PLPA 4330 - Disease Ecology

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: prior enrollment in PLPA 2950 is recommended. Limited to 35.

E. B. Nelson.

Diseases not only cause human suffering but they impact all organisms on earth, playing important roles in regulating populations and stabilizing ecosystems. This course will examine the ecological processes that drive the emergence, transmission, and spread of diverse human, plant, and animal diseases. Emphasis is on a science-based approach for understanding the nature of disease development, the behavior of infectious agents and hosts, the ecological principles influencing disease dynamics.

Outcome 1: Ask good questions and be able to find the answers to those questions.

Outcome 2: Identify and analyze the ecological processes that influence the dynamics of human, animal, and plant diseases.

Outcome 3: Compare and contrast the ecological dynamics of human, animal, and plant diseases.

Outcome 4: Identify and analyze the ecological processes that influence disease dynamics at different temporal and spatial scales.

Outcome 5: Apply sound reasoning skills to identify the logical causes and regulators of disease.

Outcome 6: Analyze disease scenarios to effectively identify the ecological factors that may regulate disease emergence and transmission.

Outcome 7: Apply ecological concepts to predict how new diseases might emerge.

Outcome 8: Apply ecological concepts to develop sound management strategies for various diseases.

Outcome 9: Apply knowledge, skills, and understanding to communicate disease ecology principles to others.