Associated Course Pairings:

Course Descriptions

CC103: Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases

Instructor: David Brown
Learning Across the Liberal Arts Designation: Formal Reasoning & Logic
Block: 1

Mathematical models have been used to explain, predict, and control the dynamics of infectious diseases for nearly a century. Beginning with early attempts to explain cholera outbreaks, mathematical epidemiology grew rapidly during the global spread of HIV in the 1980s. In 2020, the spread of novel coronavirus made phrases like "basic reproductive number" and "SIR modeling" part of our everyday discourse. This class will explore the construction, analysis, and application of mathematical models of infectious diseases. We will study the relationships between model assumptions and conclusions and learn about what mathematical models can and cannot tell us about epidemics.

One afternoon session on first Monday from 1:30-2:30.

CC120: Philosophy and Social Change

Instructor: Marion Hourdequin
Block: 2

What is the relationship between philosophy and social change? Can philosophical inquiry provide insight into the nature of social change, and the various ways in which social transitions take place? Can philosophical writing contribute to constructive social change? Although academic philosophy is sometimes associated with various forms of traditionalism, philosophy plays an important role in social critique and in imagining alternative possibilities. Social change is often motivated by dissatisfaction with current modes of thinking, social organization, and ways of being in the world, and the active work of philosophizing social change happens not only within academic spaces, but in public spaces, in literature and arts, and through diverse social movements. This course will explore thought and writing that theorizes about, engages with, or seeks to generate social change, and it will encourage students to envision forms of change that are important to them and develop these ideas in discussions and writing.

Tentative afternoon field trip planned.

CC104: The Animal-Human Boundary

Instructor: Carol Neel
Learning Across the Liberal Arts Designation: Historical Perspective
Block: 1

This course will explore the relationships between people and animals across time. Among readings will be Pliny's *Natural history* (first century C.E.) and CC alumna Donna Haraway's *The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness." Discussion and writing will focus on historical and contemporary understandings of how animals lend insight into human nature, behaviors, and relationships. Although the course will emphasize classical Mediterranean and European traditions, a group project will address the tenth-century Muslim *Animals' Lawsuit against Humanity* with the medieval Christian bestiary tradition as exemplified in the *Aberdeen Bestiary*, an online digitized manuscript. Students in this course will visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as part of their consideration of the role of zoos in constructing the animal-human boundary.

Field trip to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo third Friday.

CC120: Plants and People

Instructor: Shane Heschel
Block: 3

Plant biology or botany is the study of how a plant functions and how a plant interacts with, and persists in its environment. A subfield of botany is agriculture and is the study of how plants can be bred to optimize yield, in other words how a plant species’ physiology can be altered to improve the plant as a crop. During the next 3 1/2 weeks, you will have the opportunity to: 1) learn basic concepts and principles of plant biology and physiology 2) learn basic concepts and principles of plant breeding and agriculture 3) learn about the history of agriculture as it pertains to plants 4) view agricultural issues from an evolutionary and conservation perspective 5) learn about writing styles and research design in the field of botany.

CC105: Genes, Heredity, and Identity

Instructor: Neena Grover and Krista Fish
Learning Across the Liberal Arts Designation: Scientific Analysis
Block: 1

We will cover basic nucleic acid biochemistry and introduction to genomes at the interface between science and society. Students will compare genome and genome organization in different organisms, including humans and primates. Building on their knowledge of genomes, students will explore how genes influence human variation, including the inheritance of disease. Students will examine diseases and their treatment along with race, gender, and economic issues that alter disease outcomes. As part of this topic, the class will investigate the evidence for biological versus social constructions of race. Students will discuss other aspects of variation such as gender, sex, and sexual orientation in humans and primates from scientific and cultural perspectives. Students will investigate biases that come into the practice of science from studies on flowers to crops to humans. Ethical issues that arise from genome alterations of organisms are an essential topic in this class. We will actively explore knowledge, knowledge construction, and language use in the practice of science. Students will engage in research-based projects to analyze scientific topics from social and scientific perspectives.

One afternoon lab in week one and week two.

CC120: Writing Genes, Heredity, and Identity

Instructor: Neena Grover and Krista Fish
Block: 2

Building on the themes from the linked CC100, this course will provide a more in depth examination of basic nucleic acid biochemistry and genomes at the interface between science and society. Students arriving from another CC100 course will be provided with a brief review of genetic concepts (helpful also for continuing students from the linked CC100) and we will build on this to explore specific aspects of human variation at the population level and throughout our evolutionary history. Students will pursue a writing project on themes relating to course concepts examining the interaction between genes and identity.