Return to Biology | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Biology (BIOL)
1100 BIOLOGY LABORATORY FOR GENERAL EDUCATION A general education course. These laboratory exercises introduce students to the structure and function of cells, organisms, and communities. Laboratory only. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisite: Transfer credit for 3 semester hours of introductory biology lecture, or the equivalent, and permission of Department Chair.
1400 EXPLORING CONCEPTS IN BIOLOGY A lower-division UCA Core course. This course introduces students to concepts that are central to the scientific study of life and essential for biological literacy. This course addresses the process of science, as well as a broad range of biological topics, including evolution, genetics, and the structure and function of cells, organisms, communities, and ecosystems. This course equips students who have diverse interests and goals with knowledge and skills for making decisions about health and consumer issues; critically evaluating biological news; and appreciating connections with other species. Lecture and laboratory. Traditional, Hybrid, and Online formats. This course cannot be used to fulfill Biology major requirements or to satisfy additional science requirements for a B.S. degree. [ACTS: BIOL1004]
1410 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I A course primarily for pre-Nursing majors; any other student should register for the BIOL 3406-3407 series. This is the first of a two-part anatomy and physiology course sequence, designed for students who wish to gain an understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Specifically, we will focus on the scientific method, organization of the body and anatomical language, homeostasis, cell and tissue function, the skeletal system, the muscular system, and the nervous system. It is important to recognize that the human body functions due to an elaborate coordination within and between cells, tissues and organs. The ultimate goal of this course is to provide students a foundation for learning about the anatomy of the organ systems and discover how the systems interact to provide human body function. Prerequisite: Declared Pre-Nursing student or permission of the Biology department chair. [ACTS: BIOL2404]
1440 PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I A core course for majors. This course introduces students to the molecular and cellular basis of structure and function of organisms. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: High school chemistry or CHEM 1301 (or above) and a composite ACT score of 21 or higher OR BIOL 1400 and CHEM 1301 (or above) both with a grade of C or higher. Students not meeting the prerequisite requirements must have permission of the Biology Department Chair prior to enrollment. [ACTS: BIOL1014]
1441 PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II A core course for majors. This course introduces students to the evolution, diversity, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of organisms. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 1440 (C or better).
2405 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY A course primarily for health science majors. This course involves systematic study of body structure and function with an emphasis on homeostasis in the human body as a whole. Lecture and laboratory. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisite: BIOL 1400 or 1440. Not open to those who have passed BIOL 3407.
2410 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II A course primarily for pre-Nursing majors; any other student should register for the BIOL 3406-3407 series. This is the second of a two-part anatomy and physiology course, designed for students who wish to gain an understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Specifically, we will explore the structure and function of the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 1410 (C or better). [ACTS: BIOL2414]
2411 MICROBIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS A course primarily for health science majors. This course introduces basic concepts of bacteriology, virology, immunology, pathogenic microbiology, and food microbiology. Lecture and laboratory. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 1400 or 1440 or 1410. [ACTS: BIOL2004]
2420 HISTOLOGY FOR HEALTH SCIENCES A course primarily for health sciences majors. This course provides an introduction to the structure and function of tissues and explores how tissues contribute to the normal function of an organism. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisites: BIOL 1400, 1410 OR 1440.
2490 GENETICS A core course for majors. This course introduces students to the basic concepts of heredity and natural variation, including elements of classical, molecular, and population genetics. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 1441 (C or better).
3V45 INTERNSHIP IN BIOLOGY (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) An elective course for biology majors who have completed 60 hours of course work with a GPA of a least 2.5. An internship is an opportunity to apply classroom experience in biology to an employment situation. Internships are normally limited to one semester. Up to 4 hours of biology elective credit may be satisfied by an internship experience, with approval of the Internship committee. Prerequisites: Approval of the Department and selection by sponsor.
3V85 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours) This course provides research experiences under faculty supervision designed to supplement regularly organized courses in biology. Prerequisite: consent of faculty mentor. This course may not count as a biology elective.
3190 ECONOMIC BOTANY LABORATORY An elective course for biology majors. This is a lab course that gives students hands-on experience in lecture topics covered in BIOL 3390 (Economics Botany) and will include both laboratory work and field trips to relevant sites in the Conway area. Prerequisite or co-requisite: BIOL 3390.
3305 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY: TECHNIQUES AND CONTROVERSIES This course will introduce students to molecular biology as a method of scientific inquiry. In addition to learning basic techniques for manipulation and analysis of nucleic acids, primary literature will be read and critically evaluated. Impacts of these technologies in a wider context will also be discussed. Prerequisite: 2490.
3310 NEUROETHOLOGY: THE NEURAL BASIS OF NATURAL BEHAVIORS A course for Biology majors. This course introduces the students to the organization of the nervous system, and provides a detailed study of specializations of the nervous system in several different species (including insects, rodents, birds, fish, primates). Lecture only. Prerequisite: BIOL 1440 with a grade of C or higher.
3315 WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN STEM This course is designed to explore the unique positions women and members of minority populations hold within the scientific domain, the historical and global contributions of women and minorities to scientific advancement, and the continued challenges women and minorities face as scientists. Students will be exposed to content that will challenge their pre-existing concepts of what science is, who has contributed to science, and how knowledge is generated. This course will satisfy the upper-division UCA Core Diversity requirement. Prerequisite: Completion of the lower-division UCA Core physical science and life science requirements. [UD UCA Core: D]
3360 INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course provides an introduction to the marine environment as habitat, to the biota of various marine communities, and to human impacts such as over-harvesting and pollution. Lecture only. Prerequisites: BIOL 2490 (C or better), CHEM 1451, and PHYS 1410.
3370 PRINCIPLES OF NEUROSCIENCE This course examines the relationship between the human nervous system and behavioral output, including neuronal structure and function, organizational features, sensory transduction, control of movement, and the circuits involved with emotions and rational thought. Lecture only. Prerequisites: BIOL 1440 (C or better), BIOL 2405 (C of better), or BIOL 3406 (C or better), or permission of instructor.
3390 ECONOMIC BOTANY An elective course for biology majors. This course addresses the impact that plants have on modern society, and includes discussion of major food crops, plants used for paper and wood, medicinal plants, and the role of plant biotechnology in crop improvement. Lecture only. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
3402 CELL BIOLOGY A core course for majors. This course examines cell structure and function with an emphasis on bioenergetics, protein structure and function, and delivery of proteins to the various organelles found in eukaryotic cells. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 2490 (C or better), MATH 1390 or above and CHEM 2401. [UD UCA Core: I, C]
3403 GENERAL ECOLOGY A core course for biology majors. This introduction to ecology covers population, community, and ecosystem ecology of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. It focuses on the interactions of organisms with each other and with their abiotic environment. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: C or better in both BIOL 1441 and an introductory statistics course (GEOG 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, PSYC 2330, CISA 2330, or SOC 2321 ), or permission of instructor. [UD UCA Core: I]
3406 STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY I [Formerly BIOL 2406.] A course primarily for health science majors. This course involves a study of structure-function relationships in the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and integumentary systems. Lecture and laboratory. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisites: BIOL 1400 or 1440; CHEM 1402 or 1450 recommended.
3407 STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY II [Formerly BIOL 2407.] A course primarily for health science majors. This course is a continuation of BIOL 3406 and covers the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems. Laboratory emphasis on physiologic testing of students. Lecture and laboratory. This course cannot be used to fulfill the Biology major requirements. Prerequisite: BIOL 3406 (C or better).
3410 VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course surveys the classification, functional morphology, and natural history of the vertebrate animals. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
3420 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course involves basic concepts of bacteriology, virology, molecular biology, immunology, and pathogenic microbiology. Open only to biology majors unless instructor’s permission obtained. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better) or instructor permission.
3470 PLANT BIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course is the study of the structure and function of flowering plants, including but not limited to anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and evolution. Laboratory emphasizes microscopy and experimentation in greenhouse and growth chamber settings. Recommended prior to taking BIOL 4404 and BIOL 4450. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4V00 FIELD STUDIES IN BIOLOGY (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) This course is designed to broaden the student’s field experience beyond that obtained in regular courses through concentrated first-hand observations of plants, animals, and their environments. May be repeated for a maximum of four credit hours.
4V55 INDEPENDENT STUDY [Note: This course was BIOL 4155 through Fall 2016.] (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) Individual work under Biology faculty supervision, not normally involving laboratory or field research. This course is designed to supplement regularly organized courses in biology and may serve as an introduction to biological literature review. Course(s) may be credited towards biology elective credit requirements if approved by the Independent Study Committee. Prerequisite: Prior consent of faculty supervisor, academic advisor, and department chairperson.
4V85 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours) This course provides research experiences under faculty supervision designed to supplement regularly organized courses in biology. Prerequisite: consent of advisor and Department. Up to four semester hours may count as biology elective credit with approval of department. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4V90 SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY [Note: This course was BIOL 4390 and 4490 through Fall 2016.] (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) This course examines diverse subjects that would otherwise be unavailable through traditional course offerings. Topics will vary each semester. May be repeated for credit with change of topic.
4195 BIOLOGY CAPSTONE In Biology Capstone our goals are to learn to critically evaluate a variety of scientific presentation styles, to hone our ability to interpret data presented, and to gain competence with presentation of scientific evidence to both scientific and lay audiences. This course is designed as a capstone. You are, therefore, expected to integrate what you have learned in the previous courses in your major, interpret information from presentations, data sets, and primary sources, and demonstrate competence with scientific communication. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 or BIOL 3403 with a grade of C or better; and have completed at least 60 credit hours. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4205 CONSERVATION EDUCATION Grounded in place-based teaching and using the environment as a context for learning. The course will provide students with activities, lesson plans, and resources in four nationally recognized conservation education curriculum: Project WET, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Leopold Education Project. Upon completion the student will be a certified educator and receive a certification document for each curriculum. This course is designed for undergraduates majoring in Biology and Environmental Science, for graduate students in Biology and Science Education, and for classroom and non-classroom educators seeking ADE professional development credit. The course meets three times over a semester on Friday evenings and Saturdays for training and will conclude with a youth teaching experience.
4250 SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS An elective course for biology majors. This course covers the theory and practice of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, and provides training in sample preparation, examination and analysis, and imaging. Students will complete independent projects. Prerequisites: BIOL 2490 (C or better), PHYS 1420 or 1422, and permission of instructor.
4311 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY A course primarily for health science majors. This course involves discussion of disruptions in normal physiology, including the alterations, derangements, and mechanisms involved in these disruptions and how they manifest themselves as signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings. Lecture only. Prerequisites: BIOL 2405 or BIOL 2410 or BIOL 3407 or BIOL 4460 (C or better for all).
4320 HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE METHODS An elective course for biology majors. This course explores a range of behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging methods used to study the human nervous system, with a focus on primary literature. Students will gain proficiency in reading, evaluating, summarizing, and presenting empirical research. Lecture only. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better) or BIOL 3370 (C or better).
4330 PRINCIPLES OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM This elective course will analyze the cardiovascular system based upon its two principal parts: (1) the primary “pump” for blood flow, the heart, and (2) the conduit for blood flow, the blood vessels. Students will gain an understanding of the cardiovascular system by analyzing the heart anatomy and function, how blood flows through the blood vessels, and the impact of the nervous system on cardiovascular function. Students will utilize the historical primary literature as a foundation for current experimental ideas. Thus, students will have to analyze, interpret, and discuss historical and up-to-date primary literature. Prerequisite: “C or better” in BIOL 3402.
4340 IMMUNOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course covers cellular and molecular aspects of immunity, clinical immunology techniques, immune diseases and disorders, and the role of the immune system during infection and cancer. Lecture. Prerequisites: BIOL 3402 (C or better) or 3420 (C or better).
4350 CURRENT TOPICS IN CELL BIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course will cover a selection of recent advances in the field of Cell Biology in great depth rather than skimming over many topics as textbooks often do. Simultaneously, students will hone their skill of reading the primary literature. This course will require active participation primarily in the form of paper presentations and discussion. Lecture. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 or CHEM 4320 (C or better).
4351 GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY A course primarily for health science majors. This course examines how the body handles drugs, and the effects of the various classes of drugs on body systems, including sites and mechanisms of action, therapeutic and side effects, and toxicology. Lecture only. Prerequisite: BIOL 2405 or 2410 or 3407 or 4460 (C or better for all).
4360 ENDOCRINOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course involves study of the structure and function of endocrine tissues of vertebrates in regard to growth, puberty, reproduction, metabolism, and stress. Hormonal mechanisms of action are emphasized. Lecture only. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 or CHEM 4320 (C or better).
4370 CURRENT TOPICS IN PHYSIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course will cover recent advances in multiple organ systems in the field of Physiology in great depth using primary literature. Students will develop their skill of reading and critically analyzing the primary literature appropriate to each organ system/disease state covered. Students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field will gain an appreciation and understanding of how to critically review and understand the primary research related to their client’s unique needs. Students who are interested in pursuing a career in research will gain an appreciation of how their work can impact the medical field. This course will require active participation primarily in the form of paper presentations, class assignments, and discussion. Lecture. Prerequisites: BIOL 3402 (C or better).
4400 HISTOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course surveys the microscopic anatomy of the vertebrate body. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 (C or better).
4401 INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course surveys the classification, functional morphology, and natural history of the invertebrate animals. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4404 PLANT BIODIVERSITY An elective course for biology majors. This course involves the identification, nomenclature, and classification of vascular plants, dealing mainly with Arkansas flora. Laboratory exercises have strong field orientation. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4405 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course will study the procedures by which organisms grow and develop. Specifically, the course will focus on control of cell growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis in animal and plant systems at the morphological, genetic, cellular and who organism levels. Prerequisites: BIOL 3402 (C or better).
4406 MAMMALOGY An elective course for biology majors. Biology of mammals. Topics covered include systematics, classification, evolution, physiological and behavioral adaptive strategies, conservation, and economic importance. Integrated lab introduces students to Arkansas mammal identification and distribution, and to field study techniques and museum preservation and curation. Required BIOL 2490 (C grade or better), recommended BIOL 3403, and/or BIOL 3410, and/or BIOL 3415.
4407 ORNITHOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. The study of birds. Topics covered include classification, identification, evolution, physiological and behavioral adaptive strategies, conservation, management, and economic importance of birds, with an emphasis on North American avifauna. Integrated lab introduces students to Arkansas and regional / eastern-central U.S. bird identification and distribution, and to field study techniques and museum preservation and curation. Required BIOL 2490, (C grade or better), recommended BIOL 3403, and/or BIOL 3410, and/or BIOL 3415.
4410 BIOLOGY OF LOWER PLANTS AND FUNGI An elective course for biology majors. This field biology course examines mosses, ferns, algae, and fungi as they are found in natural habitats. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4414 MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF AGING We will consider the molecular journey a cell or organism takes as it ages, and discuss the processes that appear to govern our longevity. We will discuss lifespan in terms of cell division cycles, chronological age, and health span. We will examine genetic and environmental influences on aging processes, when and under what conditions genes controlling development and aging may be up- or down-regulated, and to what extent these processes can be intentionally directed. Finally, we will consider current evolutionary theories of aging, including whether aging can be considered “programmed” versus merely a consequence of other processes breaking down and a lack of selective pressure against aging. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 or CHEM 4320 (C or better).
4415 MECHANISMS OF EVOLUTION An elective course for biology majors. This course introduces biological evolution from the Darwinian and Neo-Darwinian perspectives and emphasizes mechanisms of evolutionary change and an overview of the history of life on earth. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4418 BIOLOGY OF THE REPTILIA An elective course for biology majors. This course examines the biology, reproduction, ecology, and conservation biology of reptiles. Laboratory exercises emphasize species identification, field techniques, as well as population and community analysis. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 3403 and BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4421 PATHOGENIC MICROBIOLOGY This lecture/lab course covers the essentials of clinical/medical microbiology. Emphasis will be placed on safety issues, handling of clinical specimens, identification techniques, and pathogenicity of specific microbes. Students will learn not only the connection between agent and disease, but how to sample and identify those agents. Prerequisite: BIOL 3420.
4425 EXPERIMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course introduces students to the structure and function of invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems. Laboratory exercises involving invertebrate and vertebrate models will use techniques for studying nervous system function and research design. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better), PHYS 1420 or BIOL 3370 (C or better), CHEM 1402 or 1450, or permission of the instructor.
4430 COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY An elective course for biology majors. This course examines the comparative gross anatomy of vertebrates. Laboratory work includes dissection of the dogfish shark, Necturus, and cat. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4431 EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course introduces students to the molecular biology of nucleic acids with an emphasis on biotechnology and genetic engineering. The laboratory experience is a major component of this course. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4435 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR An elective course for biology majors. This course analyzes animal behavior from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 2490 (C or better) and CHEM 1451 (C or better). Pre- or corequisite: GEOG 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, PSYC 2330, CISA 2330, or SOC 2321.
4440 ENTOMOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course involves study of the classification, evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology of insects. The course also explores how insects affect our lives and how harmful insects are controlled. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4442 RESTORATION ECOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION An elective course for biology majors. The course focuses on the ecological principles used in ecosystem restorations, the application of restoration to different ecosystems, and the evaluation of actual restorations in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 3403 (C or better).
4443 FRESHWATER ECOLOGY An elective course for biology and environmental science majors. This course covers the principles of the physical, chemical, and biological attributes shaping the ecology of freshwater systems. Students will learn about ecological principles through the freshwater continuum (streams, wetlands, and lakes). Special emphasis will be placed on emerging topics including anthropogenic threats and solutions to environmental challenges in freshwaters. Class combines lectures and class-wide literature discussions with hands-on laborato1y exercises designed to teach technical skills for the study of freshwater environments. Prerequisite: BIOL 3403 with a minimum grade of C.
4445 BIOMETRY An elective course for biology majors. This course involves applied biological statistics with an emphasis on experimental design and data analysis. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 2490 (C or better) and MATH 2311.
4450 PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course provides an overview of plant physiology, with a focus on understanding how plants are adapted to different environmental conditions, and how different conditions affect plant growth, survival, geographic distributions, and ecosystem function. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: C or better in BIOL 2490 or BIOL 3403, an introductory statistics course (GEOG 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, PSYC 2330, CISA 2330, or SOC 2321), and PHYS 1410.
4455 ICHTHYOLOGY – THE BIOLOGY OF FISHES An elective for both Biology and Environmental Science majors. Ichthyology is the study of fishes. In this course we will examine diversity, ecology, life history, and physiology of fishes as well as aspects of fisheries management. Fishes comprise more than half of all known living vertebrates, are found in almost every conceivable aquatic habitat and exhibit an enormous array of life history and ecological adaptations. They are also important indicators of environmental quality. This course will emphasize the biology and ecology of fishes in lecture and use a systematic approach to study the taxonomic identification of fishes in lab, stressing identification of southeastern freshwater fishes. Students will also become familiar with various sampling techniques in the field. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4460 ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course examines the function of the organ systems in vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Laboratory work includes collection and analysis of data using living material. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 3402 (C or better).
4461 PARASITOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course introduces students to the taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and life cycles of animal parasites. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 2490 (C or better).
4465 ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY Provides an introduction to the fate, toxicity, and effects of contaminants in ecological systems. This course will focus on the impacts of toxic substances on ecological structures across various levels of biological organization, from individuals to the community and ecosystem level. Students will receive a basic knowledge of both short- and long-term effects of pollution on aquatic and terrestrial organisms and environments. Upon completion of the course, students will have an understanding of the properties and behavior of major classes of chemicals, toxicity testing procedures, concepts and application of ecological risk assessment for regulation, and current issues in the field. Prerequisites: C or better in CHEM 1451; an introductory statistics course (MATH 2311, GEOG 2330, PSCI 2312, PSYC 2330, CISA 2330, or SOC 2321); and BIOL 2490, or permission of instructor. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4480 PALEOBIOLOGY An elective course for biology majors. This course is an introduction to paleobiology, the study of the Earth’s life as preserved in the fossil record. Topics will include the fundamentals of historical geology, geologic dating and correlation, the major groups of animals, plants, and microorganisms at different periods in the past, the reconstruction of past environments, and the use of fossil and geological evidence in studying environmental change. Lecture and laboratory.