BIO1611 ST:Human Disease and Society

Infectious disease has been a major factor in shaping (and re-shaping) human society. This course will demonstrate how various diseases infect, spread through, and affect populations of Homo sapiens. Students will learn how these diseases significantly affect human society in terms of evolution and combat/mitigate effects of these diseases. The development of public health practices ranging from isolation to vaccines and innovations in diagnostics and disease treatment will be examined. Historically significant infectious diseases, such as the Black Death, malaria, smallpox, cholera, influenza, and HIV/Aids, will be sued as specific examples; students will use readings, case studies, and the gathering and evaluation of epidemiological data to practice forming and testing hypotheses, to gather and evaluate data, to comprehend complex processes, to make reasonable predictions, and to communicate results in written and visual formats. Students will apply their comprehension of disease effects on society by analyzing the COVID-19 pandemic and predicting potential consequences of newly emerging diseases on modern society. Credits: 4

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