Virtual College (Distance-learning) Courses / Field Courses

Virtual College (distance-learning) courses in biology are designed for students who choose to spend little or no time on the FHSU campus. These courses are delivered through a computer or other methods. General Education courses are marked with an asterisk (*). For more information on the Virtual College or to enroll in a course, visit the FHSU Virtual College website.

Human Biology* (BIOL 100): Internet (3 credit hours)
Fall and spring semesters; occasional summer sessions.
An introductory course using fundamental concepts of human structure and function serve as the starting point for the exploration of processes common to all living systems and the interrelationships between humans and the rest of the biosphere.

Humans and the Environment* (BIOL 200): Internet (3 credit hours)
Fall and spring semesters.
The ecosystem, the human attitudes and factors affecting the ecosystem, and alternatives to the present situation are studied.

Medical Terminology (BIOL 245): Internet (2 credit hours)
This course is designed for students interested in the medical and paramedical fields. In an easy-to-follow format, the chapters are organized around the 12 major body systems. Within each chapter the emphasis is on the use of medical word parts, pronunciation, spelling, and the definitions of key terms in pathology, diagnostic procedures, and treatment procedures. To enhance comprehension, each chapter begins with a brief overview of the structure and functions of the body system.

Human Heredity* (BIOL 300): Internet (3 credit hours)
Fall and spring semesters.
Principles underlying the inheritance of characteristics in humans are studied.

Physiology of Aging (BIOL 335): Audiotape (3 credit hours)
This course studies physiological changes as a result of aging or of age-related pathology. Also covered are the roles of heredity, diet, exercise, and lifestyle in the aging process.

Principles of Immunology (BIOL 607): Computer-assisted Instruction
Fall and spring semesters.
This course reviews the principles of immunology at the molecular and cellular level with a particular emphasis on its medical applications. A course in microbiology is a recommended prerequisite. The tests for the course are administered on campus or through a proctor, who must be approved through the instructor or department. Those enrolled in BIOL 607 for graduate credit must write a term paper on a topic approved by the instructor. NOTE: After completion of enrollment through the Virtual College on-line (www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/) or by phone (1-800-628-3478), be sure to order your books through the bookstore on campus.

Field Courses

The Department of Biological Sciences periodically offers courses centered on fieldtrips that last 1 to 14 days. Other than the fieldtrips, most work in these courses is completed by students at locations of their choice. Information about each field course may be obtained through the links in the course titles below.

Natural History of the Pacific NW (BIOL 607/BIOL 872): Internet/Fieldtrip (3 credit hours)
11-day fieldtrip; occasional summer sessions.
This course emphasizes firsthand observations of forests, coastal dunes, an estuary, and tidepools during a 11-day camping trip along the Pacific Coast of Washington, Oregon, and northern California. En route, we also stop at sites in the Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin. We explore ecological features of each community, and we identify the prominent species. We also consider the geological forces that continue to shape the landscape. Readings are assigned in May and June, and answers to a set of questions must be submitted by the end of June. A final report is due after the trip. The trip is scheduled during late July or early August.

Field Study of Prairie & Range Plants (BIOL 607): Internet/Fieldtrip (2-4 credit hours)
Local fieldtrips; occasional summer sessions.
Course consists of two all-day field trips in the Hays vicinity. Topics include identification and ecology of wildflowers and grasses. A collection is required. Course is not a substitute for Taxonomy of Flowering Plants (BIOL 610). Participants must be capable of moderate hiking and tolerant of the Kansas summer environment.