_UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM



University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Curriculum Proposal Form #1

New Degree, Major, or Submajor

Effective Term:

Degree:

Program Title: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

GPA Required in the Major/Submajor: 2.0

Sponsor(s): Ellen Davis

Department(s): Biological Sciences

College(s):

Consultation took place: NA Yes (list departments and attach consultation sheet)

Departments:      

Check if:

New Degree: Intent to Plan *

New Degree: Final Proposal

New Major: Intent to Plan *

New Major: Final Proposal

New Submajor: Minor

New Submajor: Emphasis/Track

New Submajor: Certificate Program

Module: Intent to Plan

Module: Final Proposal

Other (list):      

Proposal Information:

(Procedures for form #1)

* Note: You must receive approval from System to plan a new Degree or Major (submajors not included)

For System requirements see ACIS-1guidelines at

Catalog Description: Students opting for this emphasis will likely go on to careers in involving organisms and populations. Such fields include, but are not limited to population ecology, physiological ecology, behavioral ecology, aquatic ecology, environmental toxicology and evolutionary biology.

Program Goals: The following is a list of goals for all UWW biology majors.

1. Demonstrate Knowledge of Major Biological Principles & Concepts:

a. Recall and apply core principles and concepts of suborganismal, organismal & interorganismal biological sciences

b. Recall and apply core principles and concepts of a subset of biological studies, according to the student’s chosen emphasis

c. Possess an awareness of fields of biology and career opportunities in each

d. Understand the scientific method

2. Apply Intellectual & Practical Biological Science Skills:

a. Use the scientific method for inquiry and analysis

b. Think critically and creatively about new information

c. Effectively communicate orally and in writing: write in a standard scientific research format, and present ideas in a standard scientific oral and visual presentation

d. Demonstrate quantitative literacy: perform and interpret basic statistical analyses of data and mathematical models of biological concepts as appropriate to the student’s emphasis

e. Demonstrate biological information literacy: read, analyze & understand scientific articles & texts

f. Contribute to team/group problem solving: conduct, present, and peer-review research and other collaborative projects

g. Perform standard techniques and use standard equipment for field and laboratory research

3. Integrate biology with personal & social responsibility, by applying biological principles, knowledge & skills to:

a. Understand biological impacts of local and global policies and actions

b. Understand how global and cultural differences can affect biological issues

c. Understand current bioethical issues

d. Learn and understand new biological breakthroughs & ideas as a foundation for lifelong learning

4. Integrate knowledge from multiple fields and disciplines

a. Synthesize chemical and physical laws with biological phenomena

b. Synthesize suborganismal, organismal and superorganismal biological concepts

c. Synthesize basic evolutionary principles with all biological fields

List of courses in the program and their justifications.

Unique Requirements

1. MATH 152 (Elementary Functions OR MATH 243 (Short Calculus) OR MATH 250 (Applied Calculus) These are the standard math requirements for all biology majors. Typically, students take MATH 152, but students who have changed majors often have already taken one of the other two courses.

2. BIOLOGY 303 (Biostatistics) OR PSYCH 215 (Basic Statistical Methods) All biology majors are required to take a course in statistics.

3. CHEM 102 AND CHEM 104 (Introductory Chemistry I and II) Any biology major requires a grounding in chemistry as well as biology.

4. ONE ADDITIONAL CHEMISTRY COURSE NUMBERED ABOVE 200 Although most students will likely opt for organic chemistry, flexibility here allows students to choose a chemistry course that is most in line with their interests in biology.

5. BIOLOGY 200 (Writing in Biology) OR ENGLISH 372 (Scientific and Technical Writing) The current departmental writing requirement.

6. PHYSCS 140 AND PHYSCS 141 OR BOTH PHYSCS 180 AND PHYSCS 181 ARE RECOMMENDED. These are the two sequences of introductory physics (algebra or calculus based), and should be taken by students considering graduate school in biology.

Major Requirements

1. BIOLOGY 141 (Introductory Biology I), BIOLOGY 142 (Introductory Biology II) AND BIOLOGY 251 (Introduction to Genetics) Courses that are required of all biology majors.

2. 0-3 UNITS OF BIOLOGY 253 (Introduction to Cell Biology) An optional but recommended course for students in this emphasis, depending on the direction they wish to go. Also, as worded, this course could not fulfill elective credit in line 9. By including this course here, students can use it towards the major.

3. BIOLOGY 257 (Introduction to Ecology) AND BIOLOGY 446 (Organic Evolution) These courses cover concepts which are of core importance to any student who wishes to study and work in fields related to ecology, evolution or behavior.

4. AT LEAST TWO UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 254 (Biotechnology Laboratory Methods I) OR BIOLOGY 258 (Field Experience) Students gain experience in laboratory methods (Biology 254) or field methods and an understanding of natural areas (Biology 258) in these courses. It is likely students will take both courses, depending on their interests.

5. BIOLOGY 390 AND BIOLOGY 400 (Two semesters of Biology colloquium) Taken by all biology majors, these courses exposure students to research by outside speakers, research by UWW faculty and undergraduate students and job opportunities in the field.

6. ONE TO SIX UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING: The following courses represent student learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom.

a. BIOLOGY 354 (Field Botany) OR BIOLOGY 451 (Natural History of Yellowstone NP and the Upper Great Plains) OR BIOLOGY 491 (Travel Study)

b. BIOLOGY 493 (Internship in Biology)

c. BIOLOGY 498 OR BIOLOGY 498R (Independent Study and Undergraduate Research)

7. AT LEAST THREE UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 315 (Birding in Southern Wisconsin), BIOLOGY 351 (Plant Kingdom), BIOLOGY 353 (Plant Taxonomy), BIOLOGY 375 (Invertebrate Biology) OR BIOLOGY 450 (Introductory Entomology) These courses all focus on the taxonomy and identification of a particular group of organisms. Students should choose at least one of these courses, depending on their interests.

8. AT LEAST ONE COURSE FROM THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 301, BIOLOGY 315, BIOLOGY 340, BIOLOGY 351, BIOLOGY 353, BIOLOGY 370, BIOLOGY 375, BIOLOGY 430, BIOLOGY 450, BIOLOGY 442, BIOLOGY 448, BIOLOGY 457 These courses represent traditional courses in ecology, evolution and behavior. Note that this list repeats courses listed in line 7 (taxon electives), and may require personalization if a student wishes to take two taxonomy courses and nothing else from this list. However, we expect such a situation to be relatively uncommon. The line 7 courses are repeated here, in part, in reaction to the new AAR, in which AAR lines ‘close up’ when a requirement has been fulfilled. We wanted to highlight for the students that taking more than taxon-based course is worth their consideration.

9. SELECT ADDITIONAL UNITS OF BIOLOGY ELECTIVES ABOVE 300 EXCEPT FOR BIOLOGY 303, BIOLOGY 493, BIOLOGY 498 AND BIOLOGY 498R, TO TOTAL 40 UNITS IN THE MAJOR This line allows students to choose approximately 10 units of upper division elective credit from among all biology courses, depending on their interests.

Four-Year Plan of Course Offerings:

I. Courses listed in the unique requirements or major requirements (lines 1-8 only)

a. The following courses are offered every semester:

a. Unique requirements: MATH 152, CHEM 102, CHEM 104, CHEM 251, CHEM 252, BIOLOGY 303, PSYCH 215, ENGLISH 372

b. Major requirements: BIOLOGY 141, BIOLOGY 142, BIOLOGY 251, BIOLOGY 253, BIOLOGY 254, BIOLOGY 257, BIOLOGY 258, BIOLOGY 301, BIOLOGY 446, BIOLOGY 457, BIOLOGY 390, BIOLOGY 400, BIOLOGY 493, BIOLOGY 498, BIOLOGY498R

A. The following courses are offered every fall:

a. Unique requirements: BIOLOGY 200

b. Major requirements: BIOLOGY 340, BIOLOGY 351, BIOLOGY 370

B. The following courses are offered every spring:

a. Major requirements: BIOLOGY 353, BIOLOGY 442, BIOLOGY 448

C. The following courses are offered every other spring:

a. Major requirements: BIOLOGY 315, BIOLOGY 375, BIOLOGY 430, BIOLOGY 450

D. BIOLOGY 451 is offered every summer

II. Many of the above courses also could be used toward elective credits in line 9 of the major. But the following courses may also be used in line 9, although some are less likely than others.

a. Courses offered every semester: BIOLOGY 311, BIOLOGY 345, BIOLOGY 361, BIOLOGY362, BIOLOGY363

b. Courses taught every spring: BIOLOGY 341, BIOLOGY 456, BIOLOGY 458

List of courses for the AR/AAR

Unique Requirements (21-25 UNITS)

1. MATH 152 OR MATH 243 OR MATH 250

2. BIOLOGY 303 OR PSYCH 215

3. CHEM 102 AND CHEM 104

4. ONE ADDITIONAL CHEMISTRY COURSE NUMBERED ABOVE 200

5. BIOLOGY 200 OR ENGLISH 372

6. PHYSCS 140 AND PHYSCS 141 OR BOTH PHYSCS 180 AND PHYSCS 181 ARE RECOMMENDED.

Major Requirements (40 UNITS)

1. BIOLOGY 141, BIOLOGY 142 AND BIOLOGY 251

2. 0-3 UNITS OF BIOLOGY 253

3. BIOLOGY 257 AND BIOLOGY 446

4. AT LEAST TWO UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 254 OR BIOLOGY 258

5. BIOLOGY 390 AND BIOLOGY 400

6. ONE TO SIX UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING

a. BIOLOGY 354 OR BIOLOGY 451 OR BIOLOGY 491

b. BIOLOGY 493

c. BIOLOGY 498 OR BIOLOGY 498R

7. AT LEAST THREE UNITS OF THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 315, BIOLOGY 351, BIOLOGY 353, BIOLOGY 375 OR BIOLOGY 450

8. AT LEAST ONE COURSE FROM THE FOLLOWING: BIOLOGY 301, BIOLOGY 315, BIOLOGY 340, BIOLOGY 351, BIOLOGY 353, BIOLOGY 370, BIOLOGY 375, BIOLOGY 430, BIOLOGY 450, BIOLOGY 442, BIOLOGY 448, BIOLOGY 457

9. SELECT ADDITIONAL UNITS OF BIOLOGY ELECTIVES ABOVE 300 EXCEPT FOR BIOLOGY 303, BIOLOGY 493, BIOLOGY 498 AND BIOLOGY 498R, TO TOTAL 40 UNITS IN THE MAJOR

AN APPROVED MINOR IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EMPHASIS

Assessment Plan: Assessment for this program will be incorporated into the existing departmental assessment plan.

Additional resources needed: None. This program involves courses that are already routinely offered on campus.

Student need/demand for the program: In essence, the proposed emphasis represents a revision of the current ecology/field emphasis, but is much broader in scope, and will allow students to better prepare for a greater array of careers than is currently available to them. Below (see next page) are some examples of directions that students would be able to prepare for, and the courses recommended for those pathways. Increasingly, students and faculty have expressed concerns at the limited amount of flexibility in the current ecology/field emphasis, allows for only four elective credits out of the 40 credit major. This relatively rigid structure does not easily allow for preparation for newer fields related to ecology or for traditional fields whose scope have broadened.

Relationship of the program to other programs on campus, in the UW System and in the region. This emphasis in many ways should simply be considered as a revision of our current ecology/field emphasis. By increasing the flexibility within this emphasis, it makes sense to also ‘change the name’ to make the emphasis more inviting to students whose interests overlap with but are not limited a traditional ecology focus. With increased flexibility in the emphasis to allow for a greater variety of modern career pathways, the proposed emphasis seeks to better serve the greater variety of needs and interests of our students. This change also brings the broader scope of the emphasis more in line with similar emphases or majors at other UW system campuses as well as at other regional institutions. This change will allow UWW to become more competitive than we have been in attracting students interested in these areas.

Possible Recommended Pathways – Below are lists of courses recommended for a variety of possible pathways in the areas of ecology, evolution and behavior. Note that courses that are required in this emphasis (e. g., Biology 251, Biology 446, etc.) are not repeated below.

Field Ecology

Strongly Recommended

• Field Experience (258)

• Animal Taxon Survey Course

• Bio 351 or 353

• Bio 457

Recommended depending on interests

• Bio 370 &/or Bio 442

• Bio 430

• Bio 340

• Bio 253 (if interested in physiology, wildlife disease, isotope analyses

• Bio 311 (if interested in wildlife health & disease, etc.).

• Other workshop-based courses such as taught at the UW-Milwaukee Field Station

• Further Statistics courses recommended

• GIS-based courses strongly recommended

Physiological Ecology

Ecology Courses

• Bio 257 & Bio 457

• At least 1 of the following: Bio 254, Bio, Bio 258, Bio 354 Field Botany

• Understand your organism: Bio 315, Bio 370, Bio 375 Bio 450, Bio 451

Physiology Courses (≥ 4 of the following)

• Bio 345

• Three of the following: Bio 301, Bio 341, Bio 345, Bio 361, Bio 456, Bio 412, Bio 430 or Bio 442

Physiological Behavior or Ethology/Behavioral Ecology

• Bio 253 (critical for physio)

• Bio 254 or Bio 258 (both better, especially for physio)

• At least 3 of the following courses: Bio 430 (for both), Bio 446 (for ethology), Bio 345, Bio 301 (for physio), Bio 457 (for ethology)

• Understand your organism: Bio 315, Bio 370, Bio 375 Bio 450, Bio 451

Environmental Toxicology

• Bio 253

• Bio 254 &/or BIO 258 (depending if interested in community-level or cellular-level responses).

• Bio 370 & BIO 442

• Additional courses (depending interest): Bio 341, Bio 345, Bio 363, BIO 457, and additional taxon-specific courses

• Recommended Minor: Chemistry (knowledge of Organic Chemistry and Quantitative Chemical Analysis are very important in this field).

Evolutionary Biology

Strongly Recommended

• Bio 253

• Bio 254 or Bio 258

• One of the following (organismal diversity course) – Bio 311, Bio 340, Bio 351, Bio 353, Bio 370, Bio 375, Bio 450

Recommended depending on interests

• Bio 301, Bio 363, Bio 341, Bio 430, Bio 448

• Bio 454 or Bio 456

• Two or more additional courses selected from the following (organismal diversity courses) – Bio 311, Bio 340, Bio 351, Bio 353, Bio 370, Bio 375, Bio 450

Organismal Biology

• Bio 253

• Bio 254

• 1 of the following: Bio 340, Bio 345, Bio 311, Bio 341

• 2 of the following depending on direction: Bio 301, Bio 311, Bio 370, Bio 412, Bio 442, Bio 430, Bio 457, Bio 412

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