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Biology Courses

 U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

Biology (BIOL)

U 100N The Science of Life 3 cr. Offered autumn. Contemporary exploration of the organization and complexity of living organisms and the systems in which they live.  The central question of biology--relationship between form and function, acquisition and use of energy, and continuity between generations will be addressed through lectures and laboratory investigations.  Credit not allowed toward a major in biology.  Credit not allowed for both BIOL 100N and 101N.

U 106N Elementary Medical Microbiology 3 cr. Offered spring.  Infectious diseases, including concepts of virulence, resistance, prevention and control of microbial diseases in the individual and in the community.  If laboratory experience is desired, the student may enroll concurrently in BIOL 107N.  Credit not allowed toward a major in microbiology.

U 107 Elementary Medical Microbiology Laboratory 1 cr. Offered spring.  Prereq. or coreq., BIOL 106N.  Same as MICB 107N.  Observation of live microorganisms, their characteristics and activities.  Experience with microbiological techniques.  Credit not allowed toward a major in microbiology.

U 108N Diversity of Life 3 cr. Offered autumn. Survey of the diversity, evolution and ecology of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals.

U 109N Diversity of Life Laboratory 2 cr. Offered autumn. Coreq., BIOL 108N. The diversity of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals including structure and evolutionary relationships.

U 110N Principles of Biology 4 cr. Offered spring. Unifying principles of biological structure-function relationships at different levels of organization and complexity. Consideration of reproduction, genetics, development, evolution, ecosystems, as well as the inter-relationships of the human species to the underlying growth, reproduction, development, genetics and physiology. Credit not allowed for both BIOL 100N and 110N.

U 112 Introduction to Human Form and Function I 3cr. Offered autumn. Explores the fundamentals of structure and function at basic cellular and tissue levels, in addition to the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.

U 113 Introduction to Human Form and Function II 3 cr. Offered spring. Explores the fundamental structures and functions of the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

U 120N General Botany 3 cr. Offered spring.  Prereq., consent of instructor.  Introduction to the plant kingdom including anatomy, physiology and ecology.

U 121N Introductory Ecology 3 cr. Offered autumn. An introduction to ecological principles, stressing the structure and function of natural communities and examining human's role in these ecosystems.

U 130N Evolution and Society 3 cr. Offered spring.  This course focuses on relationships between evolutionary biology and importan societal issues, including the evolution of drug-resistant diseases, the construction and use of genetically-modified organisms, human evolutionary biology, and experimental laboratory evolution.

U 135N Biology of Yellowstone Hot Springs 3 cr. Offered autumn.  A field-based exploration of the microbial diversity of the thermal features of our first national park.  Topics to be discussed include how these communities are shaped by the physical and chemical conditions of the environment and how microorganisms can thrive at life's extremes.  Includes a field trip to Yellowstone National Park.

U 201N Montana Wildlife 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., one course in biology. Interpreting biological patterns associated with selected Montana wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

U 221 Cell and Molecular Biology 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 101N or equiv. and one year of college chemistry. Description and analysis of biological structures and processes at the cellular and subcellular levels including molecular genetics, energy, metabolism and cell differentiation.

U 223 Genetics and Evolution 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 221. Principles and mechanisms of inheritance and evolution. Population genetics, fossil record, macroevolution, speciation, extinction, systematics, molecular evolution.

U 240 Introduction to Biostatistics (Honors) 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., calculus and consent of instructor.  Same as WBIO 240.  Introduction to statistical ecology: distributions, hypothesis testing, and fitting models to data with emphasis on problems in ecological sampling.

U 265 Human Sexuality 3 cr. Offered spring.  Same as ANTH 265N.  Biological, behavioral, cross-cultural aspects of human sexuality to help student place their own sexuality and that of other sin a broader perspective.  Includes sexual anatomy, physiology, development, reproduction, diseases, determination, as well as gender development and current issues.

UG 301 Developmental Biology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 221; BIOL 223 recommended. An analysis of the origin and development of form and patterns in organisms, stressing the processes of growth and differentiation in plants and animals. Graded traditional letter grade only.

UG 304 Ornithology 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and 223. The classification, structure, evolution, behavior and ecology of birds.

UG 306 Mammalogy 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and 223. The evolution, systematics, anatomy, physiology and ecology of mammals.

UG 308 Biology and Management of Fishes 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N, 223 and one year of college mathematics. Diversity, adaptations and ecology of fishes. Analysis and management of fish populations and communities.

U 312 Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., CHEM 121N or CHEM 141N; BIOL 110N strongly recommended. Introduction to basic cellular structure and function. The fundamental facts and concepts of the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous and endocrine systems.

U 313 Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 212. The fundamental facts and concepts of the anatomy and physiology of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

UG 315 Peer Advising 1 cr. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., Junior standing or current enrollment in BIOL 223.  Supervised training and internship for peer advisors who will gain knowledge and ability to communicate degree requirements and relate the various degree offerings to professional and career goals.  No more than two credits are allowed toward upper-division major requirements. 

UG 316 Plant Form and Function 5 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N, 221.  Prereq. or coreq., BIOL 223.  Anatomy, morphology, ecology and physiology or photosynthetic organisms.

U 339 Listening to Ecology 2 cr. Offered autumn.  Preparatory readings and attendance at seminars on a wide variety of ecological and wildlife management topics followed by critiques.

UG 340 Ecology 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOL 223 and one year of college mathematics including STAT 216 or equiv. Analysis of the distribution and abundance of plants and animals. Includes individual, population and community level processes (e.g., population growth and regulation, competition, predation, succession, nutrient cycling, energy flow and community organization).

UG 341 Ecology Laboratory 2 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Coreq., BIOL 340. Methods of describing and testing alternative explanations for patterns in nature. The use of scientific methodology in ecology.

U 342 Field Ecology 5 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 223 and one year of college math, including statistics. The principles and practices of the study of animals and plants in their natural environments, including human influences, with focus on the Crown of the Continent area of the Rock Mountains and taught entirely outdoors.

U 343 Ecological Methods and Analysis 5 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station\. Prereq., BIOL 342 or BIOL 340/341. The methods and tools for conducting observational and experimental research in field ecology with emphasis on experimental design, hypothesis testing, data gathering and analysis and presentation of scientific research in ecology.

U 347 Introduction to Neuroscience 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., introductory chemistry and biology. Same as BMED 347. The molecular and cellular physiology of the human nervous system. Topics range from the basis of electrical and chemical signaling in neurons to the organization of the nervous system and its functions in generating behavior.

U 350 Rocky Mountain Flora 3 cr. Offered spring. Elements of the evolution, geography and natural affinities of flowering plants. Identification using a manual of native plants of Montana.

UG 355 Ecology of Mammals 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station.  Prereq., BIOL 223 or equiv.  The identification, natural history and behavior of mammals.

UG 356 Ecology of Birds 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station.  Prereq., BIOL 223 or equiv.  The identification, natural history and behavior of western Montana birds.

UG 366 Freshwater Ecology 5 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and one year of college chemistry. Physical and chemical dynamics of lakes and streams. Diversity, distribution and dynamics of freshwater organisms.

UG 400 General Parasitology 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 223. Same as MICB 400.  Parasitism as a biological phenomenon, origin of parasitism, adaptations and life cycles, parasite morphology, fine structure, physiology, parasites and their environment.

UG 401 General Parasitology Laboratory 2 cr. Offered autumn. Coreq., BIOL 400.  Same as MICB 401.  Taxonomy, morphology and identification of parasitic protozoa, helminths and arthropods.

UG 403 Vertebrate Design and Evolution 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and 223 and PHYS 111N/113N or 211N/213N. Evolutionary patterns of animal morphology and the importance of body size on life history patterns. Phylogenetic study of major extant and extinct vertebrate groups. Laboratory includes systematic study of organ systems and workshops in experimental functional morphology.

UG 405 Animal Behavior 3 cr. Offered spring alternate years. Prereq., BIOL 223, senior standing or consent of instr. The description and evolutionary interpretation of animal behavior under natural conditions. Laboratory involves observation and recording of animal behavior.

UG 406 Insect Behavior and Evolution 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 223; BIOL 405 preferred. Diversity of insect behavior in an evolutionary context including inheritance of behavior, diets, avoidance responses, mating systems and sexual selection, parental care, and evolution of insect groups and societies. Discussion sections examine both landmark and recent literature.

UG 408 Advanced Fisheries Science 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 308. Quantitative analysis and interpretation of fish population and community data for use in management. Selection, application and evaluation of management techniques.

UG 410 Insect Biology 4 cr. Offered alternate years. Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and 223. Offered spring. The classification, morphology, anatomy, development, life-history, behavior and ecology of insects. Labs include identification of major insect groups, internal and external anatomy and student collections.

UG 415 Field Methods in Fisheries Biology and Management 1-4 cr.  Offered autumn.  Prereq., BIOL 308; consent of instructor.  Same as WBIO 441.  Field instruction by practicing biologists in techniques for evaluating and managing aquatic habitats and fish populations.

UG 418 Fungal Biology 3 cr.  Offered autumn even-numbered years.  Prereq., BIOL 108N, 109N and 221-223 or MICB 300 or consent of instructor.  Same as MICB 418.  Reviews the definition, evolution, genetics, physiology, and ecology of fungi (including organisms in the Chromista), provides overview of all fungal phyla (Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Labyrinthulomycota, Oomycota), and highlights the importance of fungi to human affairs (food production, fungal pathogens.

UG 430 Plant Biogeography 3cr. Offered alternate years.  Prereq., consent of instructor.  Descritption of the distribution of plants and animals at global, continental and regional scales.  Analysis of ecological and historical factors influencing distribution and association.

UG 435 Comparative Animal Physiology 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOL 221 or equiv. Animal physiology with emphasis on diversity of functional processes, with strong links to broader ecological and evolutionary contexts.

UG 440 Biological Electron Microscopy 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., senior standing or consent of instr. Theory of electron microscopy, recent developments in transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Limited experience with the instruments.

UG 442 Ecology of Infectious Diseases 3 cr. Offered autumn (even-numbered years).  Prereq. BIOL 223, 340.  This course provides and introduction to the field of disease ecology, focusing on the diversity of parasites, parasite population biology and causes and consequences of host-parasite interactions.

UG 444 Plant Physiology 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 108N-109N, 120N or 316. The chemical and physical basis of water relations, photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, respiration, vegetative and reproductive growth of plants.

UG 445 Plant Physiology Lab 1 cr. Offered spring. Prereq or coreq., BIOL 444. Laboratory exercises designed to familiarize students with concepts and techniques in plant physiology.

UG 446 Wildlife Physiological Ecology 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as WBIO 446. Prereq., BIOL 221, 223 and 340. How physiological and biochemical processes in animals influence behavior and ecology. Application of physiological approaches to wildlife conservation such as assessment of animal health, nutritional condition, and physiological performance.

UG 447 Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years.  Prereq., BIOL 110N and any ecology-themed course or consent of instructor.  Same as MICB 447.  Introduction to systems thinking and the ecosystem concept, review of water and energy balance, carbon cycling and production processes, nutrient cycling, trophic dynamics, and species effects on ecosystem functioning.

UG 448 Terrestrial Plant Ecology 4 cr. Offered autumn.  Prereq., an introductory college course in ecology.  The interrelationships between plants and plant communities and their natural environment.

UG 451 Landscape Ecology 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341. Biophysical processes that determine landscape and ecosystem structure and function using remote sensing tools, geographic information systems and dynamic models to demonstrate landscape change.

UG 452 Conservation Ecology 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341. Concepts and approaches for sustaining biodiversity and other natural goods and services provided by terrestrial and aquatic systems.

UG 453 Lake Ecology 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq.,BIOL 342 or 340/341, CHEM 121N and 123N. The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lake ecosystems with an emphasis on nutrient cycling, food web interactions and water quality.

UG 454 Stream Ecology 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341, CHEM 121N. The biota and biogeochemical processes of running waters with unifying principles and contemporary research approaches.

UG 458 Ecology of Forests and Grasslands 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341. Patterns and processes of the forests and grasslands of the northern Rocky Mountains in the context of principles of population community and ecosystem ecology.

UG 459 Alpine Ecology 3 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341. Distribution, abundance and life cycles of plants and animals and their unique ecophysiological adaptations to life in the rigorous environments of the high mountains above the timberline, with emphasis on the Crown of the Continent area.

UG 460 Medical Physiology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., C or better in BIOL 312N, 313, one year college chemistry or consent of instr. Advanced principles of normal and abnormal physiology. Primarily for students in the professional physical therapy program.

UG 464 Advanced Cellular Biology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 221 and BIOL 223; BIOL 380 strongly recommended. Cell structure and function, cell cycle, cellular signaling, molecular basis of cancer, regulated cell death, membrane transport, organelle dynamics, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and the molecular basis of learning and memory.

UG 471 Teaching Anatomy and Physiology I 3 cr. Offered autumn.  Prereq., BIOL 312 and 313 or equiv. and consent of instructor.  Advanced instruction in prosection of cadavers, the preparation of laboratory demonstrations and materials, and in the teaching of anatomy and physiology laboratories.

UG 472 Teaching Anatomy and Physiology II 3 cr. Offered spring.  Prereq., BIOL 312 and 313 or equiv. and consent of instructor.  Continuation of BIOL 471.  Advanced instruction in prosection of cadavers, the preparation of laboratory demonstrations and materials, and in the teaching of anatomy and physiology laboratories.

UG 480 Conservation Genetics 3 cr. Offered autumn.  Prereq., BIOL 223.  Genetic basis for solving biological problems in conservation including the genetics of small populations, the application of molecular genetic techniques to genetics to conservation problems. 

UG 482 Evolution and Development 3 cr. Offered spring, alternate years. Prereq., BIOL 108N and 223. Lecture, reading and discussion of questions at the intersection of developmental and evolutionary biology. Questions include but are not restricted to: how novel traits arise; how diversity in animal form is generated; and how phenotypic plasticity (environment-sensitive expression of traits) is produced.

UG 484 Plant Evolution 3 cr. Offered autumn, alternate years.  Prereq. BIOL 223.  Lecture, reading and discussion on the evolutionary processes that shape major patterns of plant diversity.  Topics include but are not restricted to: Local adaptation, floral and mating system evolution, polyploidy, genome evolution, and speciation.

UG 486 Field Techniques in Mammology 2 cr. Offered autumn.  Prereq., BIOL 306 or equiv. and consent of instructor.  A "hands-on" approach to lab and field techniques employed for the study of mammals.  Includes mark/recapture live trapping methods, remote cameras, and tracking plates of non-invasive censussing.

UG 492 Seminars in Ecology and Resource Management 1 cr. Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Prereq., BIOL 342 or 340/341 or taken concurrently with BIOL 342. Seminar course that meets weekly for 2 hours in the evening. Includes seminar speaker and discussion.