Courses

Courses taught by Dr. Hankison

BIOL 122: Organisms and Their Environment

Fall semester

An introduction to ecology, evolution, and the diversity of life at the organismal level. Students investigate the structure, function, physiology, life history, evolutionary adaptations and ecology of organisms using both laboratory and field techniques. Students engage in experimental design and statistical analysis. Lecture and laboratory. BIOL 122 and BIOL 120 may be taken in either order. Fall, Spring Gen Ed Competency: Question Scientifically

BIOL 261: Evolution

Spring semester

Major concepts of biological evolution. Topics include patterns of evolution, such as speciation, phylogenetics, and adaptive radiation. Also covered are the processes of evolutionary change by natural selection, mutation, gene flow, and genetic drift. Concepts are applied to a variety of species, including a focus on human evolution. Prerequisite: BIOL 120, BIOL 101, or equivalent. Fall, Spring

BIOL 343: Animal Behavior

Spring semester

Exploration of the integrative nature of animal behavior, including developmental, genetic, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary dimensions. Laboratories emphasize experimental and analytical approaches to behavioral questions, and students design and implement an in-depth independent project.

BIOL 349: Island Biology Travel Learning Course

Spring semester

Characteristics of islands, and analysis of the reasons why island organisms provide superior examples for the study of evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral phenomena. The course includes a required trip to be Galapagos Islands (extra cost) and students prepare intensively for this experience. Offered contingent on sufficient enrollment. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and one unit in Biol. Offered at the discretion of the OWU Travel Learning Program (typically in even years).

BIOL 300.10: Biology of East Africa

Spring semester

The course explores the ecology and behavior of the wildlife found in the Serengeti and nearby regions in East Africa. Emphasis is placed on large mammals, but the birds, reptiles and amphibians of the region will also receive coverage. The course includes a required trip to northern Tanzania (extra cost) and the goal is for students not only to be able to recognize the dominant species of vertebrates when they see them, but also to know a variety of things about the typical behavior of each species and its role in the ecosystem. Offered contingent on approval as a travel-learning course and on sufficient enrollment. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and one unit in Biol. Offered at the discretion of the OWU Travel Learning Program (typically in odd years).

BIOL 490: Independent Study

arranged

Students pursue independent research on projects in the lab. Students often participate in ongoing projects related to mating behaviors, social behavior, or life history in Poecilia latipinna. Project plans should be proposed in the semester prior to starting an independent study in order to allow time for research planning.

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