Climate and Biosystems Modeling Option
This option is offered within the following major(s):
The Climate and Biosystems Modeling option applies general systems theory to the analysis of climate, environmental and agricultural systems, and their interactions. Systems theory provides a method of analyzing overall system behavior by examining the relations among—and the behavior of—individual components, and synthesizing these relationships into a mathematical framework that describes the total system. Computer simulation using this mathematical framework can predict and analyze the response to various changes in the inputs to, and/or structure of, the system, providing a powerful tool for the development of comprehensive solutions to problems. Examples of topics for student research could include studying the effects of climate change on vectored disease transmission, marine biodiversity, distributions of crops and crop pathogens, the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and wildfire cycles. The option is flexible; students design personalized programs and may complete a double major or minor if desired. This option will prepare students for challenging careers in governmental regulatory agencies and environmental consulting companies, or for graduate programs.
BRR students interested in climate and/or ecosystem research but not modeling should investigate the Sustainable Ecosystems option.
Option Code: 816
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Climate | ||
| ATS 420 | CLIMATE PHYSICS | 4 |
| or GEOG 323 | ^CLIMATOLOGY | |
| Biosystems | ||
| Select one course from the following or another appropriate course approved by research mentor: | 3-4 | |
| ECOLOGY | ||
| PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
| HYDROLOGY | ||
| WATERSHED PROCESSES | ||
| FOREST ECOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTORY POPULATION DYNAMICS | ||
| BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| Quantitative Modeling | ||
| BEE 320 | BIOSYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND MODELING | 3-4 |
| or ST 443 | APPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS | |
| Computer Programming | ||
| BDS 310 | FOUNDATIONS OF BIOLOGICAL DATA SCIENCES | 4 |
| or CS 161 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I | |
| Statistics | ||
| Select one pair of courses from the following: | 8 | |
| METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS and METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS and INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS | ||
| Specialization and Breadth Courses | ||
| Select 6 to 9 credits approved by research mentor | 6-9 | |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
Option Code: 816