Plagues & Peoples - new ICC course offering Sp25'

By David Gondek, December 6, 2024

Take Biol 101 Plagues & Peoples (CRN 41818) - Spring 25'

The Department of Biology invites students to enroll next semester in Plagues & Peoples (BIOL-10100-01, CRN 41818): Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM (Center for Natural Sciences 333). This is a new section added 'late', after registration occurred.

This course focuses on the significant socio-economic, cultural, and political impacts of plagues and epidemics from historical through modern times. We explore the vectors of disease, such as viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Although modern medical advances have improved disease control, inequities in access to these treatments is at the root of modern power struggles. 

The course is an active learning course with a mixture of activities that you can choose from to demonstrate your learning.  Designed to be highly flexible, you can elect how to navigate assignments such as exams, essays, and creative endeavors.  Active class participation involves computer models of disease, 'mystery disease' style case studies, social activism through writing politicians, plague-based film analysis, and class debates on health-related societal topics.

There are no pre-requisites for this course.  This is a general education course intended for non-science majors. Email Prof. Dave Gondek (dgondek@ithaca.edu) if you have any questions.

Register now if interested, as the course may not be offered again for a few years.