Cell Biology & Biotechnology Course Descriptions
Advanced Cell Biology, BS761
This course is designed to give the student a working
knowledge of the most recent advances in "hot" topics in
cell biology through critical analysis of current literature.
(Prerequisite: one semester of cell biology, biochemistry,
or genetics, or permission of instructor)
Cell Biology Methods, BS763
This course covers the theory of methodologies and
techniques commonly used in modern cell biology and
biochemistry laboratory settings. Each student will be
required to develop an understanding of the theory and
current practice of separations and analysis of biochemical
and cellular systems, including SDS-PAGE, affinity chromatography,
HPLC analysis, cell manipulation, ELISAs, and
fluorescence microscopy.
(Prerequisites: one semester each
of cell biology and biochemistry, or permission of instructor)
Biotechnology, BS764
This is an in-depth study of the techniques and applications
of recombinant DNA technology with emphasis on current
literature. Students will learn techniques of recombinant
DNA technology, develop an understanding of biotechnology
industry product development, and examine ethical issues
concerning biotechnology.
(Prerequisites: one semester each
of genetics and biochemistry, or permission of instructor)
Biotechnology Laboratory, BS765
This laboratory course will provide students the opportunity
to gain hands-on experience in recombinant DNA technology,
experiment design principles, and data analysis.
(Pre- or
corequisites: BS764 and permission of instructor)
Cell Biology Methods Laboratory, BS767
This laboratory course provides practice in methodologies
found in a cell biology or biochemistry laboratory environment.
Typical projects may include extraction and analysis
of proteins, enzyme purification and characterization, pulse
field gel electrophoresis of DNA, densitometric analysis of
gels, ELISA analysis, and fluorescence microscopy of cellular
components. The course is designed to be the laboratory
portion of Cell Biology Methods, BS763.
(Prerequisites:
one semester each of cell biology and biochemistry, or
permission of instructor)
Introduction to Research, BS785
This course is designed for students who are beginning the
research phase of the thesis project or who are attempting
to decide between the thesis and nonthesis options. It
consists of at least two rotations in the laboratories of
department faculty.
(Prerequisites: satisfactory completion
of program prerequisites and permission of the faculty
mentors and the program director)
Master's Research, BS799
Candidates for the master of science in cell biology and
biotechnology (thesis option) are required to complete a
research project under the direction of an advisor chosen
from within the department.
(Prerequisite: permission of
research advisor)
Graduate Seminar, BS898
This course is designed to allow in-depth exploration of
one of a variety of topics of current interest in the field. The
general topic will be designated by the instructor. A variety
of formats may be used, including lecture, presentations,
papers, and discussion.
(Prerequisite: permission of instructor)
Statistics for Research, ST704
This class covers research, data structure, and distributions. The normal distribution, probability concepts, meaning of statistical inferences, measure of central tendencies, variance, standard error, hypothesis testing, confidence limits, tests of significance, paired and un-paired t-test, analysis of variance, multiple comparisons, concepts in design experiments, analysis of enumeration data, chi-square tests, non-parametric tests, and statistical packages will be discussed. (ST301 and ST702 are acceptable as alternative courses in statistics)
Bioinformatics I (Genomics), BI450
This upper-level undergraduate or graduate elective course is designed to introduce students to the field of bioinformatics and genomics. An examination of the genomic organization of viral, bacterial, plant, animal, and the human organism will be performed. The central role of bioinformatics in managing and mining the vast amounts of biological information generated from the genome projects will be emphasized. This course is designed to be project-oriented with hands-on experience using DNA/protein analysis software and molecular databases a major objective.
Bioinformatics II (Methods and Applications), BI451
The second semester of the introductory bioinformatics
sequence will focus on the application and integration of
software tools to solve practical problems in bioinformatics.
Students will be introduced to the PERL programming
language; to database design, with emphasis on SQL (structured
query language) and the ORACLE database language;
and to Web-based software development using HTML/CGI
and other tools to interface to bioinformatics applications.
(Prerequisites: CS202, BS290, and BI450)
Animal Developmental Biology, BS704
This course provides an analysis of the basic phenomena
and patterns of animal development from fertilization
through the formation of the major organs. The students
will use current literature to develop an understanding of
the cellular and molecular processes that regulate animal
embryonic development.
(Prerequisites: genetics and cell
biology, or permission of instructor)
Neuromuscular Physiology, BS716
This course provides an analysis of the development and
physiology of the motor and sensory portions of the nervous
system and of muscular contraction.
(Prerequisite: permission
of instructor)
Chemotaxonomy, BS722
Contemporary concepts of classification of plants in
"chemical families" and the relationship of new classification
systems to classical taxonomy are covered in this course.
(Prerequisite: permission of instructor)
Plant Biochemistry, BS724
This course covers the biosynthetic mechanisms of the plant
and biogenesis of alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, volatile oils,
tannins, flavonoids, and other plant principles.
(Prerequisite:
one semester of biochemistry or permission of instructor)
Advanced Pharmacognosy, BS736
This course builds on information provided in Pharmacognosy,
BS336. A combination of lecture and "journal club" format
will be used, which will relate current literature to the lecture
themes. Each student will be responsible for preparing a
written and oral mini-review of the literature on a topic related
to the current state of knowledge in pharmacognosy.
(Prerequisite: permission of instructor)
Virology, BS750
The focus of the course will be the study of bacteria and
plant and animal viruses with an emphasis on viral genetics
and animal virology. Students will develop an understanding
of virion structure, viral taxonomy, mechanisms of viral
reproduction and replication, the pathology of selected
viral families, and the nature of the viral/host relationship.
(Prerequisite: one semester of biochemistry or permission
of instructor)
Advanced Immunology, BS752
The principles of immunology will be presented with
emphasis on cellular and molecular interactions. The genetic
factors that govern immune mechanisms will be described.
Application of immunological principles to tissue implantation,
hypersensitivity, tumor development and therapy,
AIDS, psycho-neuro influences on the immune system, and
aging will be discussed.
(Prerequisites: one semester each
of microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, or permission
of instructor)
Biochemical Genetics, BS768
Topics of current interest in molecular biology and
molecular genetics are explored using the current literature.
(Prerequisites: one semester each of genetics and
biochemistry, or permission of instructor)
Project in Cell Biology and Biotechnology, BS790
Graduate students in the non-thesis option may perform
a graduate-level project under the direction of a mentor.
The project must include a comprehensive literature search,
an analysis of data, and a written paper.
(Prerequisites:
completion of 9 graduate didactic hours and permission of
graduate advisor and program director)
Cellular Plant Development, BS826
This course will cover the principles of the development
of plants at the molecular and cellular levels. Using current
literature, the course will emphasize plant development
in relation to hormone interactions, reproduction, and the
plant genome.
(Prerequisites: at least one semester each
of biochemistry, physiology, and genetics, or the permission
of instructor)
Special Topics in Cell Biology and Biotechnology, BS860
This course is designed to allow in-depth exploration
of one of a variety of topics of current interest in the field.
The general topic will be designated by the instructor.
A variety of formats may be used, including lecture, presentations,
papers, and discussion.
(Prerequisite: permission
of program director)
Biological Membranes, BS862
This course is designed to provide an in-depth analysis of
the structure, synthesis, and function of cellular membranes
with emphasis on the current literature.
(Prerequisites: one
semester each of cell biology and biochemistry, or permission
of instructor)
Issues and Trends in Health Policy, HP707
This course provides an orientation to the analytical and substantive components necessary to become familiar with health policy. Specifically, students will gain an awareness of the complexities of health policy issues, the historical evolution of issues and themes, and the nature of how different interests interact. Students will learn commonly used frameworks for policy analysis and then apply them to a range of prominent contemporary health care issues.
Analytical Methods for Health Policy, HP710
This course covers techniques of analyzing health policy issues in business and governmental settings, including financial modeling, basic accounting, forecasting, program evaluation, and qualitative methods.
Quality Measurement and Outcomes Analysis, HP715
This course presents techniques for measuring quality in health care and for analyzing clinical outcomes. It provides student with the skills needed to understand and apply developing techniques in these areas, as quantitative assessment of the clinical impact of health services takes on increasing importance in the health care industry.
Information Technology and Resources in Health Care, HP720
This course enables students to understand computer
applications in health policy analysis, including database
management, data warehousing, Internet applications and
resources, and quality measurement systems.
(Prerequisite:
prior coursework or prior experience satisfactory to the
instructor in basic computer skills, including use of spreadsheets,
database management, and word processing)
Risk Assessment, Critical Thinking, and Health, HP725
The basics of risk assessment as an analytical tool and its application to aid decision making on health issues will be discussed. Examples will be drawn from uses of risk assessment by health and environmental regulatory agencies, including EPA, FDA, CDC, and others. Alternative techniques of risk assessment will be presented. Examples from literature and popular press will be used to illustrate the application of critical thinking in the development of appropriate risk models.
Public Health Research and Epidemiology, HP730
Foundations of public health concepts and research will
be discussed, including principles of health services
research, population health, demography, preventive
health, environmental health, and epidemiology.
(Prerequisite: HP750 or other introductory statistics
course satisfactory to the instructor)
Health Law and Regulation, HP740
This course provides students with skills in legal and regulatory analysis and presents principles of health law and an overview of federal and state regulatory programs affecting the health care industry.
Health Systems Management, HP742
This course provides an in-depth analysis of various health care system components, including consumers, providers, payers, and regulators of health services.
Mental Health Policy and Services, HP747
This course focuses on the mental health services delivery system and how people with mental illness interact both with this system and with the overall community. This includes examining not only past and present public policy toward mental illness but also the various social perspectives and meanings that are associated with being mentally ill.
Introduction to Statistical Methods, HP750
This introductory graduate-level statistics course is geared to skills and methods used in health policy-related research and covers descriptive statistics, probability, random variables, estimation, sampling, hypothesis testing, and chi-square tests. An orientation to multivariate regression will also be provided at the end of the course. This course is the first part of a two-course sequence (with HP760).
Quantitative Methods, HP760
This is the second course in the statistics sequence. The
course begins with a review of multiple regression and
moves on to cover topics of non-linear regression, model
building, hypothesis testing, and reporting of results. Topics
covered include log linear models, bivariate dependent
variables, sample design, data gathering, and cleaning.
(Prerequisite: HP750 or its equivalent)
Special Topics in Health Policy (Master's Paper), HP763
Students participate in coursework on selected subjects under faculty supervision. Students may also use this course to prepare a master's paper analyzing a major health policy issue.
Social History of Therapeutics, HP765
This course introduces students to the social history of selected health care professions and therapies. Particular attention will be given to examples of technology in the health care professions (to illustrate how tools shape practice). Students will also be introduced to archival documents and material culture (the study of objects, their manufacture, and use) for their own studies. Owing to the rich medical and pharmaceutical heritage of Philadelphia, students will visit important permanent collections at local libraries and museums.
Sociology of Health and Medicine, HP780
This course explores a range of social phenomena and their impact on health care provision and on how we attach meaning to health and illness. Students learn to understand and to apply various sociological approaches to medicine and to health policy.
Introduction to Health Economics, HP790
This course provides an introduction to and application of micro- and macroeconomics to the fields of health care provision and policy. Students are instructed in basic economic concepts: utility, marginal analysis, demand, elasticity, cost, supply, opportunity costs, market structure, and private, public, and social goods in terms of microeconomic theory and national GDP, income, and fiscal and monetary policy. From this background, they will apply their understanding to issues specific to health economics, including topics such as demand versus need, costs of providing health care services, structure of the health care market, labor, hospitals, managed care, insurance (public and private), and pharmaceutical interventions and practice patterns.
Health Care in Developing Countries, HP792
This course covers health care issues specific to low- and middle-income countries. It focuses on the role of health in economic development, the financing of health care services, and the evaluation of health care programs.
Research in Health Policy (Field Applications Project), HP797
Students conduct research on a health policy topic. This course also serves as the field applications project in which students work in teams of between two and six members to conduct a research and analysis assignment for an external health care organization. Each student team will prepare a report and give a presentation based on its findings.
Health Services and Policy, HP808
This course analyzes the economic and organizational foundations of health care, including issues related to the past, present, and future of the health system and health care professions. The social and economic factors affecting health policy will be studied, as well as the role of health practitioners relative to health institutions, governmental agencies, and patients.
Comparative Health Systems, HP809
This course presents a survey of health care systems in industrialized and developing countries with emphasis on comparisons with the American system. Students will be taught to understand the way that health care systems work in other countries and, thereby, to better analyze policy issues affecting American health care. The course will be taught in a seminar format.
Health Services Research Methods, HP810
This course covers techniques for evaluating research
methods, selecting research tools, designing a pilot study,
and preparing grant applications, as well as strategies
for selecting research tools and ethical issues in research.
(Prerequisite: HP760 or other statistics course satisfactory
to the instructor)
Public Health Infrastructure, HP812
This course focuses on the various systems that provide public health services. Students will gain a knowledge of the central issues and principal providers related to public health in an urban setting, the degree to which this represents a coordinated infrastructure, and the gaps within this system.
Proposal Writing, HP820
This course teaches doctoral students in health policy the elements of preparing a formal proposal and other kinds of analytical writing. Emphasis will be placed on the critical thinking skills needed for writing about research.
Public Policy Analysis, HP850
This course covers the process of analyzing public policy decisions. Topics include description of the problem statement, modeling processes to assess the economic feasibility of policy, implementation and enactment issues, and evaluation of outcomes.
Ethical Issues in Health Care, HP880
This course covers major ethical issues and methods of analyzing ethical conflicts in the delivery of health care services and in developing and implementing public policy.
Health Policy Seminar, HP890
Speakers present research issues and results and analyses of current issues in health policy. In order to receive credit, students must give a brief presentation during the semester.
Doctoral Research, HP899
Candidates for the doctor of philosophy in health policy are required to fulfill their research requirements under the direction of the health policy faculty.
Health Economics, PA840
This course covers the development and assessment of economic tools for analyzing health services and pharmaceutical interventions. Issues affecting patient preferences and quality of life are also considered.
Population, SO702
This course presents an introduction to demography and the study of the determinants and consequences of population growth and is meant to provide the basic facts about the numbers of people regionally and globally.
