BioCore: Biology in Practice

Introduction to a broad array of biological disciplines through attending seminars in the life sciences. The course will introduce students to hypothesis testing and data analysis and interpretation of results, as well as scientific presentation through attending weekly seminars, reading related scientific literature, and participating in class discussions. Prerequisites: (BCOR 2300, BCOR 2100) or (BCOR 2300, BCOR 2500) or (BCOR 2100, BCOR 2500) or (BCOR 2300, NSCI 2105).

Junior or Senior standing required. Prereqs enforced by the system: (Any 2 of BCOR 2300, BCOR 2100, and 2500), or (BCOR 2300 and NSCI 2105). Open to degree and PACE students

Life science departments across UVM’s campus and medical school maintain weekly or monthly seminar programs that present talks from invited visiting speakers as well as UVM faculty. Through this 1-credit course, undergraduate students would choose one of these seminars to attend per week. Course coordinators will provide a schedule of seminar times, locations, and speakers.

Students can expect to attend one one-hour seminar each week, and spend and additional 1-2 hours finding and reading a journal article by the seminar speaker, composing a short write-up of the seminar in the context of the speaker’s work, and posting comments about the seminar attended for classmates to read on YellowDig. Some weeks will require attendance at a class discussion.

Students' grade will be assessed through weekly attendance at seminars and written assignments, participation in class discussions, as well as YellowDig posts.