Time Schedule:
Theodore C White
G H 201
Seattle Campus
Newly recognized and emerging diseases pose a major problem for public health. AIDS, hantavirus and Ebola virus infections, and the role of bacterial infection in the causation of stomach ulcers are examples of problems studied. Other timely diseases presented. Offered: A.
Class description
This course covers a wide variety of diseases that pose major problems for public health, including the big killers AIDS, TB, and malaria, as well as diseases with less impact including Ebola, Hanta, SARS, STDs. It covers issues of prevention, treatment and diagnosis. It covers diseases of specific organ systems including lung, liver, blood, brain, and GI tract. New emerging diseases will be covered as they occur, such as H1N1 flu.
Student learning goals
1. Compare and contrast the major new and reemerging infectious diseases in the world today.
2. Name and describe the causative agents of these diseases.
3. Explain the mechanisms by which these agents cause disease (transmission, target organ, pathogenesis).
4. Categorize and compare these diseases and agents based on method of transmission, target organ, clinical course, treatment, available drugs or vaccines.
5. Discuss the relative significance of these diseases compared to each other in terms of morbidity, mortality, and effect on human populations.
6. Discuss the factors (social, economic, geographic) that contribute to the emergence of these diseases.
General method of instruction
Course is lecture format, two hours each week.
Recommended preparation
This course has no prerequisites. HOWEVER, this is a biology course in which students will need to learn the materials presented in the lecture, including the diseases, the pathogens that cause the diseases, and certain factors relating to those diseases. For examples, students will need to learn genus and species names for pathogens.
Class assignments and grading
There is no required textbook and limited outside reading, but students are required to learn the materials from the lectures. Grades are based on midterm and final.
Grades are based 40% on the midterm and 60% on the final exam. Grades are based on a curve compared to the top performers in the class.
