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S.03-76..
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Senate Committee on University Priorities
?
Memorandum
TO:
Senate
?
FROM: ?
John Waterhou
Chair, SCUP
Vice President,
?
mic
RE:
Master's of Pest Management External DATE:
?
July 29, 2003
Review
Two separate reports from the members of the External Review Committee for the
Master's of Pest Management Program (MPM) were submitted following the review site
visit November 27 and .28, 2002. The report of the Chair, Dr. G. Khachatourians, was
submitted on February 18, 2002. The second report was submitted by Drs. C. Scott-
Dupree and Dr. M. Kogan, the two other external members of the review team, on
March 5, 2002. The response of Z. Punja, Director for the Centre for Environmental
Biology and Program Director for MPM and the MPM faculty, was received on April 18,
2002 followed by that of N. Haunerland, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences
on May 23, 2002. Comments from the Dean of Science, W. Davidson, were received
on October 3, 2002. Drs. Davidson, Haunerland and Punja were invited to the
November 6, 2002 meeting of the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) to
provide input into the draft recommendations for the review and to respond to
questions. At its December 4, 2002 meeting, SCUP approved recommendations in
relation to the external review and forwarded them to the January, 6, 2003 meeting of
Senate. Senate did not approve the recommendations and requested that the
Department report back to SCUP by July, 2003. Subsequently, a revised program
proposal for MPM has been developed and approved by the Department of Biological
Sciences and the Faculty of Science and the Senate Graduate Studies Committee.
At its July 9, 2003 meeting, SCUP approved the MPM program proposal and
recommended the following motion:
Motion
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the proposal for a
revised Master's of Pest Management Program in the Department of Biological
Sciences in the Faculty of Science as outlined in
S.03-76
end.
C:
J. Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies
A. Harestad, Dept. of Biological Sciences
N. Haunerland, Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences
M. Moore, Dept. of Biological Sciences
M. Plischke, Acting Dean, Faculty of Science
SCUP03- 031
,
. ?
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
t ?
•
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Vice Prider
AGADDAIG
\
MEMORANDUM
To: SCUP ?
From: Norbert Haunerlanci
Chair
Subject: MPM revision
?
Date: ?
6/18/03
As requested by Senate on its meeting on January 6, 2003, the Department of Biological
Sciences considered the recommendations by SCUP regarding the Master of Pest
Management Program. Initial discussions took place in the Department Graduate
Studies Committee, which sought wide input from all faculty previously involved in
MPM matters. The Dean of Graduate Studies was invited to a DGSC meeting in which
the recommendations were discussed. In all those discussions it was apparent that the
revision of the program as recommended by SCUP was unworkable; not a single
member of the Department expressed any interest in a strictly course-based professional
program.
With the encouragement of the Dean, the enclosed proposal for a research-based MPM
program that requires fewer resources and is carried by the whole Department was
developed. Various drafts were discussed with the entire Department and the Dean of
Graduate Studies. Concern was voiced about further delay in the approval, which would
result in yet another year of no admissions to the program. The Dean suggested to move
the revised proposal quickly through the relevant levels of approval.
The final version was approved with a strong majority at a Department meeting and
subsequently by the FSGSC, as well as at a Faculty of Science meeting, and was sent to
the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies. We now ask for speedy approval by SCUP
and Senate, so that aggressive recruiting to the program can commence.
Through the generosity of Professor Thelma Finlayson, significant funds are available to
jump-start the program. Four one semester entrance scholarships will be available on an
annual base, with additional funds provided in the first year.
Comments to the specific recommendations by SCUP (printed in cursive letters) follow:
S
I.
Program Structure and Fees
I.
• ?
The program should be a course-based Master's level degree with a
project requirement, separate from the existing MSc program in the Department
of Biological Sciences;
• The program should be no more than two years in length (excluding a co-op
option);
• The program shall charge regular graduate tuition fees, however, a cost
recovery supplementary course fee for the summer field program should be
charged,
• The program should be encouraged to explore the possibilities of a cohort
based program
There
is
no interest at all for such a program in the Department. The program would
drain resources away from undergraduate teaching and research based graduate training,
at a time when students expect more service in exchange for their rapidly rising tuition
fees. The Department expressed strong sentiments to rather terminate the program than
offering a course-based professional degree.
2.
Administrative Structure
The following administrative structure is recommended:
• MPM should be a program within the Department of Biological Sciences;
• The MPM Program should have a
Coordinator/Director
whose mandate is to
oversee the students and course of study in the MPM Program and who would
represent the Program on the Department's Graduate Studies Committee;
• The Department of Biological Sciences is responsible for hiring and allocating
faculty to staff the MPM program.
The Department agrees that MPM should be a program within Biological Sciences.
However, rather than re-creating another unit within the Department, with a director and
separate resources, the Department feels that is essential to mount a program that is
carried by the entire unit. In fact, the fragmentation of the Department into too many
units with special interests was criticized in various external reviews, and we do not
want to repeat the mistakes of the past.
3.
Centre for Environmental Biology
Given the proposed changes outlined above, it is advisable that the Centre for
Environmental Biology (CEB) be dissolved. Iffacuizy members decide that it is
important to have the equivalent of a CEB to give them a profile outside of the
University, then it is recommended that they form a Schedule A centre along the
lines of the Behavioural Ecology Research Group, the Centre for Wildlife Ecology
and the Chemical Ecology Research Group which currently exist within the
Department of Biological Sciences.
?
is
c2.
• ?
The Department supports this recommendation.
4. Curriculum
In view of the proposed changes to the program structure and administration,
SCUP recommends that the proposal for a revised curriculum be revisited with the
Dean of Graduate Studies, ensuring that the needs ofpresent andfuture students
are considered. In addition, the MPM Program is advised to consider the
introduction of a co-op option.
The revised program structure and curriculum was developed with the Dean of Graduate
Studies, as recommended.
J.
?
Recruitment and Graduation of Students
In order for the MPM Program to utilize resources most effectively, it is anticipated
that an intake of 10 or more students per year would be needed. To achieve this
goal, the Department will be required to undertake appropriate recruitment efforts
for students and to ensure that they have sufficient course offerings for students to
complete the program within the 24-month timeframe (excluding a co-op option).
Although the number of students is less critical in a research-based program with a lower
• course load, the Department agrees that aggressive recruitment is required to revive the
MPM program. Funds have been set aside to develop a high-impact web site, and to
design and distribute posters and other recruitment material within Canada and beyond.
6. Budget
The Faculty and Department need to allocate realistic budgetary resources to the
MPM Program, including a sufficient number offull-time equivalent CFL faculty
members, in order to ensure the success of the program.
The, costs of the program and the allocation of faculty will be done in the same manner as
for any other undergraduate or graduate program in the Department.
7. Reporting Requirements
SCUP requests that the Dean of Science, the Department of Biological Sciences
and the Master's of Pest Management provide ajoint annual report. The focus of
the report will be to outline the progress that has been made with respect to the
implementation of the recommendations and to identify any problems arising The
report should be presented on an annual basis to the January meeting of SCUP for
a period of three years (with the possibility of an extension of this requirement if
SCUP deems it necessary).
The Department feels that it should be accountable for the program in the same manner as
for other programs. We feel that an annual report to SCUP is an unnecessary and
3.
unjustified requirement unprecedented in similar programs. The evaluation of the
program by Senate should be included with the next Department review. Of course,
progress will continually be monitored by the Department, the Dean of Science, and the
Dean of Graduate Studies, as it is common practice for all our programs.
In closing, I like to add a personal observation. While the review of the MPM program
was difficult and divisive, the Senate of Simon Fraser University must be commended for
facilitating a solution that is not imposed but developed by the Department. In my
opinion, this is a excellent example of how Senate should work.
Cc: Jon Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies
Mike Plischke, Acting Dean of Science
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mml
end
SCUP
03 -
c'3
F-'.J
SIMON FRASER UN! VERSIfl
To: ?
Senate Committee on University Priorities
From: J. Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies
Subject: Curriculum Changes, Faculty of Science - MPM Revisions
The Senate Graduate Studies Committee, at their Meeting on Monday, June 23, 2003, approved
the following:
.
a)
Change in title and description for BiSc 842-3
b)
Change in description for BiSc 849-0
c)
Change in description for BiSc 816-3
d)
Change in description for BiSc
852-3
e)
Calendar entry change for MPM degree requirements
aECE4f
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Vice
PtOej
CAD5
erit
J. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
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i^-
GS.2003.1
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
JUi12O3
MEMORANDUM
DEAN O GRADui",
STUDIESpf!!cE..
To:
?
J. Driver, ?
From:
M. PlischkilDean
Dean of Graduate Studies
?
Faculty of Science
Subject:
MPM Revision ?
Date:
June 10, 2003
The Department of Biological Sciences approved the revision of the Master of Pest
Management degree April 22, 2003 and the Faculty of Science approved it May 26, 2003.
The proposal and Calendar Change forms are enclosed.
Please place this on the agenda of the next Senate Graduate Studies meeting.
M. Plischke
c. R. Lockhart
Enclosures
S
(0.
MPM revision
5/26/03
Proposal for a Revised Master of Pest Management Program
?
Embracing Change to Chart a Future
Issues involving plants and animals as pests continue to occur and affect food
production, forestry, health and conservation. Three recent examples are mountain pine
beetles and salvage logging, mosquitoes and West Nile virus, and sea lice on farmed and
wild salmon. Pests have substantial economic, environmental, health and social
implications at local and international levels.
Pest problems offer opportunities for research of the biological processes
involving pests. They also extend responsibility to the university to educate scientists that
can provide leadership in managing these pests. The traditional M.Sc. degree focuses on
research seeking to understand biological phenomena, and is less concerned with the
application of such knowledge. A Master of Pest Management (MPM) Program is one
way the university can meet its responsibility and allow our students to access the
opportunities in the management and research of pests.
The Need for Change
While having a distinguished record, there is a need for a major revision of the
existing Master of Pest Management Degree. Originally conceived as a course-based
professional program, most graduate students in the past expanded their research to equal
. that of an M.Sc. thesis, and a research based degree remains the clear preference of
students and faculty. Also, there have been dramatic changes in pest issues and
technology that parallel those of other disciplines of the biological sciences. We expect
such changes will continue to occur in the future. Moreover, changes to faculty
associated with the MPM Program, either through retirements or in their interests, have
altered the Department's capacity to offer the program in its past format. Hence, a revised
program is required that matches our capacity and incorporates flexibility and
adaptability to its curriculum. Revisions need to be implemented in a manner that retains
opportunities for graduates of the MPM program to pursue further studies.
Distinctiveness of the Master of Pest Management
The MPM is clearly different from an M.Sc. The MPM is distinctive because it
uses strong applied approaches to learning and discussion of biological principles, and it
provides experience interfacing science with problems facing society. Its curriculum uses
theory to guide practice but recognizes guidance must be effective and workable. A core
of 800-level graduate courses is available to MPM graduate students. These courses,
while theoretically based, extend the principles of biological systems to practices that
reduce the impact of pest organisms. The program is made even more distinctive through
its field courses where pest biology and management are examined and assessed within
their environmental and human contexts.
The Master of Pest Management degree is recognized for its unique professional
aspects that students gain, in part, from valuable contributions of research scientists and
/1.
MSPM revision 5/26/03
managers who participate as guest instructors. The MPM curriculum will remain broad
and cover diverse aspects of pest management. The MPM program provides a unique
opportunity for students by offering a combination of basic research with the practical
applications of pest management principles. As new technologies and skills emerge with
which pest problems can be solved, there are exciting research opportunities for both
students and faculty. Society is faced with formidable challenges because management of
pests is becoming increasingly complex while constrained by limited resources and
concerns of environmental sustainability. Hence, new and innovative approaches to
management of pests are being developed that include biological control, biotechnology,
and chemical ecology.
General research areas of faculty in Biological Sciences that could participate in
the MPM Program include apiculture, behavioural ecology, biological control,
biotechnology, chemical ecology, chemical toxicology, insect biochemistry and
molecular biology, disease vectors, plant pathology, plant stress physiology, vertebrate
pests, and plant ecology. Students may study pests of agricultural crops and forests, small
fruits and orchards, urban environments and recreational areas, rangeland and livestock,
aquaculture fisheries, and those concerning human health.
Revised Master of Pest Management Program
This proposed revision to the Master of Pest Management Program has greatly
reduced course requirements and increased research components. The program
requirements are two graduate field courses, four 800-level graduate courses and a
research-based thesis.
Graduate Field Courses
The field courses combine classroom lectures with field demonstrations and
problem-based learning. The students are provided with an overview of pest control
methods as they are currently practiced in agriculture, forestry, and urban environments.
The courses include visits to working farms, commercial forest operations, grain
elevators, and various research laboratories as well as the demonstration of pesticide
applications. Instruction is supported by specialists from government agencies, extension
services, industry, and pest control companies. When feasible, students participate in pest
management activities, such as field sampling, diagnosis of pest problems, and
calibration and use of equipment.
Students must take two field courses (8 days each):
BISC 6012* Agriculture, Horticulture and Urban Pest Management
A broad range of agricultural pests and their management, with emphasis on
insects, crop diseases, and weeds in greenhouses, orchards and field crops. Pest
problems in urban environments, including stored products in and near buildings.
BISC 6022* Forest Pest Management
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..
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MPM
revision 5/26/03
Management of insect, microbial, vertebrate and plant pests of forests and forest
products, including seed orchards, nurseries, dryland sorting areas. Emphasis is
placed on diagnosis, decision-making, interactions and techniques for forest pest
management.
Some aspects of these courses could be offered best during seasons when particular
biological events or management practices are occurring. Besides the discipline specific
information offering practical experience, current problems and realistic approaches,
these courses are important to students by facilitating team building of the student cohort
and networking with practicing professionals. The courses will be offered in alternating
years; in this way, first and second-year MPM students will take each course as one
group.
Other Graduate Courses
Academic standards comparable to other graduate degrees will be assured through
four regular 800-level graduate courses. Of these, one must be BISC 847 Pest
Management in Practice, and two additional 800 level
,
courses must be selected from the
following list of BISC graduate courses that are particularly relevant to pest management.
Students can select one elective from other graduate courses in Biological Sciences or
elsewhere with approval of their supervisory committee.
Courses of Particular Relevance to Pest Management
These 800-level graduate courses are usually offered biannually during the fall or
spring semesters, depending on faculty availability and student demand. Some courses
may not be offered in every two-year cycle. Faculty members who normally teach these
courses are indicated.
BISC 8163* Biology and Management of Insects. Bionomics, ecology, economic
impact, and management of the major groups of insects, based on intensive reviews
of information on representative species. (Gries)
BISC 817-3 Evolution of Social Behavior. Study of the proximate and ultimate causes
and consequences of alternative social systems in non-human animals. (Crespi,
Winston)
BISC 841-3 Plant Disease Development and Control. An examination of the major
factors that lead to development of soil-associated and foliar plant diseases in
cultivated crops, in relation to the nature, underlying principles, application and
limitations of various types of control practices. (Punja)
BISC 8423* Molecular physiology of insects. An examination of hormonal and
nutritional factors that influence growth and development, as well as energy
metabolism in insects, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved in
their regulation. (Haunerland)
BISC 843-3 Applied behavioural Ecology. Concepts and methods from behavioural
ecology and population dynamics are used to solve problems of an applied nature
Ti
MPM revision 5/26/03
(e.g., pest management, harvesting policies, management of human diseases).
Model building and analysis feature prominently. (Roitberg)
BISC 844-3 Biological Controls. Principles, theory and practice of the use of living
organisms in the natural regulation and the applied control of pest organisms.
Emphasis will be on parasitic insects, and will include host specificity, genetic
controls, and the evolution of host-parasite associations. (Roitberg)
BISC 846-3 Insecticide Chemistry and Toxicology. The chemistry of insecticides, with
emphasis on their toxicology, metabolism and molecular mechanism of action.
(Nicholson)
BISC 847-3 Pest Management in Practice. Status and special problems of research,
development and implementation of pest management programs in different kinds
of ecosystems; consideration of factors such as management systems, economics,
communication, legal and social constraints, and ethics in the practice of pest
management. (Winston, Roitberg, Harestad, Gries, Punja)
BISC
851-3
Vertebrate Pests. Evaluation of the biology of vertebrates that are in conflict
with human activities; discussion of control strategies and economic and social
impacts. (Harestad)
BISC 852_3* Biology of animal disease vectors. Physiological, molecular, and
behavioural interactions between parasites of human importance and their insect
vectors. Emphasis placed on current literature relating to modem approaches in
reducing parasite transmission. (Lowenberger)
BISC 884-3 Special Topics in Pest Ecology and Management. A course that provides
graduate students with an in-depth analysis of a topic in pest ecology and
management. The course content will change from year to year to reflect student
interests and topical research, and can be taught by any faculty member of the
Department of Biological Sciences.
Thesis
Students enrol in BISC 849 and write a laboratory or field-based research thesis.
The thesis involves some aspect of pest biology and management. In their theses,
students are encouraged to include sections where their research is interpreted to offer
guidance for the management of pests. The MPM thesis has an applied orientation, which
distinguishes it from the M.Sc. program.
BISC 8490* Thesis in Pest Management. An independent research thesis based on
laboratory or field-based research and focused on some aspect of pest management.
The research may be supervised by any faculty member in the Department of
Biological Sciences, under the same standards and procedures as M.Sc. research.
The research can be conducted in collaboration with other organizations or
institutions willing to sponsor the project.
Program Delivery
Although the program can be completed in 2 years, it is anticipated the normal
completion time would be slightly longer (2.5 years). To ensure sufficient number and
'10.
MPM revision
5/26/03
• topics of courses are offered, the Department would need to mount, on average, three
relevant 800 level courses/year, as listed above. These courses will be open to M.Sc and
Ph. D. students as well. Faculty in Biological Sciences normally teach one graduate
course every two years; this would amount to the regular graduate teaching load of 6
faculty.
After the retirement of Dr. Rahe in 2004, eight faculty would remain who were
previously affiliated with the MPM Program: Drs. Gries, Harestad, Punja, Lowenberger,
McMullen, Roitberg, Nicholson, and Winston. However, Dr. Winston is currently
seconded to other activities, and Dr. Nicholson, while offering a key graduate course for
the program, is more aligned with the Master of Environmental Toxicology Program.
Other faculty with current research interests that have implications to biology or
management of pests include Drs. Elle, Haunerland, Moore, Plant, and Gail Anderson
(Criminology). These faculty could contribute to the program in various ways, e.g.,
through graduate courses in their area of specialty or through guest lectures in BISC 847,
BISC 601/602 or other courses.
When fully operational, the total enrolment would be no more than 20 students.
There is sufficient capacity in the Department to ensure supervision of MPM students and
offer enough 800-level courses to meet their needs. Ms. McMullen could teach the two
field courses as part of her regular teaching assignment. Besides the faculty listed above,
any other interested faculty member in the Department could supervise graduate students
•
?
in the MPM Program, or offer a relevant special topics course.
Students would be assessed and admitted to the MPM program using the same
procedures used for the M.Sc. program. A faculty supervisor must be identified prior to
• ?
admission. The graduate courses and the MPM requirements will be listed in the calendar
together with the Department of Biological Sciences.
MPM students will be charged regular graduate fees. For the field courses, the
Department would provide transportation, but students would pay their expenses for food
and lodging.
* denotes courses with changed course title or description
S
ii,.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Course Change Form
Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 842-3 Insect Development and Reproduction.
Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:
Course Number:___________ ?
Credit Hour: _____________ ?
Title: ?
x
Description:
?
x ?
Prerequisite: _____________ ?
Vector:
From:
BISC 842-3 Insect Development and Reproduction.
Analysis of hormonal factors that influence growth, development, and reproduction in insects,
with emphasis on the use of hormone analogues and anti-metabolites for population
management.
To:
BISC 842-3 Molecular physiology of insects.
An examination of hormonal and nutritional factors that influence growth and development, as
well as energy metabolism in insects, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved in
their regulation.
The
Rationale:
course content has been expanded to include molecular mechanisms of hormone action in
insects. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.
Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that
students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.
Effective date: Calendar or
?
September 2003
.
1w?.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
Course Change Form
Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 849-0 Master of Pest Management Thesis.
Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:
Course Number:
?
Hour:
?
Title:
Description: ?
x ?
Prerequisite:
?
Vector:
From:
A supervised individual analysis in detail and depth of an aspect of pest management and the
preparation of a scholarly paper on it.
To:
An independent research thesis based on laboratory or field-based research and focused on some
• ?
aspect of pest management. The research may be supervised by any faculty member in the
Department of Biological Sciences.
Rationale:
The thesis is based on independent research in an area of interest to pest management of greater
depth than suggested by the original description. There is no longer an extended essay option.
The description is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.
Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that
students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.
Effective date: Calendar or
?
September 2003
F_
/3.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Course Change Form
Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 816 Biology and management of forest insects
Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:
Course Number:
?
Hour:
?
Title: ?
x
Description: ?
x
?
Prerequisite:
?
Vector:
From:
Biology and management of forest insects
Bionomics, ecology, economic impact, and management of the major groups of forest insects,
based on intensive reviews of information on representative species.
To:
Biology
?
and management of insects
0
Bionoinics, ecology, economic impact, and management of the major groups of insects, based on
intensive reviews of information on representative species.
Rationale:
The course content has been expanded to include economically important insects in agriculture
as well. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.
Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that
students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.
Effective date: Calendar or
?
September 2003
I',.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY?
Course Change Form
Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 852-3 Medical and Veterinary Entomology.
Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:
Course Number:
?
Hour:
?
Title: ?
x
Description: ?
x ?
Prerequisite:
?
Vector:
From:
BISC 852-3 Medical and Veterinary Entomology.
Analyses of problems in the management of insects and related organisms that directly harm or
that carry diseases of man or livestock.
To:
BISC 852-3 Biology of animal disease vectors.
. ?
Physiological, molecular, and behavioural interactions between parasites of human importance
and their insect vectors. Emphasis is placed on current literature relating to modern approaches
in reducing parasite transmission.
Rationale:
The course content has been updated to include molecular mechanism of disease transmission by
insects. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.
Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that
students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.
Effective date: Calendar or
?
September 2003
.
I,
'S.
The Calendar entry should occur under Department of Biological Sciences (p
376)
..
Admission - Msc, MPM, and PhD
See "Graduate General Regulations" on page 298 for admission requirements
MSc and PhD requirements....
(unchanged)
MPM requirements
The Master of Pest Management is a research-based degree distict from an MSc in its
strong applied approaches to learning and discussion of biological principles, and in
interfacing science with problems facing society. The MPM program requires a thesis
based on original research with relevance to Pest Management (BISC 849).
Each MPM student must complete the following courses:
BLSC 601-2, BISC 602-2, and BLSC 847-3
Two courses selected from the following list:
BISC 816-3, BISC 817-3, BISC 841-3, BISC 842-3, BISC 843-3, BISC 844-3,
BISC 846-3, BISC 847-3, BISC
85
1-3, BISC 852-3, BISC 884-3.
One additional 800-level elective (3 credits).
1.