Intended for graduate students, this seminar course brings a historical perspective to understanding current questions and approaches in terrestrial ecology, ranging from evolutionary, community, landscape, to ecosystem ecology. We read and discuss foundational papers and related current papers, and we identify future directions, opportunities, and challenges for the different sub-fields. The course allows students to critically examine and engage with some scientific work that has laid the findings and concepts that are foundational as they develop conceptual and methodological approaches to their own research. Starting in weeks three or four, each student takes a turn leading discussion and selecting a relevant current paper to that week’s topic. Students write a total of seven précis on the topics of their choosing, with at least two completed by week six.