Courses
EBIO 3980/4980: Surviving the EBIO Honors Thesis听
This course is designed to facilitate the success of students already enrolled in the EBIO Honors Program. It is a requirement for completing an Honors thesis in the EBIO Department. Students often take this course (EBIO 4980) in the same semester as they plan to graduate (for spring graduates) or the semester before (for fall graduates). Students who would like a preview of the Honors process but do not plan to graduate within the calendar year can enroll in EBIO 3980. Throughout the semester, students will participate in interactive class sessions, complete assignments, give presentations, and offer peer feedback, all of which are designed to prepare them for successfully submitting and defending their Honors thesis. The thesis defense consists of two core components: the written thesis document and the oral presentation (followed by questions from the committee). Because Honors theses must be completed by early April, classes are 鈥渇ront-loaded鈥 at the beginning of the semester. It is essential that students attend and participate in each class session. Peer instruction and feedback are heavily emphasized. Detailed information on the EBIO Honors process can be found on the Department website.
EBIO 4410/5510: Biological Statistics
The overall goal of this course is to create an interactive environment that will introduce students to听the use of statistical models for investigating biological data. Statistics provide the foundation for much of听biology; we use statistics to test our hypotheses and learn about the world. Knowledge of statistics istherefore necessary for students who wish to pursue a career in the sciences. It is also enormously useful听for people in non-scientific careers, particularly in thinking about how to critically evaluate evidence. The specific objectives for this course are to: (1) develop a statistically-oriented frame of mind (i.e., a听probabilistic way of thinking that explicitly recognizes and, where possible, quantifies uncertainty), (2) master some fundamental concepts of statistical estimation, description, and inference, (3) develop a broad familiarity with a range of statistical tools for practicing research biologists with a special emphasis on the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. An implicit goal of the course is to lay the foundation听for students to find and learn new statistical approaches in the future.听
EBIO 4090: Coral Reef Ecology and Conservation
EBIO 4090 is a Global Intensive course focused on coral reef ecology, biology, and conservation. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn about the diverse and delicate coral reef environment 听through a semester-long classroom course culminating in a one-week field excursion to Curacao, Dutch Caribbean. A SCUBA certification from an accredited agency (e.g., PADI, NAUI, SSI) must be completed successfully prior to the field portion of the course. The first portion of each lecture will cover the academic subject matter, including visits from experts in the fields of marine ecology and conservation, with the last 30 minutes often devoted to SCUBA diving techniques and safety logistics concerning the field portion of the experience. The course is designed to educate students about the biology, ecology, and contemporary challenges facing coral reefs and their inhabitants. As such, the class will place a premium on scientific research and scientific methods, including discussions with topic-area experts, intensive reading of the scientific literature, and student-led presentations on relevant topic matters of their choosing!
