PROGRAM IN PLANT BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

Courses

PBC students have several PBC courses to choose from and can also take courses across the university.  See the Graduate School Course Catalog for more information. Students may also review the TGS Academic Calendar for important registration dates.

Below are upcoming courses offered by the Plant Biology and Conservation (PBC) program. Students often take elective courses in the programs listed below. Only courses at the 300-level or above can be taken for graduate credit. Not all 300-level courses carry graduate credit, so if you are unsure, consult with the PBC program assistant or director.

• Courses in Environmental Policy and Culture
• Courses in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science
• Courses in the Institute for Sustainability and Energy and Northwestern

PBC Courses

Please see course descriptions below:

Fall 2026

• PBC 450 - Field and Lab Methods in Plant Biology and Conservation (2 Units)
• PBC 451 - Critical Topics in Ecology and Conservation
  • Anthropogenic changes to the world's ecosystems continue to have large, and often context dependent, effects on the abundance, distribution and interactions of species. In this course we will explore major conservation issues of today and examine the ecological processes underlying these issues. This course will include reading and writing about conservation issues for both scientific and general audiences, as well as discussions of primary literature and popular media around conservation. Class activities will include lectures, small and large group discussions, and other opportunities for active learning, as well as guest lectures from experts in the different conservation fields. After participating in this course, you will be able to: 1. Relate fundamental theory and concepts in ecology to real-world problems in our changing world 2. Evaluate published evidence of the challenges currently being faced by diverse species and examine the social impacts of these challenges 3. Explain the larger context and likely outcomes of these challenges to scientific audiences and the public
• PBC 470 Special Topics in PBC - Behavioral Ecology
  
  • In the face of changing ecosystems and increasingly variable conditions, predicting how organisms are likely to respond within their lifetimes, as well as how those predictions were made, is becoming increasingly important. In this course we will examine the behavior of animals, plants, and other organisms through a lens of ecology and the scientific process. Using a combination of lectures and literature discussion, we will cover core theory and processes that drive behavioral responses to environmental conditions. In so doing, we will explore the mechanistic, functional, and evolutionary underpinnings of the instincts, learning, and cognition of individuals and groups.

Winter 2027

• PBC 470-0-7 Special Topics in PBC - Intro to Data Analysis & Visualization for Ecologists - Dr. Gordon Smith
  • In this course we will explore the fundamentals and best practices in data science using the open-source tool R, building a foundation in the necessary coding and statistical analysis skills required to examine data of all types. While this class is designed to serve as an introduction to these topics for biologists and environmental scientists, the foundations and applications taught are intended to be relevant to students with more experience as well. Class activities will include a mix of lectures, hands-on coding assignments, and independent projects using data applicable to students’ interests.  
• PBC 440/BIOL_SCI 340 Agroecosystems: the Ecology of Food Production
  • As anthropogenic change continues to impact ecosystem function, understanding the ecology of agricultural landscapes becomes increasingly pressing. In this course we will examine the underlying ecological principles governing agricultural practices. Using a combination of lectures and literature discussion, we will cover the history and impacts of sustainable (and unsustainable) food production from the lens of the biotic and abiotic interactions that make it possible. Finally, we will explore how the understanding of these interactions may allow us to maintain agricultural yields in the face of novel climate patterns.
• PBC 470 Special Topics in PBC - Applications of Genomics - Dr. Suzy Strickler
  • Genomic data has surged in recent years, transforming biology and opening opportunities for exciting new questions. To leverage this data, a variety of skills not previously critical to biology are required. This course focuses on the theory and application of genomic technologies that can be applied across the tree of life. Linux command line and programming basics as well as data and code management best practices will be covered. Labs will train students how to use proper techniques with real data to avoid common pitfalls. In-class problems, hack-a-thons, and a final team project will enable students to apply the methods learned to their own questions in genomics. Students from all Colleges are welcome to enroll in the course and it is open to all interested advanced undergraduate and graduate students. 

Spring 2027 - subject to change

• PBC 415/BIOL_SCI 336 Spring Flora
  • This course takes a field-based approach to learning the process of identifying major components of the local flora in an evolutionary context. Understanding vegetative and reproductive structures of plants, and use of this knowledge to identify plants with taxonomic keys is emphasized. Ecological interactions and related conservation issues are also covered.
• PBC 410/BIOL_SCI 333 - Plant Animal Interactions
  • This course will explore the ecology of plant-animal interactions. Through the survey of the scientific literature, we will investigate the consequences of mutualistic interactions (pollination and seed dispersal) and antagonistic interactions (herbivory and parasitism) for individual organisms, population dynamics, ecological communities, and entire ecosystems. Finally, we will learn how these various interactions are responding to global change, including habitat destruction and climate change.
• PBC 435/BIOL_SCI 337 Biostatistics 
  • This is a statistics class geared toward students interested in biology, ecology, and environmental science, but others are welcome. The course is applied statistics, with the goal of students taking the perspective, skills, and software learned in class to problems outside of class. We will be learning and using the R package implemented in Rstudio throughout the quarter. R is a very flexible and powerful program that you can use for any statistical problem you encounter. R and Rstudio are free, well-supported, well-documented, and constantly improving.

Not Currently Being Offered

• PBC 402/BIO 349 Plant Population and Community Ecology - Dr. Amy Iler
  • Community ecology investigates the dynamics of populations and how those scale up to affect the composition and dynamics of ecological communities. Readings, discussions, lectures, and activities will address the forms and drivers of population dynamics, how communities are organized, how they interact with their biotic and abiotic environments, how they are studied, and how they are influenced by anthropogenic impacts like climate change, invasive species, and habitat loss.

• PBC 401/BIO 350 Plant Evolution and Diversity - Dr. Pat Herendeen
  • This course is an introduction to the diversity and evolutionary history of land plants for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. It will introduce principles of plant morphology, classification, phylogeny, and paleontology. Morphological, anatomical, molecular and fossil evidence for the evolutionary history and relationships of each group will be presented. Laboratories will focus on diversity and structural characteristics of each group and their fossils. Graduate students will prepare a research paper on a topic of their choosing (subject to approval by instructor).

• PBC 470 Special Topics in PBC - GIS - Raster & Remote Sensing
  • We will focus on the raster GIS environment, which is the core analytical GIS data structure used for natural resource modeling and environmental analysis. Students will learn the raster structure and its advantages and limitations; will learn tools and techniques used to display, process, and analyze remotely sensed data, including appropriate raster data management and procedures; raster surface modeling and image interpretation; map-algebra concepts using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst; proximity and dispersion modeling. Student will be assessed on in-class exercises, homework assignments, weekly labs, a final exam, and a final project in which students will demonstrate their ability to apply new skills to a real-world situation of academic interest by preparing and presenting a research poster.