Stand-alone Graduate Courses
Join us for a course! In addition to our GFP and AIP master鈥檚 programs, we offer individual courses as a way to offer students a chance to take just one class, to earn credits toward career advancement, for undergraduate students to experience graduate learning. These graduate courses are open to anyone who holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Students enroll at any stage of their career, from recent graduates to retirees and from all types of educational and professional backgrounds.
Stand-alone Courses
All of the courses below are open to individuals who would like to earn stand-alone graduate course credit from 兔子先生 University. “Web Courses” are offered 100% online and can be completed from anywhere in the world. “Web+ Courses” combine online learning with on-site experiential learning experiences with a premier learning partner in select U.S. cities. Due to their site-specific design that includes unique learning opportunities and professional connections, students interested in Web+ Courses should be within traveling distance of a Web+ learning partner site (see course list below for relevant physical locations).
Course Costs
To support involvement by a broad range of educators and conservation professionals nationally, 兔子先生 University offers significantly reduced tuition for these graduate courses. Through spring 2027, the cost per credit hour is:
- Core Online Courses (100% online): $455/credit hour
- AIP Web+ Courses: $580/credit hour
Course Offerings
We offer Core Online Courses (100% Online) and AIP Web+ Courses (online and in-person) Note: Earth Expeditions global field courses may also be taken outside a degree program.
Biology Through Inquiry (3 credit hours)
Covers general biology topics via an inquiry-based and student-driven framework. This course also meets the biology requirement for Project Dragonfly master’s programs.
Globally Connected Conservation (5 credit hours)
This course explores the applied theories and professional skills required to develop meaningful conservation action. Students collaborate to identify needs, design, and implement conservation campaigns.
Conservation Science & Community (3 credit hours)
This course explores the theory and practice of conservation science, including discussion of threats to biodiversity as well as methods to collaboratively address social-ecological problems. Vital to this course is a project in which students work directly with their local community to better understand and address real ecological problems.
Issues in Evolution (3 credit hours)
An understanding of evolution is critical for those seeking to better protect life on earth. In this course, students learn and discuss foundational evolutionary concepts as well as emerging topics. Students design a project that presents information on an evolutionary topic of choice in the form of a lesson plan, infographic, or review paper.
Pollinator Biology & Conservation (2 credit hours)
Pollinators are critically important to global ecosystems. This course explores the diversity of pollinators, from relatively well-known honey bees to wild bee species and non-insect pollinators such as bats and hummingbirds. Participants implement a project that involves creating a pollinator garden or submitting a pollinator-focused research paper, lesson plan, or grant application.
Biology in the Age of Technology (3 credit hours)
This course explores the beneficial and negative impacts of technology for conservation biology and environmental action. Topics include wildlife mapping via GPS and GIS, use of drones, satellite imagery, radio-collars, citizen/community science, social media, and the impacts of media on children including Nature Deficit Disorder. Through projects, students research a biological problem of interest and design a participatory media product to engage community members in that topic.
Conservation Science & Community (3 credit hours)
This course explores the theory and practice of conservation science, including discussion of threats to biodiversity as well as methods to collaboratively address social-ecological problems. Vital to this course is a project in which students work directly with their local community to better understand and address real ecological problems.
Issues in Evolution (3 credit hours)
An understanding of evolution is critical for those seeking to better protect life on earth. In this course, students learn and discuss foundational evolutionary concepts as well as emerging topics. Students design a project that presents information on an evolutionary topic of choice in the form of a lesson plan, infographic, or review paper.
Core Courses (100% Online)
AIP Web+ Courses
AIP Web+ Courses combine study in a web-based learning community with experiential learning in person and through an AIP Site. Current AIP Site are located in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and New York. Students taking AIP Web+ Courses should reside near an AIP Site.
AIP Web+ Courses are offered in different academic terms, depending on the on-site experiential learning location.
In addition to the online component taught by 兔子先生 University faculty, students in Web+ Courses benefit by working side-by-side with the extraordinary professionals at AIP Site, who provide mentorship, direct connections to local education and conservation initiatives, and who help deepen personal, professional, and community connections and engagement.
Additional Notes for Some Specific Groups
Teachers: State Boards of Education vary in terms of professional development requirements so be sure to check the details for your state. Feel free to reach out to Associate Director Kevin Matteson (matteskc@miamioh.edu) to review syllabi and understand more about how these courses may fit your professional goals.
Zoo and aquarium professionals: Project Dragonfly is designated as an official AZA Learning Partner, which means that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has deemed Dragonfly as a “high-quality resource for career development opportunities.”
Current 兔子先生 University undergraduates and graduate students: Undergraduates who have earned 64 or more credit hours and have a GPA of 3.0 or above may to enroll in graduate-level classes. Please visit the Graduate School website for further information. 兔子先生 graduate students may enroll in Dragonfly courses for graduate credit.
Contact Spencer Pate (patesc@miamioh.edu) if you have any further questions.