We are creating a new course in Advanced Biology of Marine Mammals with a laboratory. This course will serve as a new course offering for MA seeking students. This course will enhance the diversity of course offerings for this degree program. (Click here to view the Program of study)

Add a new course	Advanced Biology of Marine Mammals (4crs)	BSC	Beginning Graduate (5xxx)	XXX
Prerequisites:     None Co-requisites:    None Course Description: This course focuses on the Biology and Ecology of marine mammals. Emphasis will be placed upon understanding how marine mammals are adapted to their environment. Selected topics would include taxonomy, zoogeography, anatomy, physiology, behavior, conservation and management of marine mammals.

Summary of Changes to the existing program:
1. Change the names of the Proseminars to (a) “Themes and Methods in Practical Philosophy” and (b) “Themes and Methods in Applied Ethics.”
2. Eliminate the Directed Independent Study (DIS) as a way to meet the core Ethical Issues/Practical Philosophy elective requirements.
3. Change the major course requirements from 18 to 24 credit hours.
4. Reduce the capstone requirements (thesis, internship, or portfolio) from a minimum of 15 credit hours to a minimum of 9 hours.
5. Introduce a third option to complete MA degree requirements: a portfolio of work produced while in the program and linked together by a new paper that notes common themes in the portfolio and is defended before a committee.
6. Increase the required hours for internship practicum, research and report preparation to from 6 to 9 credit hours.
7. Require continual enrollment (summer exempted) until graduation.
8. Set the capstone requirement at 9-15 hours, thus enabling students to register for 6 credit hours beyond the required 9 hours and until graduation. (Typically, this will mean that students may register for 1 credit hour of thesis, internship, or portfolio work per semester up to six semesters until graduation.)
9. Add an elective course, “Ethical Issues in Public Health.”
Rationale for Changes:
1. The name change in the two Proseminars more accurately reflects course content, while also achieving greater curricular uniformity.
2. Fulfillment of core curricular requirements should not be achieved via independent studies.
3. The current program of study incorrectly sets the credit hour major course requirements at 18, when in fact it should be 24.
4. The current program of study incorrectly sets the credit hour capstone course requirement at 15, when in fact it should be 9, minimally
5. The portfolio option provides students with another option to fulfill degree requirements. It should facilitate degree completion in some cases and can be of value to students not intending to go on to Ph.D. programs in philosophy.
6. The increased credit hour requirement for the internship more accurately reflects the current work expectations; it also renders the internship requirements consistent with those for the thesis.
7. In setting a continual enrollment requirement for Thesis, Internship, and Portfolio students, the program establishes consistency with other graduate programs, at UNF and elsewhere. This provision also enables some continuing students to retain active status; it also facilitates greater degree completion.
8. Increasing the capstone credit hour requirements to 15 allows students to engage in formal thesis, internship, and portfolio work even after completing the 9 credit hour minimum.
9. An “Ethical Issues in Public Health” course significantly enriches the curricular offerings both of the MA Program and the Graduate Certificate in Applied Ethics. The course is well tested, having already been offered as a Special Topics course on other occasions.
(Click here to view the Program of study)