Course Description

This course is an introduction to the major groups of the Phylum Arthropoda that directly or indirectly impact the health of humans, companion animals, and/or livestock as arthropod vectors of disease. Topics include: the general life- cycles of arthropods and parasites, basic/unique clinical signs and symptoms of disease, tentative disease epidemiology, and common/unique approaches to control/prevent arthropod-borne diseases. Recent advances in the field of arthropod-borne pathogen/parasite research will be infused within course material and case studies will be included. 

Learner Outcomes

When you complete the course successfully, you will be able to:

• Describe the basic and/or unique lifecycles of the major insect-based and arachnid-based arthropods that impact the health of humans, companion animals, and livestock
• Explain the basic and/or unique biology of arthropod vector-vertebrate host-pathogen/parasite relationships
• Outline the transmission cycles/basic ecology of major arthropod-borne diseases
• Recognize the general signs, symptoms, and epidemiology of major arthropod-borne diseases
• Identify some of the approaches and applications to control/prevent vector-borne diseases

Microcredential(s)

This course applies toward the Biomedical Sciences Endeavor digital badge.

What FAES Learners are Saying

"1) Easy to use instructional materials were clear to follow and well laid out
2) The assignments gave us the opportunity to explore diseases that interested us as students which allowed for more freedom to guide our learning”

-BIOL 440 Student

Textbook Information

There is no textbook for purchase required for this course.