Electives

This course examines the impact of nutrients and energy balance on health and well being of humans throughout the life cycle. In addition, the course explores the role of nutrition in several multifactorial human diseases.

Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to help students understand the admissions process for postbaccalaureate programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health professional programs. This is accomplished by discussing the variety of healthcare professions available and assisting the student in the skills necessary to be a successful candidate (interviewing skills, writing a personal statement, creating a resume, and selecting an appropriate professional school).

Credits: 2

In this elective course, students will identify their predominant learning styles and explore methods to improve study habits and learning effectiveness. The course will also explore barriers to learning and how they can be assessed and treated.

Credits: 1

This course is designed to teach students the process of writing a complete grant that meets requirements for federal grant applications. Each student learns to identify appropriate funding sources, plan a research project, organize data, write a research project budget, develop specific aims, and reference the most appropriate literature. The course culminates in a written grant proposal suitable for submission.

Credits: 3

This course allows students to interact with government, military, law enforcement, legal and academic specialists in the area of biological threats. Students are expected to draw on their knowledge of biology and healthcare to assess risks to public health from biological weapons, and to understand the potential cultural, psychological and ethical effects of a mass biological attack in the US.

Credits: 1

This course is designed to introduce students to the formation of the human body. In addition to learning about the normal development, students will learn about numerous types of birth defects.

Credits: 3

This course is an introductory survey intended to provide the student with a basic understanding of the nervous system at the cellular level. Topics of focus include basic neuronal function, development of the nervous system, sensory perception, and prevalent cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. This is an interdisciplinary course that will integrate basic concepts in cellular biology, pharmacology and physiology as well as provide insight to the most recent advances in our understanding of neuropathology.

Credits: 3

These courses discuss the chemistry of therapeutic agents – drugs. BMED 871 focuses on functional chemical groups and drug metabolism. BMED 872 and BMED 873 are coupled to the two pharmacology core courses by integrating the importance of chemical structure-activity relationships on a topic by topic basis.

Credits: 1.5 credits each course

This course provides the student with a detailed understanding of the psychological and pharmacological effects of the common drugs of addiction. The following drugs and drug classes will be reviewed: alcohol, stimulants, nicotine, hallucinogenics, inhalants, sedatives, and opioids. Topics covered include preferred routes of administration, absorption, distribution, mechanisms of action, tolerance and withdrawal. Particular emphasis is placed on abuse potential, addictive behaviors, and societal impact associated with each substance.

Credits: 2

This independent study-style course is intended to allow students to explore topics of interest not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Students must identify a faculty member to oversee and approve the independent study and meet with faculty to discuss the topic and formulate a plan of study. Students will present their findings at the end of the course. Usually, the course will involve an academic review of pertinent literature and the writing of a review paper.

Credits: 1-3

This course focuses on the recognition and identification of dangerous plants and animals found primarily, but not exclusively, in Arizona. The student will learn to assess poisonous situations and recommend management scenarios. Lectures and workshops involving case studies and field trips will be utilized.

Credits: 1.5