Current Course Offerings
Dr. Walter teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in science and science teaching.
Often, her courses have creative assessments. Students in Dr. Walter's courses have written songs, programmed a video game about Hope Jahren's Lab, created a movie with a time-traveling dog, and baked fossil layer cakes. See the Innovations Page for more.
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At Fresno State, two-digit courses are generally for Freshman and Sophomores.
100-level courses are upper-division courses, for Juniors and Seniors.
200-level courses are courses for Graduate Students.
BIOL 10
General Education Biology
In this course for non-science majors, we myth bust common misunderstandings about science and learn how to make smart decisions based on evidence, including decisions for personal well-being, evidence-based public policy, and health of the environment.
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This course is award-winning!
Click here to see the cool creative quests students do in Biology 10.
NSCI 115
Environmental, Earth, and Life Science
In this content course for future elementary educators, we learn through classroom-ready NGSS-aligned lessons, do a month-long observation of the moon, and design a science outreach event for local kids.
BIOL 270T
History and Philosophy of Science
In this graduate course, students learn about how science really works, explore the foundations of what it means to know, and learn about the people of STEM -- including understanding their place in history as a person of STEM.
CSM 10 & 15
Scientific Method + Evidence-Based Decision Making
In this two-semester sequence, first-year STEM majors read and interpret the primary literature around two UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the first semester, their work culminates in a science communication project about the UN issues for a target audience. In the second semester, students do full research projects, exploring people's thinking, actions, and beliefs about their UN SDG issue. This is a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) course.
BIOL 105
Evolution
In this capstone course for biology majors, students learn mechanisms for evolution, evidence for evolution, as well as population and quantitative genetics. The course includes an inquiry project in which students investigate the primary literature about a selected taxon.
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BIOL 272
College Science Teaching
In this graduate course for future university STEM educators, students learn how to structure a lesson, write learning objectives, construct more effective labs, and build quality assessments. Students will walk away ready for the job market with a teaching portfolio and teaching philosophy.