BIO 397 - Biology of COVID-19

Since late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread relentlessly throughout the world. As the virus spread, scientists and clinicians raced to answer fundamental questions about the biology of the virus and develop effective therapeutics. Public health experts tried desperately to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. And all of us saw in very stark ways the health disparities that exist in the United States and abroad. In this course, we will read and discuss selected primary journal articles related to the pandemic. We will also look at the social, political, and economic impact of COVID-19. Throughout the semester, we’ll think about a fundamental question: How did this happen?

Satisfies Public Health major and minor requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Successful completion of BIO 111/113 and 112/114, plus one of the following: BIO 201, 202, 208, or permission of the instructor.