Current Courses:

General Ecology (PCB3043)

This course provides an in-depth introduction to ecology, the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment at the population, community and ecosystem level. The course covers many of the fundamentals of ecology, including species' environmental tolerances; population growth and population dynamics; species interactions; community structure and change; and biogeography, presented through a combination of ecological theories and case studies. The course focuses on building students’ ecological knowledge while also advancing skills in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and data analysis and interpretation.

Ocean Sustainability - Honors (IDS2278)

This course provides an overview of the major sustainability and conservation issues in coastal and marine systems worldwide, including the science, management and policy dimensions. The course define the critical conservation problems and sustainability challenges facing marine ecosystems, including biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and altered ecosystems; describes the myriad causes of these problems and predominant threats to ocean ecosystems; and examines an array of solutions, including conservation, management, economic and policy tools, and the role of scientific research in contributing to these solutions. Students are challenged to effectively put their scholarship into practice by communicating an important ocean sustainability issue, writing a short popular news article on a topic of their choice and delivering an elevator pitch on this topic.

Prior Courses:

Environmental Science (GEO1330)

This course provides a thorough introduction to environmental science, the interdisciplinary study of how the earth works, how people interact with the earth, and how society can address environmental problems. The course examines an array of environmental problems from local to global scales; investigates how science can be used to understand environmental problems and identify possible solutions; and explores the ecological, economic, legal, political, social and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability.

Biogeography (GEO4300/GEO5305)

This course examines biogeographic patterns and processes at different spatial and temporal scales to demonstrate the dynamic properties that structure life on earth, including exploring how biogeographic insights can be applied to predict and manage how biodiversity and ecosystem services might change in the future (e.g., from climate change) and to improve conservation.

Marine Conservation: Science, Management and Policy (GEO4392/GEO5393)

This course provides an overview of the major conservation issues in coastal and marine systems worldwide, including the science, management and policy dimensions of marine conservation.  The course focuses on understanding biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem states in the oceans; examining the predominant threats to marine ecosystems (including climate change, natural resource extraction, and management failures); and exploring an array of solutions, including science, economic, management and policy tools.

Professional Development for Careers as Geographers (GEO6093)

This course prepares Geography PhD students for professional life after graduate school, building the skills and knowledge required to secure and sustain a career in academia or other career pathways.