This course will teach students:
*What insects are
*Insect structure and biology
*Diversity and evolutionary adaptations
     ^advantages of different life cycles
*The role of insects in ecosystems
     ^as herbivores, predators, and scavengers
     ^diversity and biomass
     ^as pollinators, decomposers, recyclers
     ^as water quality indicators
*Major insect orders (groups) and examine their diversity
*Body parts and functions
*Insect mating behavior
*Insect reproduction
*Research methods for study of insects
*The role of insects as decomposers and how this is important to forensic investigations
*Co-evolutionary relationships
*History of pollination
*Importance of pollinators, both economically and ecologically
*Positive and negative influence in relationships with other organisms
*Positive and negative relationships with humans
     ^Commercial products
     ^Food production
     ^Pests (to crops, stored food, housing)
     ^Cost to livestock and pets
     ^Diseases caused by insects and impact to human history
*Insect population management
     ^Economic benefits
     ^Increased resistance
     ^Risk to human health
     ^Risk to beneficial insects
     ^Benefits and risks of GM's to control insects
*Strategies for collecting and building insect collections (Final Project)

Syllabus*
Week 1	Introduction to Arthropoda, Insect Diversity, External Anatomy
Week 2	Internal Anatomy/Physiology
Week 3	Classification, Collecting and Preserving
Week 4	Mating Behavior, Development
Week 5	Mechanics of Movement
Week 6	Decomposers
Week 7	Insects and Plants, Feeding and Defense
Week 8	Pollination and Social Behavior
Week 9	Predatory Insects
Week 10	Ground dwelling Insects
Week 11	Aquatic Insects
Week 12	Parasitic Insects and Disease
Week 13	Importance of Insects
Week 14	Pest Management
Week 15	Insects and Humans
*Syllabus subject to change in that we may continue one week into the next to fully explore the content.

Class will be taught via lecture, discussion, interactive labs, projects, individual and group work.  I use demonstration, facilitation, and provide information so that my students can develop questions, solve problems, and become independent learners.  

Students should have some prior knowledge of life science but it is not essential to be successful in this course.