A study in depth of selected writers and movements.

The principles of animal behavior will be stressed using insects as examples. Physiology, mechanisms, behavioral ecology and evolution of insect behavior will be covered.

The objective of this course is to present the student with advanced concepts of applied entomology in a system-specific context. Each week, the insect problems associated with a different commodity/ production system will be presented so as to illustrate a different broadly-based theme.

This course provides students with hands-on experience in a diverse array of conceptual research techniques used by ecologists and evolutionary biologists. The focus will be on optimization methods used for predicting animal and plant behaviors and life histories, and on methods for assessing population trends and dynamics. Mathematical techniques used will include graphical analyses, matrix algebra, calculus, and computer simulations.

Plant-insect relationships are fundamentally interesting and have important implications for agriculture, forestry, and conservation biology. This course gives an overview of major ideas, historical controversies, and current research on insect-plant relationships. We'll explore the mechanisms and evolution of plant defenses to insect herbivory, insect counter-adaptations, behavioral ecology and interactions across trophic levels, pollination biology, causes of insect outbreaks, and applications to managed systems.

Principles of insect molecular biology. Analysis of insect development, reproduction, behavior, immunity, transgenic insects and insecticide resistance at the molecular level. Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques.

Study of philosophical, historical, and sociological dimensions of contemporary educational policy issues. Topical policy controversies, such as equality of educational opportunity, tuition tax credits, and religious education, will be examined.

Social, historical and philosophical perspective on the development of philanthropy as a significant factor in the character of American higher education and non-profit sector.

Multivariate statistics will prepare students to understand multivariate statistical methods and draw the link between statistics previously learned. Students will be able to conduct, interpret, and critique procedures such as factorial ANOVA, multiple regression, MANOVA, ANCOVA, MANCOVA, PCA, EFA, discriminant function analysis, logistic, regression, canonical correlation, hierarchical linear regression, and multivariate analysis of change. Become familiar with statistical software for implementing multivariate procedures.

This course will introduce students to more than 30 equine industry related jobs through guest lecturers, career research, and job shadowing. Guest lecturers will represent various jobs in different disciplines. They will explain how they ended up with the career they have and through question and answer sessions discuss how others can find similar careers and share career advice with the class. Students will also learn about benefits including insurance, retirement, 401K plans, housing, time off, etc. and they will study different careers in relation to Myers-Briggs personality types.