ANTH 497 – Spillover: Anthropology of Emerging Infectious Disease

BIOL 497 – Human Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course focuses on manifestations of human diseases and what changes occur at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels to cause disease states. Topics covered include mechanisms of disease, inflammation repair, features of selected diseases for each body system, diagnostic testing, and pharmacotherapy. The primary goal of the course is to reinforce student knowledge of normal physiology by studying pathophysiology. The course will feature traditional didactics, case studies, group problem-based activities, and analysis of primary literature in pathophysiology.
BIOL 497 – Evolutionary Medicine (3 credits)
Evolutionary medicine is the application of evolutionary theory to the study of human health and disease. Health is affected by a number of factors, including the aging process, the microbiome, cancer, infectious disease, and antibiotic resistance. Most medical research attempts to identify how these factors can be controlled. Evolutionary medicine explores why they exist in the first place. the goal of this course is to provide students with a new perspective for understanding human health and disease. Students will distinguish the evolutionary causes of disease and the possible consequences (positive and negative) of medical and public health interventions. Students will also critique arguments posed both in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and the popular press.
HDFS 297: Art and Science of Compassion
Instructors: Robert W. Roeser, Blake Colaianne
Spring 2020, 2 Credits
1/13-3/27, W 2:30-5:30.
Human service professionals (e.g., educators, nurses, social workers, counselors, youth service workers) care for large numbers of people, and the demands of caring for so many over time can become challenging – sometimes leading to empathy fatigue and burnout. In this course, we will explore both the art of caring for others, as well as the science of care and compassion. Drawing on contemporary theories in both science and contemplative traditions like Buddhism, we will conceptualize care and compassion in terms of three basic modalities, including (1) extending care and compassion to others, (2) receiving care and compassion from others; and (3) extending care and compassion to oneself (e.g., self-care). A core component of the course will be having students learn and practice compassion exercises related to these three basic modalities and the development of the related skills of extending and receiving care. Through the development of theoretical and scientific knowledge, and through the experiential cultivation of the skills of care and compassion, students will be better able to engage and connect more effectively with others in their lives. In addition, they will be learning a key set of skills essential for thriving in the human services professions.
MATH 297 – Scientific Computation for Biology (3 credits)


SC 201 – Medical Professions (1 credit)
For students who are about a year away from applying to medical, PA, dental, PT, OT, or nursing school.
