Field Courses

The Temple Ambler Field Station is a platform for integrated research and education, where students can gain hands-on and field-based experiences to complement their academic training. 

The following courses are offered through the Department of Biology and are hosted by the Temple Ambler Field Station at the Ambler Campus. Most of these courses have a combination of classroom instruction and a hands-on or field component. Most have sections open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Our course offerings leverage classroom, greenhouse and laboratory facilities at Temple Ambler, the Temple Forest Observatory, our other natural environments and facilities and recent impacts from a severe windstorm  to explore our local biodiversity within natural and human-modified habitats. Courses also focus on ecological relationships in nature and their recovery after disturbance. 

Transportation between the Temple Ambler Field Station and Main Campus is available for free for any Temple University student who wishes to take one of these field courses.  Transportation during the academic year is provided by the intercampus bus and SEPTA shuttle.  Summer transportation is also provided similarly for the summer field course on a schedule that corresponds with the course schedule each day. 

For more information about our courses, please contact  [click-for-email] or contact the instructor of the course directly. 

For formal descriptions of the courses, along with details on prerequisites, restrictions, repeatability, course attributes and other information, please see the current version of course listings in the Temple Bulletin. 

These courses may appeal to students across disciplines, including but not limited to Biology; Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; Environmental Science; Landscape Architecture; Horticulture and many others.  Given that curricula vary across disciplines, please contact the instructor to inquire about instructor permission to enroll if you do not have the required prerequisites but have taken a comparable course. For specific schedules and instructors each semester, visit here.  

Fall courses

Ecology of Invasive Species (BIOL 3275/5275, 3 credit hours, Fall 7A term)

Species that are transported by humans from their native range and successfully establish and spread in a new environment are called invasive species. Invasive species can cause significant ecological and economic impacts and are a growing threat to native species and ecosystems across the globe. Recognition of this problem has led to a recent surge in research on invasive species and a better understanding of the ecology of invasions and approaches for improved prevention and control. Yet many challenges still hinder scientific and applied advancements in this emerging field. In this course, we will investigate these challenges and the science of invasive species using interactive activities and student-driven projects. This course is generally taught in the first half of the semester (7A term).

Animal Behavior (BIOL 3254/5254, 3 credit hours, Fall 7B term)

This course examines how animals behave and investigate the proximate (neurological and developmental) and ultimate (functional and evolutionary) explanations for these behaviors. The ecological and evolutionary processes that shape animal behavior will be examined through the study of classic theories and major principles of animal behavior, including a weighing of the experimental and observational evidence for each idea. Concepts will be illustrated with examples from a wide range of taxonomic groups of animals in diverse ecosystems. Emerging theories in animal behavior will be discussed. We will conclude with applications of animal behavior for conservation. At Temple Ambler, this course is generally taught in the second half of the semester (7B term).

Bio statistics (BIOL 3312/5312, 3 credit hours, Fall full semester course)

This course serves as a general introductory biostatistics course. The lectures encompass fundamental concepts, theories and a variety of statistical analyses. Students will engage in hands-on activities, including manual execution of statistical tests and computer labs where they will learn to apply programming to solve real-life biostatistical challenges using ecological data. No prior coding experience is required. The course aims to equip students with essential knowledge and skills in biostatistical analyses, which are invaluable for their research or further studies in graduate and professional schools and their preparation for standardized exams and future careers.

Spring courses

Conservation Biology (BIOL 3307/5307, 3 credit hours, Spring 7A term)

The Earth harbors an incredible diversity of species and communities, most still poorly understood by science. This biodiversity is essential to the functioning of natural ecosystems and provides a wide array of priceless services to people today and a treasure of benefits for the future. Yet human threats to biodiversity have led us to the brink of the sixth major extinction event in Earth's history. Which populations, species, communities and ecoregions are most diverse? Which are most threatened and by which human activities? What is the contribution of biodiversity to human livelihoods? What does the science suggest is needed to conserve biodiversity? How might this best be done given social, economic and political realities? These questions and more will be examined in this course, focusing on the key principles of conservation biology and the application of those principles to local, national and international examples. This course is generally taught in the first half of the semester (7A term).

Disturbance Ecology (BIOL 3115/5115, 3 credit hours, Spring 7B term)

Understanding resilience to disturbance is a cornerstone of contemporary ecology. Disturbances may be caused by storms, floods, fire and species interactions, resetting an ecosystem. As climate change alters the frequency and severity of storms and other natural events, disturbance regimes are changing. Understanding these dynamics can help predict and mitigate future impacts. In this course, students will learn the conceptual foundations of disturbance ecology, while having hands-on opportunities to study disturbance dynamics in the field. Training in field methods and data analysis will be provided. This course investigates natural areas that recently incurred damage from an EF2 tornado. Students should expect to be outdoors regularly, learning about ecological disturbance and recovery as it unfolds in these environments in real time.  This course is generally taught in the second half of the semester (7B term).

Ornithology (BIOL 2228/5028, 3 credit hours, Spring full semester)

This course focuses on how the study of birds has contributed to our understanding of basic principles in evolution, ecology, biogeography, behavior, neurobiology, life history theory, biodiversity and conservation. Lectures, small group discussions from primary literature, case studies and field work during the laboratory will highlight these empirical advances. This course will also take advantage of the field sites throughout the Temple Ambler Field Station to observe wild birds within their native and human-modified habitats.

Advanced Study in Biology (BIOL 4396 section 101, 3 credit hours, Spring 7B term)

This is a writing-intensive research course focused on the independent research of a senior undergraduate student. This section of the course is the writing-intensive senior capstone course for students in the Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity undergraduate major.  Students in other majors who have undertaken research on similar topics may also register for this section with instructor permission. This course is taught by the course instructor with the close involvement of a research mentor identified by the student.  With instructor approval, this mentor may be a student’s current or previous mentor if the student has conducted independent research during their academic career. For students who have not conducted previous research, the instructor and the Temple Ambler Field Station may  assist the student in identifying a research mentor for the course. During lecture sessions, students will receive instruction in the elements of a scientific paper, writing effectively in the style of the subject, visually representing their data and the process of submitting and reviewing a scientific paper.

Over the course of the semester, the student will gradually develop a manuscript in the format of a journal in the field of study and present their research in class. The student will receive feedback to improve the manuscript by both the instructor and research mentor and will revise their manuscript accordingly.  This course counts as one of the two writing-intensive courses required in the Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity major or for other Biology majors. This course may also be used to count as three of the six research credits required for students in the Ecology, Evolution, or Biodiversity major or other Biology majors who are seeking to be awarded Distinction in Biology upon graduation. This section of the course is generally taught in the second half of the semester (7B term), though students should identify and obtain instructor approval for their research mentor at the beginning of the semester if possible.

Summer courses

Field Research in Community Ecology (BIOL 3389/5389, 3 credit hours, Summer I accelerated course)

Many fundamental advances in community ecology have emerged from creative, well-designed field studies in natural ecosystems. Field research is therefore a cornerstone of contemporary community ecology. Practical research experience is also increasingly expected of students continuing on to careers in ecology. Through this course, students will gain hands-on experience designing and conducting field research in community ecology. The class will undertake a series of short but meaningful research projects, culminating in student-led projects that will encompass the entire research cycle from the development of a research question to field data collection to analysis to write-up and presentation. While some activities will be in a classroom, laboratory or computer lab, most activities will be held outdoors in the natural environments in and around the Temple Ambler Field Station. This course may serve as an introduction to field research for students without any background in research or it may enable students who already have research experience to broaden their skillset and deepen their understanding. This course is generally taught as an accelerated course (in several full-day classes) soon after the spring term ends (in the early part of the Summer I term). For students coming from Main Campus, the free Temple inter-campus shuttle will run each day before and after class in times coordinated with the schedule of this class.

Course Modules

Field Station staff are trained ecologists and educators. They may assist with the development or implementation of field components of courses or support faculty in implementing field modules of their own design.  We encourage course instructors from Temple University or other colleges and institutions to contact us at [click-for-email] if they wish to use the Field Station as part of an upcoming course offering.