Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2024 - HSCI 477 D100

Seminar in Vaccine Immunology (3)

Class Number: 4321

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI 326 or MBB 326 or HSCI 338, with a minimum grade or C- or permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Immunological concepts of vaccines and vaccinology including vaccination, correlates of immune protection, humoral and mucosal immunity, adjuvants, recombinant vaccine technology, 'designer' vaccines, and HIV/AIDS vaccine design as a paradigm for modern vaccinology.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is structured so that you develop independent learning skills. Most of the content knowledge that you will gain in this course will come from your own efforts. You will get out what you put in. This course is interactive, promotes discussion, and provides an opportunity for feedback from the instructor and peers. This is a seminar course and thus it will not follow a standard lecture format. Most of the presentations will be done by students. The role of the instructor in this course is to provide structure for independent learning and feedback on progress. You can expect to present regularly (a paper, a breakdown of methods). This course will be labour intensive; in a similar class, students reported working on course material 8 -10 hours per week outside of class time.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Become an “expert” in your chosen topic and become knowledgeable in key areas related to vaccine research 
  • Develop strategies for selecting, reading, interpreting and presenting peer-reviewed journal articles within the context of the course content
  • Synthesize and communicate key findings from multiple research articles
  • Build independent research, critical thinking and communication skills and reflect on the value of process oriented learning

Grading

  • Homework and Seminar Participation 15%
  • Article presentation 30%
  • Synthesis term paper: Topic and key references 10%
  • Synthesis term paper: Outline, annotated bibliography and process notes 10%
  • Synthesis term paper: Final version 35%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Readings will comprise primary and review articles from scientific journals.


RECOMMENDED READING:

P. Parham.  The Immune System. 5th Edition. 2021. Garland Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-393-53334-7. 

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.