Online version of "Evolution for Everyone" (Biol 105) now available!
Now anyone can learn about evolution and its wide-ranging implications for college credit
Offered during winter session (Jan 7-25) and beyond
“Evolution for Everyone” (Biol 105), the popular introductory course developed by David Sloan Wilson at Binghamton University, is now available to anyone as an online course.
Evolutionary theory is used to explain all aspects of the living world on the basis of a few simple principles. It is also increasingly being used to explain all aspects of humanity. This online course provides a panoramic view of the subject in a way that anyone can understand and enjoy.
Students will begin by reading and discussing Wilson’s book, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, with each other and their instructor. Then they will proceed through a number of modules that provide more in-depth knowledge about specific subjects, such as how we choose our mates, why we have different personalities, and how morality and religion can be understood from an evolutionary perspective. Each module consists of readings from the primary scientific literature, online seminars featuring some of the most distinguished scientists of our time, and (whenever possible) participation in an actual experiment. In this fashion, students will actually do science rather than just learning about it. Finally, students will have an opportunity to choose a topic of their own to study from an evolutionary perspective.
The course will be offered for the first time during Binghamton University’s winter session, which meets every weekday between Jan 7-25, 2008. The primary instructor will be Andrew Gallup, Dr. Wilson’s graduate student and a published author in his own right. Dr. Wilson will also be present in the form of video lectures and guest discussions “in person.”
Participation in the course results in four college credits from Binghamton University. Tuition is $756.00 for New York State residents and $1,800 for out-of-state residents, regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in BU (winter session courses are not covered by regular tuition).
If you are currently a BU student, visit the winter session webpage at http://winter.binghamton.edu/ and fill out the Admission/Payment form. A $30 late fee will be charged if the form and payment is not received by December 7. If you are not a BU student, follow the same procedure. In addition, you need to supply two pieces of health information by visiting http://health.binghamton.edu. Click on “new students” and open “Health Forms and Immunity Requirements.” For the “health history and physical examination” form, you need to provide proof of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunity but you do not need to provide the other medical information on this form. For the “Meningitis information Acknowledgement” form, you need to state that you have been immunized or that you have made an informed decision not to be immunized. It might seem strange that you need to provide this information when you are not going to set foot on campus, but hey—we don’t call SUNY Central “The Albanians” for nothing!
We are excited about making this course available online and hope that you can join us. Please contact Andrew Gallup at andyalbany07@yahoo.com if you have any questions about the winter course, or if you would like to be notified about future versions of the course.
