Sean A. Whitcomb

Residential Faculty - Life & Environmental Sciences

Life and Environmental Sciences

Life and Environmental Sciences

Office: NU 6 - Room: 180

480-442-2391 (alt)

Office Hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
 

Make an appointment to visit me in person in NU 180 or online through Google Meet.

Classes Taught

Fall 2026

BIO105 Environmental Biology 4 Credits

Fundamentals of ecology and their relevance to human impact on natural ecosystems. Prerequisites: None.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
17076
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lecture
08/24/2026 – 12/18/2026
Mo
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Closed

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 17076 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 17076 must also register for .
15415
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lecture
08/25/2026 – 12/18/2026
Tu
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Class Started

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 15415 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 15415 must also register for .
15413
Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
08/24/2026 – 12/18/2026

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.

Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 15413 must also register for .
17077
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lab
08/26/2026 – 12/18/2026
We
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Closed

Notes: Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 17077 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 17077 must also register for .
15416
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lab
08/27/2026 – 12/18/2026
Th
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Class Started

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 15416 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 15416 must also register for .
15414
Online (On Your Time)
Lab
08/24/2026 – 12/18/2026

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.

Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 15414 must also register for .

Spring 2027

BIO105 Environmental Biology 4 Credits

Fundamentals of ecology and their relevance to human impact on natural ecosystems. Prerequisites: None.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
11127
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lecture
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027
Tu
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 11127 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 11127 must also register for .
11125
Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027

Open

37 of 48
Seats Available

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.

Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students must have Internet access and access to a computer (laptop or desktop) with microphone and speakers. A mobile device with a camera is also required.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 11125 must also register for one of .
11124
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lab
01/20/2027 – 05/14/2027
We
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Open

19 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 11124 must also register for .
11128
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lab
01/21/2027 – 05/14/2027
Th
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 11128 must also register for .
11126
Online (On Your Time)
Lab
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.

Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students must have Internet access and access to a computer (laptop or desktop) with microphone and speakers. A mobile device with a camera is also required.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 11126 must also register for .
11241
Online (On Your Time)
Lab
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027

Open

16 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.

Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students must have Internet access and access to a computer (laptop or desktop) with microphone and speakers. A mobile device with a camera is also required.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 11241 must also register for .

Spring Flex Start 2027

BIO105 Environmental Biology 4 Credits

Fundamentals of ecology and their relevance to human impact on natural ecosystems. Prerequisites: None.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
11123
Dobson Campus

NU 157
In-Person
Lecture
01/25/2027 – 05/14/2027
Mo
1:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Open

19 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 11123 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 11123 must also register for .

Degrees & Awards

Bachelor of Arts in Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University

Master of Science in Plant Biology, Arizona State University

MCC Endowed Teaching Chair, 2026-2027

MCC directories are not to be used for commercial or political solicitation of college employees by mail, email or telephone. MCC treats all student information as confidential.