Courses

Biol 251: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

Biol 251 is the first of a two-course sequence and focuses on the concepts of human physiology and anatomy. Emphasis will be on the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues, and organs of the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, and endocrine systems. The goal of the course is to help you to develop the skills needed to use physiological and anatomical reasoning to address important questions about how humans function.

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Biol 252: Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Biol 252 is the second of a two-course sequence and focuses on the concepts of structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues, and organs of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal, reproductive, and lymphatic systems of humans.

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Biol 304: Comparative Physiology

This course will examine the physiological processes that enable animals to live in diverse environments. Course material will focus on the underlying molecular and cellular events that mediate physiological processes in nervous, endocrine, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, and renal systems in vertebrates. Through integrated lecture and laboratory exercises, the goal of this course is to help you develop physiological reasoning skills needed to understand and predict how vertebrates respond to different demands imposed by their environment. 

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Biol 405: Comparative Endocrinology

This course is intended to give an overall introduction to the major endocrine and neuroendocrine systems and their involvement in the control of physiological function in vertebrates. An emphasis will be on mammalian systems, however, examples from other vertebrate taxa will also be discussed. Rather than attempting to be comprehensive, this course will explore selected topics of hormones involved in the regulation of various physiological processes in animal systems. Areas of exploration will include the regulation of feeding and metabolism, ion homeostasis, stress, and reproduction. 

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Art 155: The Scientists Sketchpad

This interdisciplinary course develops drawing and observational skills alongside a critical awareness of the role of image making in knowledge production about the natural world. Students will explore the connections between the three disciplines—biology, studio art, art history—in modules co-taught by the three instructors while critically examining the impact of imperialism and colonialism on Indigenous modes of knowledge. From week to week, students will produce their own scientist’s sketchpad while reflecting on how vision is mediated by epistemology and technology. The course will emphasize slow looking techniques and the history of collaborations between artists and scientists in the last 500 years.