Biology of Human Infectious Diseases

Catalog description

In this class, students look carefully at diseases that impact human populations and the successes and failures in disease management. This class includes case studies of diseases and disease control in recent history as well as current outbreaks. Course materials will highlight the integration of different aspects of biology and additional complexities that drive disease dynamics and determine the efficacy of disease management strategies. Students will read assigned primary literature paired with popular science texts and educational multimedia resources to learn about course topics, which will complement classroom discussions and lectures. Each student will conduct an independent research project on a relevant topic of their choice, which will require them to search and identify primary literature that is relevant to their topic and apply the broad concepts discussed in the class to their unique research project. Each student will produce a written paper and deliver a presentation to the class. Research topics are often, but not limited to, a case study of a disease that is not covered in class by the professor.