Course Syllabus
Course Overview & Learning Goals
This course explores the nature and consequences of the interrelationship of human and nonhuman primate populations with a focus on health and conservation. Cross-species disease transmission occurs in a variety of contexts and depends on numerous factors, including the prevalence of infectious agents present in primate or human reservoirs and the circumstances and frequency of contacts and exposures. We will examine these interactions in diverse geographic areas and situations to better understand the challenges of mitigating the impact of primate-borne infectious diseases on public health.
You should leave this course with an understanding of:
- Infectious disease in humans and nonhuman primates: Nonhuman primate zoonoses & anthropozoonoses
- Diverse contexts of human-NHP interactions
- Conservation efforts (management, policies, and techniques) aimed at reducing bi-directional transmission risks
- Primary literature analysis and synthesis – critical reading in multiple disciplines concerned with these topics
Process & Coursework
This is a seminar course that will be held fully in person. It focuses on various topics presented as short lectures and student-driven discussion based on a mix of primary literature and current issues. Each week during the quarter we will cover a different topic, all of which are interrelated and span multiple disciplines. Students are expected to come to class prepared to participate in active discussion, having completed assigned readings and critically analyzed content in advance of class time. Weekly readings and assignments will be posted to Canvas. This course does not have exams, but there could be a few “pop quizzes” at random. There is an individual midterm paper and a final small group project.
- Reading responses
- Each student is responsible for doing their own readings and contributing comments and responses to their assigned reading group. Presenters will be selected on rotation to share these in class.
- Primate + Pathogen Reports
- There are hundreds of species of primates and 1000’s of infectious agents – unfortunately, we can only cover a limited number during the course of this quarter. To get exposure to a broader array of primates and pathogens will require some outside research.
- Critical Analysis (CA) Reports – Primary literature
- In preparation for the midterm paper and final projects, there will be 3 CA reports due in the first half of the quarter. You will find and critically analyze an article related to the week’s main topic (primary literature vs. popular media) using the Template for Taking Notes on Primary Literature found on the course website.
- Midterm “White Paper”
- A white paper is a commonly used tool in modern business and policy making (marketing, software, engineering, government etc.). It is an authoritative and informative report geared toward a layman audience of stakeholders and used to argue a specific position or propose a solution to a problem. Students will choose a topic and craft a persuasive white paper relating to an aspect of the human-primate interface. (1000-1500 words + minimum of 5 sources from primary literature)
- Final Project
- Group based presentations – During the final week of class, groups will present a 20 min. multidisciplinary lecture on a topic relevant to the human-primate interface.
GRADE SCALE
Availability of Materials & Make-up Policies
Lecture slides will be available as PDFs via Canvas within 24hrs after each class meeting; I do not provide slides in advance.
Materials provided in this class (handouts, exams, videos, slides, etc.) are protected– either my own or other copyrighted sources. I make these available for your personal academic use only. It is illegal to share, upload, copy or otherwise distribute any of my personal materials without my consent.
Late assignments will be accepted for up to 24hrs after their due date for 50% of earned points. Anything submitted after this 24hr late period will not be accepted. For example, on a 10pt assignment, you have earned 8/10 correct answers. If you turn it on time, you receive 8/10 pts. If you miss the deadline but can turn it in within the 24hr late window, you will receive 4/10 pts – 50% of your earned points. After 24hrs, the assignment will not be accepted, and your score is zero.
Open Student Hours, Communication & Extra Help
Weekly Student Hours will be held in person in my office in Denny Hall, 137. Times and contact information for are posted on Canvas under “Support & Student Hours.” You may always make an appointment if those times do not work for you, and I can also meet via Zoom if needed.
While it is my general policy not to respond to email between the hours of 6:00pm and 7:00am on weekdays, and to have very limited access on weekends, it is part of my commitment to you that I am available during “regular business hours” for weekly appointments (Student Hours), drop-ins, and email.
I encourage you to meet with me to discuss course materials, current events, random fun topics, or just to say hi. If you are having concerns with the material or your grade and want to review or discuss it, please contact me. We will work together to find ways to approach the material that work for you. If you are experiencing personal issues that are impacting your work, please make me aware of your situation (with as little or as much information as you are comfortable sharing) as early as possible and I will work with you to help in any way I can.
Let’s approach class and each other with some patience, flexibility, respect, and humor. We may all be affected by personal and health related issues for ourselves and our family and friends. In this environment, communication is crucial. Please, if you find yourself needing help – reach out. Please don’t wait until the “last minute”. In the final weeks of the quarter, there are very few options for you to address concerns, especially if they are around grades and performance. To this point, I do not offer extra credit.
Accommodation & Missed Work
Disability Resources for Students (DRS): It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with DRS, please activate your accommodations via myDRS. Please contact me if you would like to discuss how they will be implemented in this course. If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly at disability.uw.edu to set up an Access Plan.
Religious Accommodation: A student who is anticipating being absent from class due to a Religious Accommodation activity needs to complete the Religious Accommodations Request process by the second Friday of the quarter.
Academic/Athletic Absences: Students who anticipate missing class due to attendance at academic conferences or field trips, or participation in university-sponsored activities should provide a written notice to the instructor ahead of the absence. The instructor will determine if the graded activity or exam can be rescheduled or if there may be other options to make up missed work.
Medical Excuses: To protect student privacy and the integrity of the academic experience, students will not be required to provide a medical excuse note to justify an absence from class due to illness. A student who misses a graded class activity or examination due to illness must request, in writing, to take a rescheduled examination or perform work judged by the instructor to be the equivalent.
The Unexpected: In the case of unforeseen circumstances (car wrecks, zombie invasions, etc.), please contact me within 24hrs (or as soon as possible). We can discuss these missed assignments on a case-by-case basis. Once a week (7 days) has passed without contact, unless there are truly extenuating circumstances, then it is too late to address missed assignments or exams.
Student Conduct
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an environment where the free exchange of ideas is an integral part of the academic learning environment. University policy states that students must treat one another and the instructor in a respectful and considerate manner.
The University takes academic integrity very seriously. Behaving with integrity is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Acts of academic misconduct may include but are not limited to:
- Cheating (working collaboratively on quizzes/exams and discussion submissions, sharing answers and previewing quizzes/exams)
- Plagiarism (representing the work of others as your own without giving appropriate credit to the original author(s))
- Unauthorized collaboration (working with each other on assignments)
Concerns about these or other behaviors prohibited by the Student Conduct Code will be referred for investigation and adjudication to the appropriate campus office. More information can be found online at www.washington.edu/studentconduct/
Any portion of these plans may be subject to change should we need to make adjustments during the quarter. All changes will be noted in class and posted on Canvas..
Course Summary:
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