Why are vertebrates so successful on Earth? In this hands-on comparative biology course you will systematically examine the evolutionary history of form and function by exploring key adaptations that allowed vertebrates to diversify and thrive in the aquatic, terrestrial, and arboreal habitats they occupy today. In lab you will hone your dissection skills as you track ancestral and derived characteristics in 5 representative species on the vertebrate tree of life. Lab.

This course is about insects, the animal taxon that represents 50% of all life forms on Earth. During this course students will explore this incredible diversity by studying insects from inside out and learning about major evolutionary events in the last 500 million years that shaped this incredible diversity. This course will also highlight the beneficial and detrimental roles insects play in human society: students will gain insights into medical and veterinary entomology, coastal entomology, principles of sustainable pest management and insect conservation. Throughout the course, students will broadly apply online tools for insect identification and will be exposed to community driven nature conservation and monitoring efforts using online applications, such as inaturalist and bugguide. Lab.

In this course we will first investigate the mechanisms of behavior--how do animals behave the way they do? We'll then spend the bulk of the semester exploring the ecology and evolution of behavior--why do animals behave the way they do? In lab, we will use hands-on activities to complement material from class, and you'll gain first-hand research experience when you design and conduct your own animal behavior study. Lab.

In this course we will first investigate the mechanisms of behavior--how do animals behave the way they do? We'll then spend the bulk of the semester exploring the ecology and evolution of behavior--why do animals behave the way they do? In lab, we will use hands-on activities to complement material from class, and you'll gain first-hand research experience when you design and conduct your own animal behavior study. Lab.