The course introduces students to the fascinating world of plants and our human relationship with them. Module One begins with understanding basic plant biology and evolution, which provides a foundation for the course. Module Two investigates the evolution of human agriculture and the global changes that modern agriculture has incurred on our planet. Module Three discusses a variety of food from several parts of the plant, including stems, leaves, roots, tubers, fruits, and seeds. Module Four explores human uses of plants for various cultural uses, including medicines, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. Ultimately, PBIO 1060 provides students with a fundamental understanding human civilization and our complex relationship with plants.

This course is asynchronous and online so students can work on their own time through the four weekly modules. Students watch online recorded lectures, and readings and videos provided on Brightspace will supplement information presented in the lectures. Students should expect to spend approximately 8-10 hours a week on coursework related to this class.

Students engage with one another and the instructor in weekly online discussions to review course content, make connections to plants and society, and build an online community. Students also complete weekly module quizzes to test their knowledge of the topics discussed. Students will be evaluated on their participation plus modules quiz scores.