Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112 or CLS 204 and CLS 214 and CH 220 or CH 315 or CH 321; BI 312 recommended.
Study of morphology, physiology, genetics and taxonomy of microbes and related laboratory techniques.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: BI 210; DATA 109, or BI 412, or GC 235, or instructor permission.
Lectures, field and laboratory studies on advanced concepts relating living organisms to their environment. Emphasis is placed on experimental ecology, including experimental design, data analysis, interpretation within theoretical constructs, and professional presentation of findings. This course expands on principles taught in BI 210.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 218.
- Offered: Winter, even years
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112.
A general overview of the biology of the marine environment including physical aspects of the oceans, diversity of life and evolutionary specializations, as well as an in-depth examination of the primary ocean realms.
- Offered: Contact department
- Prerequisites: BI 104 or BI 221.
Reproduction and development in animals, with particular emphasis on vertebrates. Laboratory work is based largely on the frog and chick.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 112, BI 215 recommended.
Phylogeny, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology and behavior of vertebrates. Emphasis on the evolutionary history of major vertebrate taxa.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112.
A zoological survey of the invertebrates from protozoans to chordates.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112.
This course focuses on the physiological systems of invertebrates and vertebrates. The comparative method will be used to identify general physiological principles. The subject matter includes metabolism, respiration, circulation, temperature effects, water and solute regulation, and muscle and nerve physiology.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111, CH 111, and CH 112.
Plant growth and development, ecophysiology, and crop production with a focus on methods for influencing plant growth for desired properties will be emphasized. Positive and negative biotic/abiotic interactions of plants will be explored within the context of how these interactions influence the biology of plants. A survey of the diversity of plants with a focus on key groups and the biology of fungi and algae will also be discussed in addition to new technologies for optimizing plant growth and commercialization.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites:
BI 111, CH 111, and CH 112; may not be taken by Biology, Fisheries and Wildlife, or Medicinal Plant Chemistry majors.
Plant growth and development, ecophysiology, and crop production with a focus on methods for influencing plant growth for desired properties will be emphasized. Positive and negative biotic/abiotic interactions of plants will be explored within the context of how these interactions influence the biology of plants. A survey of the diversity of plants with a focus on key groups and the biology of fungi and algae will also be discussed in addition to new technologies for optimizing plant growth and commercialization.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112. A prior course in statistics is recommended.
This course will cover basic concepts in genetics, as well as topics in population genetics relevant to the management and conservation of populations of plants and animals. There will be particular focus on the topics of genetic diversity, inbreeding, population subdivision, and effective population size.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: S/U
- Prerequisites: Permission of supervising faculty member and department head. Can be repeated for up to six credits if topic varies.
Practical experience in field biology under supervision of a faculty member engaged in research. A written report of the field experience will be required and placed on file in the department office.
Notes:A course subtitle on the student's transcript will describe the content of this course, e.g., BI 390 Field Experience in Woodcock Ecology.
Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: S/U
- Prerequisites: Permission of supervising faculty members and department head.
Practical experience in laboratory biology under the supervision of a faculty member engaged in research. A written report of the laboratory experience will be required and placed on file in the department office.
Notes:May be repeated for up to six credits if topic differs. A course subtitle on the student’s transcript will describe the content of this course, e.g., BI 391 Laboratory Experience in Genetics. Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall semester of even years
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, CH112, junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: BI 203 or BI 303, or CLS 204 and CLS 214, and CH 220 or CH 325, junior standing or instructor's permission.
An introductory course in virology integrating some of the biochemical, genetic and medical implications of viruses with general virology.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 203 or BI 303, or CLS 203 or CLS 213, and CH 220 or CH 325, junior standing or instructor’s permission.
Introduction to immunology, considering basic immunological mechanisms including humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immunity of infectious disease, immunogenetics and tumor immunology.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: BI 111 and either BI 218 or CH 450, junior standing or instructor's permission.
Structure and function of eukaryotic cells and organelles, with comparisons to selected features of prokaryotic cells. Topics include methods of study, compartmentalization of cells, cellular energetics, cell signaling, cytoskeletal proteins and the cell cycle. Laboratory work includes microscopy, tissue culture and isolation of cellular components.
- Offered: Winter odd years
- Prerequisites: BI 210, junior standing or instructor's permission.
Lectures on the ecology of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Core subjects include biogeochemistry, community ecology and the ecological consequences of human activities including exotic species introductions, environmental pollution and natural resource management practices.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: BI 210 and CH 112, junior standing or instructor's permission.
Physical, chemical and biological aspects of lakes and streams. Laboratory work includes methods and instruments of field studies.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: MA 111 or equivalent, junior standing or instructor permission.
Application of statistics to biological data, with emphasis on experimental design, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics. Topics include elementary parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses, various ANOVA designs, analysis of covariance, correlation, linear and non-linear regression, multiple regression, categorical analysis, and an introduction to multivariate statistics. This course emphasizes problem-solving using SPSS and other statistical software.
Notes:Formerly Biometrics.
- Offered: Fall, even years
- Prerequisites: BI 312 and either BI 321, BI 406, or CH 450, junior standing or instructor's permission.
The biochemical and genetic events accompanying and influencing embryonic development, with emphasis on pertinent literature and techniques.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: BI 215 and BI 312.
This course examines the details of evolutionary theory as it explains the complexities of biodiversity. Lecture topics include sexual selection, evolutionary genetics, natural selection and speciation. Discussions cover the application of analytical techniques to biological systems and require critical analysis of primary literature.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, BI 218, and BI 207, BI 208, or BI 221 and BI 327 or instructor permission.
This course provides a(n): (1) evolutionary anatomical history of vertebrate brain structures, (2) lectures and laboratory exploring the anatomical divisions of the vertebrate brain and spinal cord, and (3) a survey of how brain structure and function relates to vertebrate behavior.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: BI 218, and credit or enrollment in CH 450, junior standing or instructor’s permission.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene structure and expression. Laboratories explore some of the techniques used for manipulating genes in vitro, including DNA isolation, DNA electrophoresis, subcloning and work with the bacteriophage. This course covers some of the theory and applications of biotechnology.
- Offered: Fall, odd years
- Prerequisites: BI 312, BI 406 or CH 450, junior standing or instructor's permission.
Introduction to the biology of cancer cells. Comparison of cell cycle regulation, cell growth, apoptosis and cell adhesion in normal and tumor cells. Study of genes that are altered in tumors, including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Examination of pertinent literature.