The course covers the diversity of insects, their biology and behavior, the importance of insects and insect control programs in agriculture, and the effects that insects have had on human history and culture. Identification of all orders and many common families. Ecological attributes of each taxon, including food, habitat, life cycle, and behavior. An insect collection is required. Several required weekend field trips.
Emphasis is placed on practical solutions of real or hypothetical case histories and problems.
This writing-intensive course will enable students to improve both their own scientific writing and their understanding of the writing of specialists, scientists in other fields and lay readers. Topics include bacterial, plant, biomedical examples of major advances in molecular cell biology and biotechnology. Cooperative course with Montgomery County Hospital. Students work and study in the various divisions of the hospital under supervision of physicians and other health professionals. Selection by Biology and University Premedical committees and approval by the hospital required.