Course Syllabus: Ecology 101

A study of ecology is important to understand in today's world. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; specifically, ecology identifies and explains the holism, or critical connections, between plants and animals and the world around them and how those relationships affect the planet. Through this understanding, ecology provides information about how to use Earth's resources responsibly in order to leave a healthy environment for future generations.

The scope of ecology is as wide as the diversity if life on the planet. From bacteria in lakes to animals living in the arctic, ecologists study all types of environments, or ecosystems. Understanding all of these continually changing factors is overwhelming and difficult to grasp.

This general ecology course will provide a solid foundation on fundamental ecology topics, which many students require for future studies in various fields. This comprehensive course will include these topics:

• Ecology and Evolution
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Interspecies and Intraspecies Relations
• Biodiversity
• Mass Extinctions
• The World's Species
• Biogeography
• Geographical Information Systems
• Landscape Ecology
• Population Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Physiological Ecology
• Ecosystem Ecology
• Systems Ecology
• Plant Ecology
• Animal Ecology
• Human Ecology
• Natural Resource Management

 

Lesson 1: Introduction to Ecology

Lesson 2: Ecology Basics

Lesson 3: Ecology and Evolution

Lesson 4: Evolutionary Ecology

Lesson 5: Interspecies and Intraspecies Relations

Lesson 6: Biodiversity

Lesson 7: Mass Extinctions

Lesson 8: The World's Species

Lesson 9: Biogeography

Lesson 10: Geographical Information Systems

Lesson 11: Landscape Ecology

Lesson 12: Population Ecology

Lesson 13: Community Ecology

Lesson 14: Physiological Ecology

Lesson 15: Ecosystem Ecology

Lesson 16: Systems Ecology

Lesson 17: Plant Ecology

Lesson 18: Animal Ecology

Lesson 19: Human Ecology

Lesson 20: Natural Resource Management

All course material will be provided in the lessons and netlinks. There are no required materials to purchase before taking the class

Each lesson will include a lesson review quiz along with one or two assignments. Students will successfully complete this course with 70% or higher overall grade average.

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to: