Astrobiology

Learning Objectives:
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