Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.

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.

BI 402 Microbial Ecology 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111 and 112, CH 112

The study of microbial population and community interactions. Microbial activities in natural systems and the interactions of microbes with plants and animals will also be studied. Laboratories consist of a mixture of microbiological techniques and independent research projects.

BI 404 Virology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Prerequisites: BI 203 or BI 303, or CLS 204 and CLS 214, and CH 220 or CH 322 or consent of instructor

An introductory course in virology integrating some of the biochemical, genetic and medical implications of viruses with general virology.

BI 405 Immunology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Prerequisites: BI 203 or BI 303 or CLS 203 or CLS 213 and CH 220 or CH 325 or consent of instructor

An introduction to immunology, this course will consider basic immunological mechanisms including humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immunity of infectious disease, immunogenetics and tumor immunology.

BI 406 Advanced Cell Biology 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Offered: Winter
  • Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 218 or CH 450 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.

BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: BI 210 or consent of instructor

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.

BI 411 Limnology 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Prerequisites: BI 210 and CH 112 or consent of instructor
Physical, chemical and biological aspects of lakes and streams. Laboratory work includes methods and instruments of field studies.
BI 412 Biostatistics 4 cr.  (3-2-0)
  • Prerequisites: MA 111 or equivalent or consent of instructor

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. 

BI 413 Biochemistry of Development 4 cr.  (2-2-0)
  • Prerequisites: BI 312 and either BI 406, BI 321, or CH 450 or consent of instructor

The biochemical and genetic events accompanying and influencing embryonic developments, with emphasis on pertinent literature and techniques.

BI 415 Evolutionary Analysis 4 cr.  (3-1-0)
  • Graded: A/F
  • 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.

BI 417 Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Fall
  • Graded: A/F
  • 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. 

BI 418 Molecular Biology 4 cr.  (2-0-4)
  • Prerequisites: BI 218, and credit or enrollment in CH 450, 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, sub-cloning, and work with the bacteriophage. This course will cover some of the theory and applications of biotechnology.

BI 419 Biology of Cancer 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Prerequisites: BI 312, BI 406 or CH 450, junior standing or consent of instructor
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.
BI 420 Neuroscience 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Winter
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, BI 207, BI 218 or instructor’s permission

This course covers: (1) the electrical, cellular, and molecular properties of neurons/neural networks, (2) developmental processes of neurons and neural networks, and (3) system neuroscience including anatomy and physiology of sensorimotor networks and learning and memory processes.

BI 423 Parasitology 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Offered: Fall
  • Prerequisites: Instructor permission

Life histories, ecology, physiology and host-parasite relationships. Laboratory includes examination of hosts for parasites and preparation of specimens for study.

Note: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.

BI 424 Entomology 4 cr.  (2-0-4)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112, or consent of instructor

Insect evolution, ecology, physiology and morphology. Emphasis is placed on the biology and in-field recognition of the local fauna.

BI 425 Endocrinology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111, CH 111, CH 112, BI 218, and BI 207 or BI 327 or instructor's permission.

Structure and physiology of endocrine glands, biological actions and biochemistry of hormones, emphasizing their role (at the systems level) in multisystem homeostasis, intermediary metabolism, reproduction and behavior of mammals.

BI 426 Human Histology 4 cr.  (2-0-4)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112, or CLS 201, BI 201 or BI 221 or consent of instructor
The purpose of this course is to study and understand the microscopic anatomy of human tissue and organs at the light microscope level.
BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: BI 210, and BI 327 or BI 207 or consent of instructor

The course emphasizes physiological adaptations of animals to their environment. It covers topics such as thermoregulation, nutrition and digestion, osmoregulation, nitrogen metabolism, sensory physiology and reproductive physiology.

BI 428 Behavioral Ecology 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: BI 210 and BI 215, or consent of instructor

Behavior, just like any phenotype, is shaped by selection associated with various environments and ecological interactions. This course considers the diversity of behavior exhibited in natural populations, how it evolves under various ecological conditions, and approaches to testing hypotheses about behavioral evolution and adaptive functions.

BI 431 Plant Physiology 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111, BI 112 and CH 112
The principles of plant nutrition, metabolism, plant/water relations, transport of materials in plants and physiological aspects of plant growth and development. Methods of studying plant function are emphasized in the laboratory.
BI 433 Boreal Flora 3-4 cr.  (2-0-4)
  • Prerequisites: BI 111 and BI 112 or equivalent, or consent of the instructor

Lecture and field studies dealing with recognition, taxonomy, ethnobotany and ecological adaptations of plants in aquatic and terrestrial communities.

BI 434 Plant Ecology 4 cr.  (2-0-4)
  • Prerequisites: BI 210; BI 310 recommended, or consent of instructor
Field-oriented study of terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, covering topics in population, community and landscape ecology. Laboratories emphasize research approaches, sampling techniques, data analysis and technical writing.
BI 435 Boreal Ecosystems 4 cr.  (1-0-5)
  • Offered: Summer
  • Prerequisites: BI 310, junior standing or instructor permission (interview with instructor required)

A 3-week field course based in Canada and/or Isle Royale studying community and ecosystem processes in the boreal forest. Emphasis is on boreal and arctic plant communities and the interrelationships of large herbivores, such as moose and caribou, and their predators.

BI 441 Fisheries Management 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Prerequisites: BI 210 or BI 422 and MA 109 or MA 111, or instructor's permission.

Concepts, applications and techniques for managing fisheries resources. Topics include basic fish anatomy and life-history characteristics, fishing technology, population dynamics, fisheries modeling, hatcheries and conservation issues. Emphasis is placed on the human-fishery resource interaction. Students read from primary literature and conduct fisheries-related research.