Specific topics covered in this course 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. The course will also discuss the social and cultural impact of disease and how our awareness-or lack of awareness-of diseases has shaped our society. This course utilizes a combination of lectures (to establish background knowledge), discussion, group projects, and a significant amount of laboratory time.
By the end of the course, you can expect to learn:
• How to design and execute an experiment independently.
• How disease influences politics and culture.
• Treatment, management, and control strategies for current epidemics.
• Molecular mechanisms of disease; the how and why disease happens.
Completion of a high school biology course is strongly suggested. Although this is a lab-heavy course, prior experience in lab and/or designing experiments is not required.
Online sections of Pre-College courses are offered in one of the following modalities: Asynchronous, Mostly asynchronous, or Blended. Please review full information regarding the experience here.