This course is part of a partnership with the Semester in Biological Discovery (SBD) Program of Marine Biological Laboratories (MBL). The SBD program is designed for students interested in biology or biology-adjacent fields and have completed introductory level courses in biology and chemistry. Students accepted to this program will spend the spring semester at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA. Please see this link for more information on the SBD program: https://www.mbl.edu/education/undergraduate-programs/semester-biological-discovery. Prior to submitting your application to MBL’s Semester in Biological Discovery program, you must meet with the Chair of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics department to discuss your interest and get permission to apply to this program. Since applications to the MBL SBD program are due in the fall semester, you must meet with the Chair in the preceding spring semester or by the first week in the fall semester. Once you have received approval from the Chair you must submit an application to MBL’s Semester in Biological Discovery program. Introduction to Parasitology is a required course for the semester-length SBD program. This course introduces the diversity of parasitic organisms, both protozoan and metazoan, and explores the life cycles, morphology, genomics, pathology, immunology, epidemiology, and treatment and control of major parasite groups. The focus will be on aquatic species, including those that cause disease in humans and livestock. The course will involve lectures, journal clubs and lab work including designing and carrying out a research project. The lab work will include working on parasitic trematode flatworms; identifying local species (non-infectious to humans) as well as investigating the behavior and molecular and cellular biology of a tropical species, Schistosoma mansoni, that is a medically important. The lab portion will introduce the morphological and molecular techniques and resources used in contemporary parasitology. These techniques form part of the toolkit used by parasitologists to understand the biology of these organisms, an essential step in the search and development of novel therapeutics. This course satisfies the Intermediate Level Course requirements for the Interdisciplinary Science Major. Permission required to register for this course.