Natural History (Non Majors)

Catalog description

The course focuses on the life habits of organisms that will be systematically studied with respect to functional morphology, diet, reproduction, habitat, and adaptations to environmental selection pressure. We will focus on the vertebrates, a large and intriguing group of organisms that fascinate people with their diversity in form and behavior, with special concentration on the Dinosauria. The study of ancestry helps us to understand modern classification and naming of organisms. Students will be introduced to the logic of scientific inquiry, critical thinking and concepts in natural history. There will be an emphasis on field work with data collection and analysis. A laboratory component is included in BION 225.