Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - HSCI 212 D100

Perspectives on Infectious and Immunological Diseases (3)

Class Number: 3485

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 11, 2025
    Fri, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI 100 or BISC 101, HSCI 130, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An integrated survey of infectious diseases and their social and economic causes and consequences. Infectious agents, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses -- how they spread, how they work, and how they can be stopped. Surveillance, prevention, and management of infectious diseases and epidemics.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is designed to provide students with substantive and fundamental knowledge of infectious diseases and their social and economic causes and consequences. It will introduce infectious agents including bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses, and review their transmission, pathogenicity, surveillance, prevention and management. This course will also cover epidemics and the intersection between infection and other forces such as social determinants of health and climate.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will gain a foundational knowledge of select infectious diseases from an inter-disciplinary perspective that includes basic pathogenesis, infectious disease epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and societal impact. By completing this course, students will be able to:

1) Describe and discuss the role of microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, demography, and global health programming and policy in disease prevention and control. Subtopics include vaccines and outbreak investigation.

2) Understand the interplay between agent/host/environment and identify complex factors that influence disease spread and persistence.

3) Communicate the impact of disease burden in different parts of the globe

4) Discuss the intersection between infections and social determinants of health, particularly with regards to disease transmission

Grading

  • Participation 5%
  • Homework assignments 15%
  • Case study term project 20%
  • Midterm 25%
  • Final exam 35%

REQUIREMENTS:

  • There is no assigned text for this course. Generally, reading materials will be provided on Canvas.

Materials

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.