, ethnobotany and ecological adaptations of plants in aquatic and terrestrial communities.
- Prerequisites: BI 210; BI 310 recommended, or consent of instructor
- Offered: Summer
- Prerequisites: BI 310, junior standing or instructor permission (interview with instructor required)
A 3-week field course based in Canada and/or Isle Royale studying community and ecosystem processes in the boreal forest. Emphasis is on boreal and arctic plant communities and the interrelationships of large herbivores, such as moose and caribou, and their predators.
- Prerequisites: BI 210 or BI 422 and MA 109 or MA 111, or instructor's permission.
Concepts, applications and techniques for managing fisheries resources. Topics include basic fish anatomy and life-history characteristics, fishing technology, population dynamics, fisheries modeling, hatcheries and conservation issues. Emphasis is placed on the human-fishery resource interaction. Students read from primary literature and conduct fisheries-related research.
- Prerequisites: BI 210
The application of ecological principles and technical knowledge to the management of populations of wildlife.
- Offered: Winter
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: BI 441 or instructor permission
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of aquatic organism culture related to food and other consumable production, wild stock enhancement, conservation, and production of ornamentals. It addresses the history, goals, practices and strategies of rearing aquatic organisms in both public and private settings.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: BI 218 or graduate standing
This course will cover the structure, function and evolution of genomes. Topics relating to current DNA sequencing methods, genome annotation, regulation of gene expression, and metagenomics will be addressed.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112 or consent of instructor
Principles of fish biology. Course covers systematics and diversity of marine and freshwater fish, including identification, evolution, physiology, ecology and behavior.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112 or consent of instructor
Lectures and laboratory exercises covering the evolution, systematics, morphology, physiology, ecology and behavior of amphibians and reptiles.
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112 or consent of instructor
Lectures, laboratories and field trips dealing with evolution, systematics, morphology, ecology behavior and identification of birds, with emphasis on local species.