About BIOL 2990 WW1
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Notes
Winter Session Travel Course App Deadline: 9/16/2026; On-location dates Location: Arizona; Instructor permission required Program fee $4923 minus $450 deposit paid upon admittance; Airfare is additional; Tuition is additional Out of Pocket Expenses (approx. $360) are additional Open to degree and PACE students Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations
Section Description
This course offers an immersive field experience in the Sky Islands of southern Arizona, a hotspot of ecological diversity where the Sonoran desert meets the mountains. Students will explore how elevation shapes species distributions and ecosystem dynamics through guided hikes and fieldwork, biodiversity surveys, hands-on ecological observations, analysis of citizen science data, and group discussions. The course introduces key concepts in biogeography, evolutionary ecology, community ecology, and conservation challenges in the context of climate change. With a focus on experiential learning, students will gain an understanding of the major processes governing elevational and latitudinal biodiversity gradients and practical skills in field ecology while examining the impacts of climate change and human activity on these unique ecosystems. Students will also learn about some of the human history and human ecology of the region, from the lives and culture of the Tohono O’odham Nation to colonization and settlement by Europeans.
Section Expectation
After completing this course, students will:
• Understand the basics of island biogeography theory
• Be able to describe patterns and processes of biodiversity variation across elevational gradients
• Understand how and why elevational gradients can mimic latitudinal gradients
• Understand how evolutionary processes (speciation and adaptation) contribute to biodiversity variation along elevational and latitudinal gradients
• Understand the usefulness of citizen science data (eg. iNaturalist), and be capable of thinking critically about its pros and cons for specific applications
• Be able to conduct basic data analysis of citizen science data in R
• Be able to compare the biomes and ecosystems of the American Southwest and the American Northeast
• Understand how native peoples lived in the Sonoran Desert before and after European colonization
• Make predictions about the impact of climate change on ecosystems and species
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated based on participation (hikes and biodiversity measurements, museum and cultural visits, group data analysis, and all discussions), as well as readings, assignments, field notes and reflections, a final paper, and a final reflection.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
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Resources
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