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Evolution (BIOL 304)
The object of the course is to provide a general theory of biology that will enable students to relate material from all other courses. This theory is Darwin's modification through descent, or evolution by means of natural selection.

Animal Diversity (BIOL 305)
The characteristics of the major groups of animals, their ancestry, history and their relationship to one another. The processes of speciation, adaptive radiation and extinction responsible for diversity. Methods for constructing phylogenies, for comparing phenotypes, and for estimating and analyzing diversity

Vertebrate Evolution (BIOL 352)
The main objective is to acquaint the student with the pattern of vertebrate evolution from the Cambrian to the present. The origin, basic anatomy and adaptation of all the major groups of vertebrates will be discussed, together with consideration of the evolutionary processes that underlie their radiation.

Developmental Evolution (BIOL 569)
Developmental Evolution (DE) examines the influence of developmental mechanisms on evolution. This course will focus on the emerging principles of DE, and will draw on data and examples from plants and invertebrate and vertebrate animals.

Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course (BIOL 573)
The primary objective for the course is to train students in collecting and analysis methods in vertebrate palaeontology. The course will be given at a selected Late Cretaceous (~70 million years old) locality in Alberta. There, fieldwork will be conducted for approximately 18 days. During that time, students will have practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation. An emphasis will be placed on terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles, and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis.