This online course, Biology and the Environment, is taught in the autumn semester. The course starts early, in the last week of June, with a 2-day obligatory laboratory workshop. The early start is necessary to provide students a good background for individual study of plant species during their growing season, which is in the summer and autumn.

The course consists of four parts:

• Lectures
• Assignments (independent study)
• Laboratory exercises (workshops and independent study)
• Field training

Online Students review lecture presentations and the syllabus books as part of their individual study; the lecturers’ presentations will be published on Fronter. Assignments will also be published on Fronter. We strongly recommend that students work regularly on these. Field courses and laboratory exercises will provide an understanding of common plant species and form the background for the study of several species. Each student submits written reports from laboratory exercises and his/her independent study of species. Both field work and laboratory exercises are compulsory.

Workshops and field courses

The course includes two field days (with accommodation) in late August / early September.
Two laboratory workshops will be held in the college's lab facilities in Bo.

• A two-day workshop will be held at the end of June which will include laboratory work and an excursion in the local area around the college.
• A one-day mushroom course will be held in September.

In addition to laboratory exercises students will of course have the opportunity to discuss other issues with the instructor by phone or email.

Course Description

Main topics:

• Evolution: Darwin, natural selection, genetic drift, Hardy-Weinberg law, speciation, phylogeny, systematics.
• Micro-organisms, plants, protists (algae and single-celled animals): alternation of generations, life cycles, morphology, growth, structure, reproduction, systematics, ecology.
• Natural science methodology: research, scientific theory, quantitative and qualitative methods in general, project work in teams, searching secondary literature (literature, internet, databases), science reports.

Examination
The examination is divided into three parts. The species examination counts for 20% of the course grade; the multiple choice task counts for 20%; and a written final examination (3 hours) counts for 60% of the final grade. The species examination and final examination are held on the same day.

Syllabus

Please click here for the syllabus.

Admissions

To gain admission to the study programme students should be able to satisfy general admission requirements (completed upper secondary school education) or have other relevant education or practice. Students who do not have adequate background in science should expect the course to be demanding.

Application deadline:

15 May 2011
Please contact:
Synne Kleven
Tel. 35952764.
E-mail: synne.kleiven @ hit.no