Departments & Programs

Biology

Concentration in the Biology of Disease

The Concentration in the Biology of Disease will provide an advanced education in the biological science of disease in a broad range of organisms, including plants and animals. Courses within this concentration will address mechanisms of disease manifestation as a consequence of molecular, cellular, tissue, and systemic dysfunction. Certain courses will also introduce quantitative approaches for predictive and deductive determination of disease occurrence and transmission within populations and ecosystems.

The following must equal at least 18 credit hours to fulfill the requirement for the Area of Concentration.

Required Lecture Courses

Complete two of the following lectures (6 cr.):

  • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 321 Principles of Immunology  (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 328 Disease Ecology and Evolution (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease (3 cr.)

Elective Lecture Courses

Complete two of the following lectures. At least one lecture must be chosen from list b. Courses must be different from those taken to fulfill the requirement above.

List a Courses

  • BIOL-B 351 Fungi (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 321 Principles of Immunology  (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 430 Virology Lecture (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
  • BIOL-Z 373 Entomology (3 cr.)
  • MSCI-M 480 Molecular Biology of Cancer: Cell Signaling and Fate (3 cr.)
  • MSCI-M 485 Physiology of Human Disease (4 cr.)

List b Advanced Skills Courses

  • BIOL-L 411 Epigenetics, Chromosomes, and Disease  (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 412 Analysis of Cancer Research (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 417 Developmental Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 472 Microbial Ecology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture* (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology (3 cr.)

Laboratory Courses

Students must complete at least two of the following lab courses. These courses must be different from those taken to fulfill the requirements above.

  • BIOL-B 352 Fungi: Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 324 Human Molecular Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)  [formerly M255]
  • BIOL-M 435 Viral Tissue Culture Laboratory (3 cr).
  • BIOL-M 445 Medical Microbiology: Laboratory* (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
  • BIOL-Z 373 Entomology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-Z 469 Endocrinology Laboratory (2 cr.)
*These courses have Microbiology prerequisites. For Biology students, BIOL-M 380 may substitute in place of BIOL-M 250 as a prerequisite.

Note: BIOL-L 410 Topical Issues in Biology (2–3 cr.) may be used towards the Area of Concentration, depending on the topic covered and with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.