Epidemics (and Mathematics)  
Una Bray
Skidmore College 
Saratoga Springs, NY 12834
518-584-5000 X 2246
e-mail:  ubray@skidmore.edu

1.  Context of Course:  Epidemiology is a natural choice for an
interdisciplinary undergraduate course since the study of epidemics
involves history, sociology, medicine, anthropology, mathematics,
biology and biochemistry.   Unfortunately, courses in
this subject are usually found in large universities either at the graduate
level in public health or in such undergraduate departments as nursing and
medical technology.   When Skidmore introduced the Liberal Studies
requirement I set out to design a course to satisfy that requirement
that could be taught to first year undergraduates. 
 
A)  Liberal Studies Requirement 

Since 1985 students at Skidmore must take 4 interdisciplinary courses 
under the Liberal Studies umbrella - LSI (a mandatory, team-taught,
large lecture course) and three other courses distributed over three
categories, LSII, LSIII ane LSIV.  This is one of the courses that
fulfills the LSIV (Science and Society) requirement.

B)  Quantitative Reasoning Requirement

In 1994 it was decided that students must fulfill a new requirement in
Quantitative reasoning.  This course was revised so that it would be
designated LSIV and QR.


2.  History of Course Development:

A)  First developed as a history of selected epidemics using a
"Disease of the Week" format.

B)  Re-designed so that the elementary mathematical models used to
study the "Disease of the Week" became more prominent.


3.  Course Mechanics:

A) Class Size  - 25 to 30
B) Student Mathematics Preparation  - No college math course required
C) Lecture/Lab organization
D) Assignments
E) Grading
F) Outcome/Evaluation of Course

4.  Course Outline:

A)  Syllabus will be distributed

B)  Discussion of "Disease of the Week" format and how it allows a
diversity of math assignments and discussions.