3.00 Credits
We live in a microbial world. In this course, we will explore our complicated relationships with microbes, from those used to make bread, beer, and yogurt, to those that cause disease and death. To understand how microbes spread, cause illness, and evolve, we will use current important public health examples and case studies, such as sexually transmitted diseases, antibiotic resistance, measles outbreaks, food-borne illnesses, and drug use and abuse. Students will also learn about current efforts to understand and control our microscopic neighbors, such as vaccines, hand sanitizer, and antibiotics. We will discuss how public health issues are studied, how they influence society, and how we make policy decisions to prevent disease.