

Professional Development Courses
In addition to the Master’s degree programs described elsewhere, Project Dragonfly offers a number of online and hybrid courses that, along with our suite of Earth Expeditions global field courses, can be taken on their own for professional development and lifelong learning, outside of a degree program.
Stand-alone Courses for Professional Development
Am I Eligible?
Additional Notes for Some Specific Groups
Teachers: State Boards of Education vary in terms of professional development requirements so be sure to check the details for your state. Feel free to reach out to Associate Director Kevin Matteson (matteskc@miamioh.edu) to review syllabi and understand more about how these courses may fit your professional goals.
Zoo and aquarium professionals: Project Dragonfly is designated as an official AZA Learning Partner, which means that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has deemed Dragonfly as a “high-quality resource for career development opportunities.”
Current Miami University undergraduates and graduate students: Undergraduates who have earned 64 or more credit hours and have a GPA of 3.0 or above may request permission from the Miami University Graduate School to enroll in graduate-level classes. Please visit the Graduate School website for further information. Miami graduate students may enroll in Dragonfly courses for graduate credit.
Course Costs
To support involvement by a broad range of educators and conservation professionals nationally, Miami University offers significantly reduced tuition for these graduate courses. Through spring 2024, the cost per credit hour is:
- Web Courses (100% online): $395/credit hour
- Web+ Courses: $520/credit hour
Course Offerings
We offer Web Courses (100% Online) and Web+ Courses (online and in-person)
Note: Earth Expeditions global field courses may also be taken outside a degree program.
Summer Term (mid-May to early August)


Globally Connected Conservation (5 credit hours)
Fall term (late August to early December)

Conservation Science & Community (3 credit hours)

Issues in Evolution (3 credit hours)
Spring term (late January to early May)

Pollinator Biology & Conservation (2 credit hours)

Biology in the Age of Technology (3 credit hours)
Web Courses (100% Online)
Web+ Courses
Web+ Courses combine study in a web-based learning community with experiential learning in person and through an AIP Master Institution. Current AIP Master Institutions are located in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and New York. Students taking Web+ Courses should reside near an AIP Master Institution.
Web+ Courses are offered in different academic terms, depending on the on-site experiential learning location.
In addition to the online component taught by Miami University faculty, students in Web+ Courses benefit by working side-by-side with the extraordinary professionals at AIP Master Institutions, who provide mentorship, direct connections to local education and conservation initiatives, and who help deepen personal, professional, and community connections and engagement. Contact your local Master Institution to be sure there is space in the course, for additional course details, and to get specific experiential on-site learning dates.
Web+ Course List
Chicago: Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo
Animal Behavior & Conservation • Climate Change • Graduate Research: Book Discussion • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Foundations of Inquiry • Great Lakes Ecosystems • Plants & People • Primate Behavior & Conservation • Regional Ecology
Cincinnati: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Animal Behavior & Conservation • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Graduate Research: Barrows Lecture Series Seminar • Habitats, Adaptations & Evolution • Plants & People
Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Ecophysiology: Biomimicry • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Foundations of Inquiry • Human Dimensions of Conservation • Primate Behavior & Conservation • Project Design & Assessment
Denver: Denver Zoo
Ecophysiology: Biomimicry • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Global Biomes • Human Dimensions of Conservation • Regional Ecology: Rocky Mountain Field Investigations • Graduate Research: Book Discussion • Urban Ecology
Jacksonville: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Foundations of Inquiry • Regional Ecology: Florida Biodiversity •
New York: Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo
Climate Change • Environmental & Informal Science Education • Graduate Research: Science Literature • Human Dimensions of Conservation • Project Design & Assessment • Animal Behavior & Conservation • Primate Behavior & Conservation • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Regional Ecology • Global Biomes
San Diego: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Human Dimensions of Conservation • Conservation Research at Living Collection Institutions • Project Design & Assessment
Seattle: Woodland Park Zoo
Foundations of Inquiry • Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Graduate Research: Perspectives in Environment & Culture • Habitats, Adaptations & Evolution • Regional Ecology: Northwest Wildlife Conservation • Animal Behavior & Conservation • Global Biomes • Conservation Research at Living Collection Institutions
St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden
Environmental Stewardship in My Community • Global Biomes • Project Design & Assessment