Overview
BIOL 495 is based on contracted study arrangements between you and an approved supervisor (AU academic or external). You will improve your skills in choosing and defining problems, obtaining information from studies and experiments, organizing facts and ideas, and reporting ideas and conclusions in written and oral form.
This course is for students who wish to carry out projects in biology or obtain formal recognition of biology-related skills and training they have received on the job, such as in agriculture, forestry, or industry.
You may complete one 3-credit project (BIOL 495) or two 3-credit projects (BIOL 495 and BIOL 496). Projects spanning both BIOL 495 and BIOL 496 must be of significant size, include an experimental component, and be clearly divided into two separate projects. Literature review projects are acceptable for BIOL 495 only.
This course may involve library, field, or lab work, as agreed to by you and your supervisor, with approval from the course coordinator. You are expected to obtain and pay for all materials used in the projects. Before registering, you must submit an acceptable project proposal to the course coordinator.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to
- develop a research question and critically evaluate relevant resources in chosen biology literature.
- develop a suitable methodology and collect data to address the research question.
- perform proper analysis and interpretation of data and draw relevant conclusions.
- manage a biology research project while adhering to ethical and professional standards.
Evaluation
To receive credit for BIOL 495, you must successfully complete written reports and other prepared materials based on guidelines derived from the learning contract, achieving a grade of at least D (50 percent). The course coordinator will complete your evaluation, which is based on your project supervisor's assessment of your submitted work.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.