Offered most summers
6 Credit Option
Both courses must be taken concurrently while traveling in Ireland, 6 credits total
BIO 4327/5327: Issues in Irish Biodiversity and Conservation – In this course, students will learn about Irish flora and fauna, ecosystems, conservation strategies in areas of high ecological concern, and public involvement. Emphasis will be placed on case studies and service-learning opportunities.
BIO 4328: Field Biology of Ireland (Service-Learning) – Undergraduate students will use multiple techniques to explore biodiversity across ecosystems in Ireland. Students must enroll in both BIO 4327 and BIO 4328. Together, these courses count as upper-level biology electives, and for students in the wildlife program, they fulfill a conservation course and a plant identification course requirement.
3 Credit Option
For students wanting to only take one class while traveling, or students intending to transfer credits to a different institution
BIO 5327: Ireland Biology (Graduate) & BIO 5328: Ireland Field Biology (Graduate) – Graduate students may enroll in both courses as a 6-credit option. These courses parallel the undergraduate experience with additional graduate-level expectations.
BIO 7314: Collaborative Research (pending APD approval) – Doctoral students (and master’s students interested in biology education research) may enroll in this 3-credit option. In this course, students will initiate, conduct, and participate in collaborative research with graduate faculty in the Department of Biology.
For more details about the study abroad program, please visit Texas State Education Abroad- Ireland.
BIO 7300: Communicating Science – This course explores how to successfully disseminate science through visualizations, oral presentations, and written works to multiple audiences. Special emphasis is placed on communicating with the general public, media, granting agencies, and science peers. Offered every spring.
BIO 7102: Scientific Writing – A graduate seminar that varies by semester. Topics may include book-club style discussions, writing retreats, or aquatic research essentials. Offered every spring (co-taught with Dr. Maria del Huertas).
Offered on occasion
BIO 4317/5317: Interpretive Biology Programming and Design – Exploration and practice in biological interpretation. Students examine methods used by parks, museums, and environmental centers to engage diverse audiences and communicate natural environments. Includes training in personal and non-personal interpretation through outreach programs, brochures, waysides, and other media. Service-learning is an integral and mandatory part of this course. Offered every fall.
HON 2303D: Everyday Biology – This course provides the non-science major with a strong foundation of scientific methods and basic biological concepts. Special emphasis is placed on reviewing biological concepts relevant to everyday life (both current and future), including disease, evolution, genetics, biotechnology, diet, and environmental biology.
BIO 7361A: Discipline-Based Educational Research Methods – This course will expose science graduate students to educational and social science research methods in a practical setting, supervised by a professor experienced in conducting discipline-based educational research, with a primary focus on qualitative methods.
BIO 7102: Special Topics Seminar: Interactive discussion of current issues in aquatic resources. Students examine scientific, socioeconomic, and policy perspectives in the field.