BIO 431 - Emerging Infectious Diseases

Recent decades have seen a sharp increase in infectious diseases new to humans (e.g., COVID-19, SARS, HIV/AIDS, Zika virus), accompanied by a resurgence of older diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, malaria) as new threats. At the same time, the “golden age” of belief that the war against infectious disease has been won by antibiotics is rapidly fading as pathogens evolve resistance to drug therapies. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) greatly concern the scientific, medical, and public health communities and the public, are inextricably linked to global politics and socio-economic conditions, and arouse controversy, fear, and blame. The goal of this course is to understand EIDs and realistically evaluate the threat to human well-being posed by infectious disease in modern society.

Core Curriculum/Core Requirements: Writing Intensive and Capstone

Prerequisites: Junior Standing and BIO 200 or BIO 208

Course Typically Offered: Spring, even years

Credits: 3