Formal coursework is offered in both a four-week spring term and an eight-week summer term. Classes are taught by the Station’s 15-20 member faculty, who concurrently carry out their own research projects.
Enrolled students typically earn 5 semester credits in the spring and 10 credits in the summer, taking courses in all aspects of field biology such as limnology, entomology, parasitology, mammalogy, general ecology, evolution, ornithology, phycology, ichthyology, and aquatic sciences. Since 1950 we have averaged 110 students per season in these courses, with professor to student ratios averaging 1:12.
UMBS mini-courses are targeted toward station alumni, friends and neighbors. These week-long, non-credit field courses are taught by individuals who are leaders in their field and well acquainted with the Biological Station and Northern Michigan. Examples of recent mini-course topics include birds, mollusks, aquatic plants, art in nature, flora of northern Michigan, adventures in science for children, forest and landscape ecololgy, and digital photography.
