In order to pursue these goals, I have designed the following learning objectives:
1. Life Sciences: I will need a strong component in biology and life-related sciences in order to understand life here on Earth before investigating the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.
- BIOL 301: Ecology and Evolution
- BIOL 302: Molecular and General Genetics
- BIOL 303: Cell Biology
- BIOL 302L: Genetics Lab or BIOL 303L: Cell Biology Lab
- BIOL 411: Bacterial Physiology
- BIOL 430: Biological Chemistry
- CHEM 351: Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 351L: Organic Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 352: Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 406: Bioinorganic Chemistry
2. Physical sciences: The physical processes behind the formation and evolution of Mars are closely linked to the possibility of life there. A broad background in the physical sciences would therefore be a good preparation for graduate school.
- CHEM 300: Analytical Chemistry
- CHEM 301: Physical Chemistry I
- CHEM 405: Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 465: Mass Spectroscopy at the Chemistry-Biology Interface
- GES 301: Quantitative Techniques in Geography
- GES 310: Geomorphology
- GES 381: Remote Sensing
- GES 416: Hydrology
- PHYS 315: Galaxies and the Interstellar Medium
- PHYS 335: Physics and the Chemistry of the Atmosphere
3. Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science: I would like to gain a background in math and computer science, I will also need to be able to integrate knowledge from the different component fields for both my Capstone Project and for my future career.
- MATH 225: Introduction to Differential Equations
- STAT 355: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
- CMSC 201: Computer Science for Majors
4. Interdisciplinarity: Since astrobiology is, by its very nature an interdisciplinary science, I will also need to be able to integrate knowledge from the different component fields for both my Capstone project and for my future career.
- INDS 330: Ways of Knowing
- INDS 410: INDS Internship
- INDS 430: INDS Seminar
- INDS 480: INDS Capstone Seminar
- INDS 490: INDS Capstone Project
- ENGL 383: Science Writing
5. Additional Classes: Should I have room in my schedule, I would also like to take some or all of the following courses to further enhance my understanding from other disciplinary perspectives.
- HIST 445: History of Science to 1700
- PHIL 248: Scientific Reasoning
- PHIL 372: Philosophy of Science