Degree/Program Title:	Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology
Sponsor(s):	Bruce D. Eshelman
Department(s):	Biological Sciences
College(s):	Letters and Sciences
Effective Term:	Spring 2001

 

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	New Degree: Intent to Plan
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		Minor
XX		Emphasis/Track w/i the Biology Major
		Certificate Program
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Bulletin Description
Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology (BA/BS)

The Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology emphasis is intended for students that wish to investigate the interactions of aquatic organisms and their environments. This program is intended for students that wish a career within these disciplines (such as with Departments of Natural Resources, environmental assessment firms, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, The Nature Conservancy, water quality districts such as Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission etc) or the students wishing to pursue a graduate career in the aquatic sciences. A unique feature of the program is the 3-year residence at UW-Whitewater and the student’s senior year studying at Deakin University in Australia. This program therefore provides students the opportunity to gain international exposure and education.
 

List of courses and rationale for inclusion in the program.
Courses for the Major
630-141 Botany (4 cr)
This course is one of the primary introductory courses for our majors and provides students with a basic understanding of plants and cellular level biological systems. The course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the major.

630-142 Zoology (4 cr)
This course is the companion to the above course for our majors. The course provides an overview of animals and provides an understanding at the organismal level of biological systems. The course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the major.

630-251 Genetics (4 cr)
A thorough understanding of biological systems requires a firm grasp of genetics. How traits are passed from one individual to another in the next generation is one of the fundamental principles of biology. The course is a prerequisite for Organic Evolution, Conservation Biology, and General Ecology.

630-253 Cell Biology (3 cr)
The emphasis is focused on an organismal approach to biology. This course is required to give the students a cellular perspective and therefore provide a more rounded view of the biological sciences. This course is included to increase the breadth of the students’ understanding of biology.

630-257 Introductory Ecology (3 cr)
Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms and their environments. As such it investigates the roles of organisms within their environment. Understanding how organisms can be influenced by other organisms and by their environment is a necessary concept for students in biology. The emphasis is titled "Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology". This course starts providing the foundation for students in this discipline and is a prerequisite for General Ecology, Conservation Biology and many electives in the Department.

630-370 Aquatic Biology (3 cr)
This course will serve as the foundation for an understanding of the dynamics of aquatic systems.

630-390/400 Biology Colloquium (0.5 credit each)
These courses expose students to current research in Biology and provide a broad perspective of the possibilities within the discipline.

630-446 Organic Evolution (3 cr)
This course provides the student with an overview of evolutionary history, thought, and processes. As such it provides the backdrop for many of the fundamental principles in biology. It has been said that evolution is the unifying theory of biology.

630-457/467 General Ecology or Conservation Biology (4 or 3 cr)
These courses substitute for one another as the capstone course for students interested in ecology. These courses will round out the students’ understanding of ecology and prepare the student for their specialty courses at Deakin University.

Unique Requirements: 15 credits

760-152 Elementary Functions (5 cr)
This course is fundamental to understanding mathematical properties and serves as a foundation for understanding mathematical explanations of biological processes, formulas, and theories.

800-170 Introductory Physics I (3 cr)
This course offers the student an introduction to fluid dynamics and other physical properties.

630-303 Planning and Presenting Biological Research (4 cr)
Students need a background in writing and preparing biological research including data analysis. This course will satisfy a prerequisite for courses available at Deakin University and is a prerequisite for General Ecology and Conservation Biology.

722-323 Water Resources (3 cr)
The course provides an overview of the importance and properties of water including distribution, resource use, and conservation.

Courses for the Chemistry Minor
A chemistry minor is required for this emphasis because of the importance of chemistry in courses offered by Deakin University. The program at Deakin cultivates a strong understanding of chemistry. Our students will need these courses to be on an equal footing with students from Deakin University.

640-102 Introductory Chemistry (5 cr)
This is the basic introductory course for chemistry majors. This course provides the fundamental concepts of the discipline.

640-104 Introductory Chemistry cont. (5 cr)
This is a continuation of the above course.

640-251/261 Introductory Organic Chemistry with Laboratory (5 cr)
Basic organic chemistry is the focus of this course that provides an introductory look at the chemistry of carbon compounds. It is important that students enroll in the laboratory section of the course to gain an understanding of the laboratory procedures and equipment used to investigate organic compounds.

640-252/262 Introductory Organic Chemistry with Laboratory (5 cr)
This is a continuation of the above course.

640-352 Quantitative Analysis (5cr)
As an introduction to quantitative techniques and instrumental analysis this course will solidify our students’ chemistry background and put them on an equal level with students at Deakin University for courses offered by that institution.

Courses offered by Deakin University for the Major

Required courses: Note I have used the course codes from Deakin University’s Undergraduate Catalog

SQP 201 Oceanography (Three 1-hr lectures + 1 3 hr lab per week) (4 cr equivalent)
This course provides a detailed study of physical and chemical processes that occur in marine systems. The world’s oceans and their importance as a biological and physical resource are the focus of the course. The course is the basic examination of marine systems with a laboratory.

SQP 202 Limnology (Three 1-hr lectures + 1 3-hr lab per week) (4 cr equivalent)
This is a study of the physical and chemical processes of water and the course includes a laboratory.

SQB 255 Marine Biology (one 3-hour lecture + one 3-hr lab per week) (4 cr equivalent)
This course provides students with an overview of oceanic currents, productivity, algae, seagrasses, and bottom dwelling organisms. This is a basic course for the further study of marine systems.

Students will then select upper division courses from those offered at Deakin University that are in their area of interest and specialization. The total credits required would be equivalent to that required for graduation with a BS degree in biology from UWW. A complete list of courses in the related disciplines can be found at:

www.deakin.edu.au
 

Relationship of the emphasis to institutional mission, strategic plan and college/department goals and objectives.
Because of its international nature, the Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology emphasis will directly address the Chancellor’s goals 5 and 6 for students: 5.Create international learning opportunities for 10% of all students. 6.Increase experiential learning experience for students by 15%. This emphasis is consistent with the College mission of providing information that fosters personal and professional growth through its programs of general education, specialized and career oriented majors and minors. In addition this program is consistent with the goal of international exposure for our students. This program addresses the following goals of the mission of the Department of Biological Sciences:

1- Develop and deliver outstanding and diverse curricula; preparing students for careers in the biological sciences, for graduate training in biological sciences, and for entry into health professional programs.

1.1 Offer up-to-date courses relevant to the needs of modern Biology that demand high standards of academic performance, preparing biology students for success in post-baccalaureate programs and in a global job market.

1.2 Offer targeted Emphases in Biological Sciences majors; through imparting knowledge and developing skills requisite for careers within the biological sciences.

1.4 Offer opportunities in research and career-related internships, recognizing that such activities are essential to a complete biology education.

2- Improve science literacy for student citizens, consistent with the philosophy of liberal studies, and the needs of the College of Letters and Sciences and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The courses required for this program are routinely offered from the departments in the University. No new course offerings will be necessary to provide this emphasis.

We currently have about 30 high school students on a mailing list that wish to be informed of the programs status. Many of these students are planning on coming to UWW once the program is implemented. Additionally, there are roughly 20 students on campus that will change their emphasis to Marine Biology and Freshwater emphasis once the program is officially listed.

Biology-Marine Biology and Freshwater Ecology

Major - 34 credits

1- 630-141, 630-142 and 630-251 (12 cr)
2- 630-257, 630-446 (6 cr)
3- 630-370 (3 cr)
4- 630-457 or 630-467 (3 or 4 cr)
5- 630-253 (3 cr)
6- 630-390, 630-400 (1 cr)
7- select 5-6 credits of biology electives except for courses Biol 630-110, 630-120, 630-214, 630-230, 630-300, 630-303, 630-360

Major Unique requirements and writing – 15 credits

1- 630-303 (4 cr)
2- 800-170 (3 cr)
3- 760-152 (5 cr)
4- 722-323 (3 cr)

Minor – Chemistry required – 25 credits

1- 640-102, 640-104, 640-251, 640-252, 640-261, 640-262, 640-352
 

Four year plan of course offerings

FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester--15 credits
core (3), Biol 141 (4), Chem 102 (5), Eng 101 (3).

Spring Semester--14-17 credits
Math 152 (5), Biol 142 (4), Chem 104 (5). Plus physical education or speech course
 

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester—18 credits
Biol 251(4), Chem 251/261 (5), Engl102 (3), Geog 323 (water resources, 3), Core course (3)

Spring Semester—16.5 –17.5 credits
Biol 257 (3), Chem 252/262 (5), Core course (3), Biol 303 (4), Biol 390 (0.5) and another elective - speech or one of the Breadth req. (2-3).
 

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester—18 credits
Either Biol 457 or 467 (3-4), Chem 352 (5), Biol 370 (3), World of Ideas (3), and another elective (3).

Spring Semester— 16.5 credits
Biol 446 (3), Phys 170 (3), Biol 253 (3), Biol 400 (0.5) and at least 2 more electives from the breadth section of the requirements.
 

SENIOR YEAR (at Deakin University)
limnology, and 3 electives
Oceanography, Marine Biology and 2 electives
 

Assessment:
The effectiveness of this emphasis will be assessed by several methods. Class size of students in the program will allow for scheduling exit interviews with each student to get their impressions of the program. During the exit interview students will be asked to provide copies of three of their best projects from the classroom. The Department of Biological Sciences and other departments on campus currently conduct exit interviews of this nature. Consultation with our colleagues at Deakin University will provide an outside assessment of student performance in their senior year. We will monitor student progress at Deakin by comparison of their GPA with similar students at Deakin and UWW. We will also compare an individual student’s GPA before and after their Deakin experience. Following graduation, students will be asked to provide the Department with career placement or graduate school admission/graduation records.