Biology Through Film

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course offers an innovative exploration of fundamental concepts in biology through their portrayal in film, highlighting the intersection of scientific discovery, medicine and society. Students will engage with primary scientific literature to develop a firsthand understanding of the discovery process underlying topics such as neurodegenerative disease, genetic engineering, addiction and disease transmission. Class discussions will connect these foundational insights to critical analyses of how such themes are represented in film, encouraging students to evaluate both the processes of scientific discovery and their societal implications. Through this dual approach, the course fosters scientific literacy, ethical reasoning and a deeper appreciation for the relationship between science and society. Prerequisites: BIOL 111 , BIOL 112 and BIOL 213 ; junior or senior classification; or approval of instructor.