INTS 410W : Plagues and Peoples

Through lectures, discussion, student presentations, and other pedagogies, this class aims to achieve four primary objectives: 1) To explore the role that disease and medicine played in important historical events; 2) to study the social, institutional and cultural dimensions of disease, ailments and medicine in today’s global societies; 3) to become familiar with some of the basic mechanics of epidemic diseases, such as smallpox, influenza, yellow fever, cholera, bubonic plague, syphilis and AIDS; 4) and to understand how some of the most important policy debates in international studies take (or should take) infectious diseases into consideration. Western (bio)medicine is emphasized, but Eastern traditions and alternative medicine are not excluded. Students interested in careers in medicine, public health, and global health policy may consider this class.

“W” Fulfills Advanced Writing Requirement. Students are required to satisfactorily complete one W-coded, writing-intensive course taught in any Concentration or in the Writing Program. Advanced Writing Skills courses in the concentrations may satisfy other degree requirements (e.g., one of the five courses taken in the upper division in their home concentration). Dual concentrators are only required to complete one Advanced Writing Skills course. Additional W-designated INTS courses are to be added to the course rotation. Students should expect to see two “W” courses per semester.