Foundations of Health Science

Description

This program takes an integrated and thematic approach to the health sciences, exploring introductory concepts in biology and chemistry with a focus on health, medicine and disease. It is designed for students contemplating work in a healthcare field who want to learn about how the body functions on a macroscopic, microscopic and molecular level, as well as students interested in public health or public policy who want a solid foundation in biology and chemistry. It is also suitable for students who seek an opportunity to study rigorous science as part of a liberal arts education.

Our organizational framework is a systematic examination of diseases that have a large impact on global health, based on the World Health Organization's list of the top ten causes of death. We will study cancer, maternal health and perinatal conditions in fall quarter; infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and influenza in winter quarter; and cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and depression in spring quarter. Within this framework, students will explore basic chemical and biological concepts, as well as the role of the pharmaceutical industry in society and the role of the FDA in clinical drug testing. Students will also explore ethical, historical and public policy questions raised by each disease.

Class activities will include significant laboratory and instrumentation work, lectures, workshops, seminars, group projects, textbook assignments and case studies. This program will develop critical scientific reasoning and quantitative skills. Communication skills, both written and oral, will also be emphasized. Students will work on their techniques of argumentative and scientific writing through essays, lab notebooks and reports, and participation in a writing workshop.

Students will gain the hands-on skills that are essential for working in the health sciences. There will also be opportunities to carry out lab-based projects in spring quarter.

This program will link students with clinics, hospitals, government public health departments or other health-related organizations for volunteer service. During fall quarter, students will select and research the work of a local agency. They will then design a part-time internship that allows them to contribute to the work of this organization throughout winter quarter.

Completion of this program will give students many of the prerequisites they need for careers in the allied health fields and public health, as well as preparation for further upper division study in biology and chemistry.