Natural Science 0238 - Sel. Topics in Public Health

This course examines major events and controversies in public health, historical and contemporary, and serves as an introduction to the closely related field of epidemiology. Emphasis will be placed on the biology of disease as well as social, political and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities. Readings for the class will be drawn from the primary and secondary scientific literature as well as the lay media. Course topics will be wide-ranging (e.g., health care reform, vaccines and autism, the declining age at puberty, Type II diabetes, food deserts, the epidemiology of Zika virus, human health effects of climate change) and will emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of public health research and practice. In addition to weekly assignments related to the readings, students will conduct two small data analyses and will explore a topic of their own choosing for a final independent project. This is an ideal course for students who are drawn to the prevention mindset of public health and would like to know more about career opportunities.

Physical and Biological Sciences Independent Work Quantitative Skills Writing and Research In this course students are generally expected to spend at least 6 to 8 hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This course satisfies distribution requirement.