2007-09 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

Graduate Catalog: Section 6.4http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/15400.htmlhttp://www.as.ua.edu/biology.Course DescriptionsPrerequisite: Graduate standing.Courses at the 500 level are not open to students who have received credit for the same courses at the 400 level.BSC 500 Vertebrate Functional Morphology. Four hours. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period.Prerequisites: BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, BSC 300, or permission of the instructor.Morphology of animals, primarily vertebrates, with emphasis on functional aspects of anatomy. Laboratory dealsmainly with comparative anatomy of the vertebrates. Offered fall semester.BSC 503/ BSC 504 Introduction to Biological Sciences Instruction. Two hours.Prerequisites: Strong background in biological sciences, formal application, and interview.Students in the M.S. program who are not teaching assistants may receive up to 2 hours' credit. Students in thePh.D. program who are not teaching assistants may receive up to 4 hours' credit provided they teach two differentlaboratories. Offered fall and spring semesters.BSC 506 Introduction to Research in Biological Sciences. One hour.Corequisite: Student must be in the first year of the graduate program.Surveys research programs in biological sciences. Offered fall and spring semesters.BSC 507 Research Techniques in Biology. One to six hours.Individualized instruction and the application of research techniques to specific problems for graduate students in thedepartment. Offered fall and spring semesters.BSC 512 Limnology. Three hours. May be taken separately or with BSC 513.A study of freshwater environments and organisms living in lakes, ponds, and streams. Offered fall semester. A.Ward.BSC 513 Limnology Laboratory. Two hours. One laboratory period.An optional laboratory accompanying BSC 512. Offered fall semester. A. Ward.BSC 514 Dendrology. Three hours. One lecture and one four-hour laboratory period.Identification, classification, characteristics, and distribution of the principal forest trees of the United States. Twoweekend field trips are required. Offered alternate fall semesters. Haynes.BSC 516 Aquatic Vascular Plants. Four hours. Two lectures and one four-hour laboratory period.Prerequisite: BSC 434 or BSC 534.Identification, classification, characteristics, and distribution of aquatic plant species. One weekend field trip isrequired. Offered alternate fall semesters.BSC 517 Environmental Modeling. Three hours. Two lectures and one discussion period.Prerequisites: BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, CH 101, CH 102, and MATH 125 (or equivalent).An integrated survey of quantitative principles and computer-based solution techniques important for understandingenvironmental systems and for environmental problem solving. Offered alternate fall semesters.BSC 520 Principles of Systematic Zoology. Three hours. Three lectures.Prerequisites: BSC 373 or permission of the instructor.An introduction to the principles, methods, and applications of systematic zoology and the zoological classifications.Offered alternate fall semesters. Harris, Lydeard.BSC 521 Geomicrobiology. Three hours.Prerequisites: One year of chemistry (CH 101:102); either physical science (GEO 101:102), ecology (BSC 385),microbiology (BSC 310), or permission of the instructor.This interdisciplinary course examines the interrelationships between microorganisms and earth processes andenvironments. Topics will focus on microorganismal involvement in mineral precipitation and dissolution andprocesses that control distribution of elements at and below the surface of the earth, as well as geochemical andmineralogical factors that exert important controls on microbial evolution and the structure of microbial communities.A. Ward, Findlay.BSC 522 Climate Dynamics. Three hours.Prerequisites: PH 101:102, MATH 125, GY 101:102.This course will provide students with a quantitative introduction to the earth's climate on global and regional scales,including interaction between atmosphere, ocean, and biosphere. Offered alternate fall semesters. M. Ward.BSC 523 Freshwater Ecosystems. Three hours.Prerequisites: CH 101:102, CH 231:232 recommended, MATH 125, BSC 412/BSC 512 or equivalent. This courseaddresses the integration of physical and chemical components of drainage basins with biological metabolism, growthand reproduction along functional gradients of river, wetland, reservoir, and lake ecosystems. Offered alternate