GLOBAL HEALTH IMMERSION: LATIN AMERICA

Catalog description

The principal objective of this summer intersession course is to immerse students into the history, culture and public health systems of Latin American countries Colombia Ecuador. Students will have the opportunity to visit major cities, i.e., Cali, Colombia, and Quito, Ecuador, rural areas, and well-known tourist destinations (Cartagena, Colombia, Otavalo, Ecuador). Students will gain an understanding of current scientific research on tropical diseases of local public health relevance, such as malaria. The course will focus on the basic biology of disease, mechanisms of transmission (epidemiology), and efforts to develop vaccines against malaria. The course is designed primarily for sophomores, juniors and seniors who are public health, nursing, or biological science majors. Master's level students will also be accepted. Knowledge of basic Spanish language is useful but not necessary.