IDOCS 05/06-1
At the October 6, 2005 faculty meeting, IDOCS will move approval of BIO TA 212 as the Field Supervised course for the Fall 2006 Term in Asia. Ted Johnson, Instructor.
Course: BIO TA 212: Emerging Diseases in Asia
Offered : Term in Asia, Fall 2006
Catalog Description: This course examines the impact on Asia of emerging diseases and public health responses to these diseases. One goal of the course is to understand the remarkable public health response in Asia to some of these diseases. While the course emphasizes biological aspects of emerging diseases, environmental and societal factors that contribute to their emergence and re-emergence are also studied. Readings, discussions, and lectures will be supplemented by visits to health agencies and medical facilities.
GE credit: ORC, NST-B (approved by GEC, 28 Sep '05)
Other credit: Biology major; Biomedical Studies concentration
Rationale: This proposed course will be part of the Term in Asia program (Semester I, 2006-07) and should be a good fit with the Environmental Issues course taught primarily in China. Emerging diseases can have an impact on every aspect of our global society, causing disruptions in everyday life, transportation, education, and life styles. Cultural, societal and religious influences greatly influence how a culture responds to an emerging disease and, in some cases, actually contributes to the incidence of these diseases. This course should benefit students regardless of major. A liberal arts student should have a basic understanding of emerging diseases, their origins, and how cultures are dealing with current and future threats. For students interested in health care as a career, the course would develop a useful background for future careers in health care. A biology major or a biomedical studies student would acquire a broad background in the history of disease, microbiology, genetics, ecology, basic immunology, and acquire many other concepts which should integrate nicely with other courses in their major or concentration.
