Course Description

Understanding how pathogens are transmitted, lead to illness, and how they can be controlled or cured is the cornerstone of medical science. We will explore a variety of pathogenic organisms by examining their life cycle, transmission from host to host, and why some pathogens result in to epidemics. Students will discover not only the treatment of epidemic disease, but also the molecular mechanisms behind why each treatment works.

Specific topics covered include vaccine development, epidemic and pandemic pathogens (Influenza, HIV/AIDS, Black Plague, Smallpox and more), diagnostic laboratory techniques, as well as an introduction to basic microbiological sciences. This course will explore treatment and outbreak control methods applicable to old diseases that remain problems, newly emerging infectious diseases, tropical diseases, and hospital infections.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explore the major infectious and chronic diseases that impact population health historically and today
• Discuss the success and failures of outbreak response using historical examples
• Evaluate the use of popular news in disseminating information to the public
• Identify the role of government, communications, and law in an outbreak
• Communicate findings to a broad audience through presentation and written work.

Prerequisites: Completion of a high school biology course is required and it is recommended that students have also taken chemistry.

Course Information

• Course Code: CEBI0942

Program Information

Summer@Brown

Brown’s Pre-College Program in the liberal arts and sciences for students completing grades 9-12 by June 2021.