Natural Science

This course introduces students to theyfundamentals of ecology and evolution throughydiscussions of and laboratory activities relatedyto the history of life on Earth, interactionsyamong organisms and between organisms and theyenvironment, population and community dynamics,ythe mechanisms of evolution, speciation, andyextinction. Students successfully completing theycourse will be able to draw connections betweenyecology and evolution as interrelated aspects ofybiology and will be prepared to continue on toygenetics (BIO 260) and upper-level electives,yparticularly courses focusing on ecology,yevolution, and organismal biology. Prerequisite:yBIO-120, or permission. Offered spring term.

Microbiology introduces the student to theystructure and function of prokaryotic life formsyand relevant eukaryotic microbes. Topicsyaddressed include diversity in habitat andymetabolic capabilities, historical and currentyimpacts (both positive and negative) on humans andyhuman society, and control and evolution ofymedically relevant forms. Upon completion of thisycourse, students will be competent in handlingymicroorganisms in lab, understand the importanceyof microbes to the human state, understand how theymetabolic diversity of microbes impacts the earthyin its current form, understand that evolution isya central concept in biology, a concept thatyincludes biodiversity, adaptability, change,ysurvival, and mutagenesis, and how evolution fitsyinto a study of microbiology.

Through lecture and lab experience, students willybe exposed to and will demonstrate anyunderstanding of the factors that determine theyspeed and extent of chemical reactions - kinetics,yequilibria, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry.yPrerequisite: Chemistry 125. Offered spring term.yy

Organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon andyits compounds. Organic molecules are buildingyblocks of life. Proteins, fats, sugars, nucleicyacids are some examples of important organicymolecules. However, organic chemistry alsoyincludes synthetic compounds, such as polyesters,yplastics, and countless other materials used inyevery day life. Through lecture and laboratory,ystudents successfully completing the course willydemonstrate an understanding of organic reactions,ysyntheses, mechanistic, and structural studies ofyorganic compounds. Students will also learnyclassical organic laboratory skills andyinstrumentation, such as nuclear magneticyresonance, infrared spectroscopy, chromatography,yand mass spectroscopy. Prerequisite: Chemistryy126. Offered fall term.

Course changed to CHM-326yyA survey course including modern theories ofybonding and the chemistry of transition metalycompounds, including organometallics.yPrerequisite: Chemistry 125, 126 (or equivalent)yand junior standing. Offered alternate years.

A course designed to meet the needs of theypreprofessional student and the science major asywell as providing an introduction to physics foryall students. Topics covered include mechanics,yoptics, thermodynamics, sound, electricity andymagnetism, electronics, and selected areas ofymodern physics. Lecture and laboratory.yPrerequisite: Mathematics 105, 125 (oryequivalent).

An examination of how geologic processes andyhazards influence human activities. The geologicyaspects of earth resources and environmentalyissues related to water, soils, minerals, andyfossil fuels are investigated. Hazards such asyearthquakes, landslides, flooding, volcanism, andysurface deformation are included. A geologicyframework for environmental issues, includingyrocks and minerals, tectonic processes, andygeologic time is provided. Upon successfulycompletion of this course, student willydemonstrate an understanding of the structure andydynamism of geology as well as the natural andyhuman-induced changes in geologic systems.

A study of topics in algebra and trigonometry thatyare used in calculus. Topics include functions,yadvanced algebra, logarithmic and exponentialyfunctions, and trigonometry. Students whoysuccessfully complete this course will have theymathematics background needed to study calculus.yPrerequisite: Two years of high school algebra oryMathematics 105.

This course begins the transition from student ofythe natural sciences to teacher of the naturalysciences. Major emphasis on laboratory safety,yinnovative methods for facilitating learning inythe natural sciences in the public schools and theymethods and procedures for evaluating studentylearning. Generally taken during the sophomoreyyear. Offered spring term.

Examines topics in the teaching and evaluation ofynatural science curriculum. Generally taken duringythe junior year. Prerequisite: Natural Science 324yor permission. Offered spring term.

Questions concerning the behavior of individualsyand populations are explored in a mechanistic andyevolutionary context. The relationships of animalybehavior studies to ecology, taxonomy, evolution,yand genetics are investigated, as well as theyanatomical and physiological basis of behavior.yUpon successful completion of this course,ystudents will develop an understanding of theybehavior of animals in field and laboratory andywill also become aware of the adaptiveysignificance of behavior.

Ecology is the study of how individuals cope withytheir environment, how populations grow and cycleyin the environment and how energy and matterycycleyat the level of the landscape. Upon successfulycompletion of this course, students willyunderstand the importance of inter andyintraspecific competition, predator preyyrelationships, co-evolutionary interactions suchyas parasitisms and mutualisms as well asycommunityylevel processes such as nutrient cycling andyproductivity.

This is a non-majors course in human physiology.yUpon completion of this course, students willyunderstand the major function of each organ systemyand how each system contributes to homeostasis ofythe organism. Students will engage inyinvestigative lab experiments to understandyphysiological concepts such as movement across aymembrane, reflex arcs, neural conduction, muscleycontraction, electrocardiograms and otherycardiovascular measurements, and urinalysis.yStudents will apply these concepts to case studiesyof human disease and injury.