Students will be able to discuss species as the fundamental unit of biodiversity and the difference between species definitions and criteria used to delimit species.

Students will be able to discuss basic philosophies of classification and the relationship between classification, phylogeny, and nomenclature.

Students will gain proficiency with nomenclatural codes and their relationship to specimen-based research products such new species descriptions, monographs, floras, and faunas.

Students will gain experience with a variety of specimen-based research tools.

Students will understand responsibilities of biological collections management and curation.