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BI-521: Public Health Biology

Course Information

Course, prefix, number, & title: BI-521 Public Health Biology

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): BI-201

Course Description in college catalog:

This course is a general survey of basic scientific and biomedical concepts of modern public health problems and explores mechanisms and models of the major categories of disease. It offers biological perspective on public health issues including infectious diseases, vaccines, genetic illnesses, neoplastic processes and environmental illnesses. The course content provides an overview of the biological mechanisms of disease prevention and progression and the current research related to public health problems. 

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

A.S. Degree in Public Health

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

  1. Communicate effectively in various forms

  2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

  3. Reason quantitatively as required in various fields of interest and in everyday life

  4. Apply information management and digital technology skills useful for academic research and lifelong learning

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

1. Clearly explain the biological principles required to understand the distribution of infectious and non-infectious diseases and methods for prevention and control of diseases.

2. Demonstrate understanding of how environmental stresses and other factors can cause disease and affect public health outcomes.

3. Demonstrate understanding of how vaccines stimulate the immune system to prevent infection and the controversies involved in vaccine use.

4. Demonstrate understanding of principles of medical and public health ethics

Program-specific outcomes

1. Analyze public health theory and practice in the following areas: social and behavioral sciences, epidemiology, environmental health, health communication, health care systems and policy.

2. Apply and synthesize basic quantitative and qualitative data, professional and scholarly literature.

3. Analyze and evaluate the biological principles associated with the distribution of infectious and non-infectious diseases of public health importance

4. Examine the current research related to public health problems and formulate methods for the prevention and control of diseases.

5. Communicate, promote and advocate for improvements in the health of the public.

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

The understanding of the course material will be evaluated through multiple choice exams (50 minutes). Four exams will be given during the semester.  Each exam is worth the same percentage (20.0%). Make-up exams for absent students are given only under extreme circumstances and at the instructor’s discretion.  The student is responsible for trying to arrange a make-up exam and should contact the instructor as soon as possible.

In addition, 15% of course grade will be based on a writing assignment on your selected research study topic and 5% of course grade will be based on in-class participation.

Method of Evaluation % of Final Grade
4 Lecture Exams 80
Writing Assignment 15
In-class Participitation 5

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.

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