FLBS summer courses are offered to qualified applicants on a first to apply basis. Applying as early as possible will assist you in securing your first-choice courses and will assist FLBS in planning summer session. Note that underenrolled courses may be cancelled based on enrollment numbers as of the enrollment review date.
Each course runs all day each scheduled day of its timeframe, including holidays, unless otherwise noted. You may select 1 or up to 5 classes for the summer. Taking a full load over the 8-week session is an efficient way to complete advanced courses during one summer!
FLBS Course Notices
Some FLBS courses require you be in good physical condition and complete extended all-day hikes at altitude in uneven terrain in strenuous conditions. Check each course syllabus for specific requirements.
All FLBS courses require students to have a foundation in academic writing. Students will need to display critical thinking and research skills as well as provide thoughtful commentary. Students should be able to clearly and concisely present technical and academic concepts in writing.
International students: a strong grasp of English (listening, speaking, reading and writing) is essential for success in FLBS coursework and collaboration with fellow students.
Alpine Ecology
July 14-July 25, 2025
BIOE 416/01
3 credits
Prereqs: One semester of a college-level biology and an ecology course such as BIOE342 Field Ecology at FLBS or other equivalents; or consent of instructor
This course requires you to complete extended all-day hikes at altitude in uneven terrain in strenuous conditions. If you have concerns about this requirement, contact the course instructor.
Exploration of the distribution, abundance and biotic interactions of plants and animals and their unique ecophysiological adaptations to life in the rigorous environments of high mountains above the timberline, with emphasis on the Crown of the Continent area. Students learn about the distribution of plants and animals and study the processes and interactions that are the foundation to ecology in alpine environments. Emphasis is placed on the processes that organize communities including drivers of global climate, and the complex interrelationships of biotic and abiotic interactions, including natural and human components as modifiers of system dynamics, and how those processes affect alpine systems. The class is organized around field trips and data intensive class projects that underscore major concepts and allow training in data collection, analysis, writing a scientific paper, presentation and interpretation by students.
Aquatic Microbial Ecology
June 30-July 11, 2025
BIOE 400/01
3 credits
Prereqs: One year of college-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics, or equivalents; or consent of instructor
This intensive field course is available to upper-level under-graduate students with interests in environmental microbiology and aquatic ecology and provides a conceptual foundation and experiential field and laboratory training in modern methods in aquatic microbial ecology. Students will explore topics such as physiology and metabolism of aquatic microbes; methods and tools for assessing microbial diversity, biomass, and growth; and the role of microbes in bioelemental cycles. Students will gain hands-on experience with both cultivation-based approaches and cultivation-independent methods for studying environmental microorganisms.
Conservation Ecology
June 16-June 27, 2025
BIOE 440/01
3 credits
Prereqs: One semester of college-level biology and an ecology course (BIOE342 Field Ecology at FLBS) or equivalents; or consent of instructor
This course emphasizes the application of basic biological research to problems in conservation and management with a focus on science, human dimensions, and policy interface. The three main disciplines in conservation biology we will study are Ecology, Evolution, and Human Dimension. These themes will be applied to case studies chosen to illustrate general principles and important issues in conservation and to facilitate discussion with professional field and conservation biologists. We will meet with professionals from government or nongovernment organizations providing a special opportunity to interactively learn by working side by side with conservation biologists, researchers, and natural resource managers from USGS, Montana FWP, US Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
Evolution of Animal Behavior
July 14-August 8, 2025
BIOE 491/01
5 credits
Principles and methods of evolutionary behavioral ecology, strongly emphasizing the development and honing of professional field study skills. Interactive lectures and discussions will cover basic and advanced concepts relevant to modern Darwinian analyses of complex contingent behaviors, including sexual and social behaviors. We will engage in close observation of behaviors, followed by whole-class round-table formulation of (a) evolutionary adaptationist hypotheses about a given behavior's possible net benefits, (b) testable predictions of each hypothesis, and (c) effective and efficient methods to test those predictions in the field or lab; in the classroom or on-the-spot in the field.
Field Ecology
June 16-July 11, 2025
BIOE 342/01
5 credits
Prereqs: One semester of college-level biology, chemistry and mathematics (or equivalents); or consent of instructor
This course requires you to complete extended all-day hikes at altitude in uneven terrain in strenuous conditions. If you have concerns about this requirement, contact the course instructor.
The course engages major concepts and approaches in modern ecology via immersive field experiences, hands-on sampling, and project-based learning in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Topics range from physiological and behavioral ecology to population and community ecology to ecosystem ecology. The course will build students' natural history knowledge of the biota of the Rocky Mountain region while directly engaging them in active research projects of FLBS / UM faculty. This course is conducted largely outdoors regardless of weather so that ecological phenomena can be examined in real time and real life. All-day and overnight trips will be conducted throughout the course, taking students into a range of aquatic and terrestrial environments near the Bio Station and the adjacent mountain areas including Glacier National Park. Students should be physically fit and able to hike 10 miles per day. Students will conduct directed measurements connected to ongoing research projects of the faculty, developing technical skills as well as skills in analysis and interpretation in written and oral form. Meets UM writing requirement.
Forest and Fire Ecology
July 28-August 8, 2025
BIOE 458/01
3 credits
Prereqs: Two completed semesters of college-level coursework (sophomore standing); or consent of instructor
This course requires you to complete extended all-day hikes at altitude in uneven terrain in strenuous conditions. If you have concerns about this requirement, contact the course instructor.
This course examines physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lake ecosystems with an emphasis on nutrient cycling, food web interactions and water quality. This course focuses on functional relationships and productivity of plant and animal assemblages in lakes as regulated by physical, chemical, and biotic processes. Fundamental concepts of ecology as they relate to the aquatic environment are highlighted. Students will learn basic and contemporary study methods in field settings including Flathead Lake, glacial lakes of Glacier National Park and Swan Valley, inter-montane prairie kettle lakes and nutrient rich lakes. Emphasis is directed toward experiential learning and obtaining hands-on examination and characterization of lakes that will serve students well throughout their careers. Written and oral reports of independent studies as directed by the professor are required.
Lake Ecology
July 28-August 8, 2025
BIOE 453/01
3 credits
Prereqs: One year (or equivalents) of college-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics courses, and an ecology course (such as BIOE342 Field Ecology at FLBS or other equivalent); or consent of instructor
Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lake ecosystems with an emphasis on how physical processes of lake circulation and stratification, nutrient loading and cycling, primary and secondary production and food web interactions, and atmospheric and land/watershed use affects water quality. This course focuses on functional relationships and productivity of plant and animal assemblages in lakes as regulated by physical, chemical and biotic processes. Fundamental concepts of ecology as they relate to the aquatic environment are emphasized. Limnological principles are presented within the context of regional and landscape spatial scales. Students will learn basic and contemporary methods of study in field settings including Flathead Lake, glacial lakes of Glacier National Park, inter-montane prairie kettle lakes and nutrient rich lakes with emphasis toward experiential learning and obtaining hands-on examination and characterization of lakes. Written and oral reports of independent studies as directed by the professor are required.
Seminars in Ecology
June 16-July 11, 2025
BIOB 494/01
1 credits
This seminar involves presentation and discussion of local environmental issues and problems, and is available to any students enrolled for the first four weeks of summer session in any combination of courses.
Stream Ecology
July 14-July 25, 2025
BIOE 439/01
3 credits
Prereqs: One year of college-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and an ecology course (BIOE342 Field Ecology at FLBS) or equivalents; or consent of instructor
This course focuses on the fundamental concepts of stream/river ecology and the physical, chemical and biological processes that characterize running water ecosystems. Students will study the ecology of streams and obtain hands-on experience in the examination and characterization of stream systems. Daily participation, examinations, and written and oral reports of independent or group studies as directed by the professor are required.
This course requires enrollment approval
Advanced UG Research
Advanced Undergraduate Research
June 16-August 8, 2025
BIOE 490/01
1-10 credits
Instructor/s:
TBA
Independent research experience in field ecology associated generally with the various research projects at FLBS. Projects are mentored by permanent and visiting FLBS faculty. Send us a short outline of research work you would like to undertake.
This course requires enrollment approval
Research in Ecology
Independent Study
June 16-August 8, 2025
BIOB 590/01
1-8 credits
Instructor/s:
TBA
Open only to non-UM graduate students. Independent research is intended to solve a specific ecological problem as identified and examined by the student under mentorship of a Bio Station professor. Independent research includes design, analysis and reporting of ecological data. Student must contact FLBS faculty to determine course availability and provide a short outline of proposed research work.
This course requires enrollment approval
UG Thesis
Undergraduate Thesis
June 16-August 8, 2025
BIOB 499/01
3-6 credits
Instructor/s:
TBA
The objective of this course is to prepare a thesis/manuscript based on undergrad research in field ecology for presentation and/or publication. An oral presentation of the finished work must be given at the Bio Station. Student must contact FLBS faculty to determine course availability and provide a short outline of proposed research work.