This course begins with the writings of proto-ecologists prior to Darwin to trace the development of the self-consciously scientific discipline of ecology as it understands itself, today. Philosophical problems include what sorts of entities and/or processes are studied by ecologists, the epistemology of ecological research, reductionism versus holism, the meaning of ecological equilibrium, stability, integrity, resilience, and the critical ecologies of black, indigenous, and feminist ecologists.

This course is an introduction to the philosophy of cognitive science. Cognitive science is the study of how organisms acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. It is an interdisciplinary field that employs theories and methods from psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and philosophy. The philosophy of cognitive science is the field of philosophy that is concerned with foundational questions that arise in cognitive science. Is the mind a computer?

Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences is a course for all new graduate students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program. The main objectives are 1) to facilitate lab rotations and 2) to introduce a set of 'scientific life skills' necessary for success in graduate level research. A series of lectures/discussions on these topics will be presented. The course will conclude with short presentations by the students, summarizing their first mentored research rotation.

The course is designed to provide students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program introduction to the fundamental concepts required in order to innovate in the biomedical sciences. This course builds on groundwork laid in the Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences courses which provide foundational knowledge across the spectrum of disciplines from drug discovery and drug development through preclinical study and clinical trials to therapeutic practice and outcomes-based investigations.

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the principles that underlie drug design and delivery. The course is divided into three components: 1) introduction to the principles of pharmacokinetics and drug delivery; 2) introduction to the principles of medicinal chemistry (drug design); and 3) introduction to the principles of pharmacology (drug action).

A survey course in a seminar style covering both classical and recent literature in public health services, including description and critique of research.