Biological Sciences

This course examines fundamental genetic principles, as well as many applications of these fundamentals. Topics include: genotype and phenotype, mechanisms of inheritance, and genetic analysis.

This animal biology course centers on animal behavior, delving into the underlying biological mechanisms such as the nervous system, sensation, perception, learning and memory, and conditioning and development. Additionally, the course takes a broader perspective in examining animal social behavior and evolutionary aspects. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, the course explores how animals perceive their environment, interact with one another, and adapt over time.
 

This course examines the field of marine biology, including the fascinating diversity of marine life, their function, ecology and inter-relationships. The topics cover: a) The physical and chemical environments (e.g., light, current, atmospheric -ocean interactions, salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients) and how these may affect the marine biota; b) Important groups of marine organisms (e.g., phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, nekton, marine mammals) and marine food web; c) Major marine habitats and ecosystems (e.g., intertidal, benthic, pelagic, deep sea, coral reefs, mangroves); d) Exploitation of marine biological resources (e.g., fisheries and bioactive compounds); and e) Contemporary issues (e.g. climate change, marine pollution, sustainable use of marine living resources, invasive species). 

This course involves the study of the physiology and development of the different organs and reproductive systems of plants, as well as how researchers study these processes. It includes lectures, lab work, and section work. The course examines the life cycle of plants, the use of arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism, and the methods of studying development such as transgenic plants, mutants, and reverse genetics. It also studies the organization of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and the effects of mutations on its function, as well as how the SAM becomes the floral meristem and the development of the reproductive organs of flowers. The course finishes with a look at the root apical meristem.

This course covers the human microbiome and the interactions these microorganisms have with the human body and with disease. Students explore the pathological mechanism of disease by learning about the morphological and functional changes in each organ tissue due to the cause, developmental mechanism, and progression of diseases occurring in the human body.  Topics include the microbe-human ecosystem, microbial interactions, host-microbe interactions, normal microbiota, the formation of the human microbiome, maternal microbes, gut microbes, digestive infection systems, pro- and prebiotics, etc. 

This course seeks to immerse students in a professional work environment. Students have the opportunity to observe and interact with co-workers, and learn how to recognize and respond to cultural differences. Students compare concepts of teamwork and interpersonal interactions in different cultures as experienced on the job. Seminar work helps students apply academic knowledge in a business setting and identify opportunities to create value within the company. Students research a specific topic related to their work placement and present their findings in a final research report.

This course examines selective topics. Each topic will be explored in depth and students will get a comprehensive view of the research that is driving the frontiers of our knowledge and revealing the fundamental mechanisms that lead to human disease.

This service-learning course combines a structured curriculum and extensive partnership with a local community-based organization to offer tangible community service. Here, student community service includes direct
engagement as well as a research-based action plan addressing a specific challenge or goal identified by a community-based organization. Students begin by exploring key community-based organizations: examining their
mission, vision and goals, and the place of the organization in the local community. Each student then works with an assigned partner organization and invests at least 90 hours partnering with the organization, working with them
and investigating ways to solve a challenge or issue the organization has identified. Student service-learning includes exploring the proximate and ultimate drivers of the organization's chosen challenge, and the organization's
infrastructure, resources, limitations and possibilities for reducing barriers to achieving the organization's self-identified goals. In concert, coursework probes the role of community-based organizations in both local and global
contexts, common challenges of community-based organizations in defining and implementing their goals, the role of service-learning in addressing these issues, and effective ways for students to help them achieve their mission,
vision, and goals. Coursework also guides the student's service-learning experience by helping students develop sound international service ethics, provide tools to investigate solutions to common development issues, aid in
data analysis and presentation, and provide best practices to illustrate findings and deliver approved joint recommendations orally and in writing. Throughout, students use service-learning as a means to expand their global awareness and understanding, explore shared aspirations for social justice, and develop skills to work with others to effect positive change.

This course covers basic knowledge of modern biology that students studying natural sciences must have with an emphasis on life phenomena from a molecular interpretation. 

Topics include hormones, sensory organs, integration and coordination of the nervous system, movement, classification of organisms, ecology, and behavior. 

The extensive independent study field research paper produced by the student is both the centerpiece of the intern's professional engagement and the culmination of the academic achievements of the semester. During the preparatory session, IFE teaches the methodological guidelines and principles to which students are expected to adhere in the development of their written research. Students work individually with a research advisor from their field. The first task is to identify a topic, following guidelines established by IFE for research topic choice. The subject must be tied in a useful and complementary way to the student-intern's responsibilities, as well as to the core concerns of the host organization. The research question should be designed to draw as much as possible on resources available to the intern via the internship (data, documents, interviews, observations, seminars and the like). Students begin to focus on this project after the first 2-3 weeks on the internship. Each internship agreement signed with an organization makes explicit mention of this program requirement, and this is the culminating element of their semester. Once the topic is identified, students meet individually, as regularly as they wish, with their IFE research advisor to generate a research question from the topic, develop an outline, identify sources and research methods, and discuss drafts submitted by the student. The research advisor also helps students prepare for the oral defense of their work which takes place a month before the end of the program and the due date of the paper. The purpose of this exercise is to help students evaluate their progress and diagnose the weak points in their outline and arguments. Rather than an extraneous burden added to the intern's other duties, the field research project grows out of the internship through a useful and rewarding synergy of internship and research. The Field Study and Internship model results in well-trained student-interns fully engaged in mission-driven internships in their field, while exploring a critical problem guided by an experienced research advisor.