Animals, plants, and microbes serve as powerful tools for both basic and biomedical research. This course integrates historical, philosophical, sociological, and biological perspectives to examine how models are chosen and used. and how to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Students will study particular model species in depth, and address general epistemological questions about the choice and use of model organisms. This course is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates interested in research. 58 hours of Undergrad Coursework, including advanced study in at least one specified area required.

This course is the required companion course to a student's individual capstone experience. It must be taken during the same semester as the individual experience, or in the fall immediately following a summer experience. This course will help connect a student's individual capstone experience to their broader academic program, and will be a forum for sharing individual experiences with peers. Thesis students should enroll in BIOL 780 during the second semester of the thesis. Should also be taken with a pre-approved individual capstone experience.

Independent study in a topic related ot Biology, arranged by the student with a faculty sponsor. Enrollment by permission only.

Design and analysis of biological and ecological research experiments. "Real world" studies used to discuss the identification of hypotheses, appropriate experimental design, and the application of statistical analyses including ANOVA, ANCOVA, correlation and regression, cluster analysis, classification and ordination techniques. Theoretical statistical concepts tailored to consider students' own thesis and dissertation research, allowing statistical problems to be addressed at various stages of the research process. Common computer packages used for analyses include Excel, JMP, Systat and R.