Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2025
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
BIOS 363 001 (CRN: 15083)
ASTROBIOLOGY
Long Title: EXTRATERRESTRIAL ELSEWHERES: ASTROBIOLOGY AND IMAGINING LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS
Department: Biosciences
Instructors:
Meeting: 11:00AM - 11:50AM MWF (25-AUG-2025 - 5-DEC-2025)
Part of Term: Full Term
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 3
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 100
Section Enrolled: 61
Total Cross-list Max Enrollment: 100
Total Cross-list Enrolled: 80
Waitlisted: 0 (Max 198)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 20-APR-2025 8:20AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: Are we alone in the Universe? How did Life begin? Might humans and other terrestrial species spread beyond Earth? How would living on other worlds change us? This course explores the field of astrobiology by considering how people have approached these questions over time and how they do so today. Topics include detecting life on other worlds, planetary protection, habitability, the biology of extremophiles, synthetic biology and bioengineering, space exploration, and the biological prerequisites and consequences of space settlement. Cross-list: HIST 363.