Graduate Courses
Evolution-themed graduate courses
Some new courses are currently in the works including evolutionary medicine, computational methods in disease evolution and a revamping of molecular evolution.
ANTH 6345. Human Evolutionary Genetics
Core issues in human evolution and population genetics. Molecular evidence for the origin of modern humans, reconstruction of human migrations, race, and detection of admixture between populations. Implications for human disease. Offered on a graded basis only. Prerequisite or corequisite: BSCI 1100, BSCI 1105, or BSCI 1510. [3]
BSCI 5231. Paleobiology
Macroevolutionary processes as observed through the fossil record. Inference of evolutionary relationships, physiology, reproduction, behavior, and ecology. Fundamentals of paleobiology, paleoecology, paleoclimates, macroecology, biogeography, geology, geochemistry, anthropology, and conservation paleobiology. Effects of climate change and human impacts, in deep-time. [3]
BSCI 5247. Molecular Evolution
The theory of evolution at the molecular level. The evolution of DNA and RNA sequences, proteins, and genome structures will be studied using models from population genetics and comparative approaches. Molecular clocks, the evolution of gene regulation and globin genes, molecular phylogeny, and human evolution. No credit for students who have earned credit for 3247. [3]
BSCI 5890. Special Topics – Evolution
Topics vary. May be repeated for credit more than once by permission of the director of graduate studies. Students may enroll in more than one section of this course each semester. [3]
***BSCI 6336. Seminar in EEB – Journal Club
Weekly discussions lead by faculty, postdocs, and enrolled students in evolutionary studies fields. Contact Dr. Paul Durst for permission. Common name is Journal Club [1]
EES 5990. Mass Extinctions
Synthesizing causes, consequences, and dynamics of past mass extinction events. Using fossil records to interpret current and future trends in biodiversity loss. [3]
EES 7640. Topics in Macroevolution
Evolutionary processes that operate on geological time scales. Evolutionary theory; systematics; speciation and extinction; evolutionary benefits of sexual reproduction; co-evolution; convergence; biogeography; and relevance of evolution to modern ecology and conservation. Effects of abiotic processes on the evolution of terrestrial and marine organisms. [3]
NURO 8327. Graduate Neuroanatomy
This is a course on functional and comparative neuroanatomy, that is, on the structure of nervous systems and their commonalities and differences across different types of animals, including humans, and how that structure underlies function and behavior. The course is offered to up to 40 undergraduate and 10 graduate students, and consists of lectures that will also be heavily based on the discussion of reading materials that must be read prior to each class. Anatomical demonstrations will occur in the classroom. [3]