SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is about 100nm in size but has caused a global pandemic. How can something so small cause so much damage? Explore different types of viruses and bacteria, learning how pathogens have cohabitated with human beings throughout history. Discover why some microorganisms are helpful, how others infect their hosts to cause trouble, and why many are so difficult to understand.

One look at classic anatomical sketches such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, created from the artist’s meticulous observations of dissected cadavers, can inspire a deep interest in the body and how it works. Doctors and scientists continue to discover new information about how bodies function. This course surveys the human body’s immune, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems—paying special attention to cells and tissues.

Ninety-four percent of life on Earth is aquatic, yet we have only explored 5 percent of the planet's oceans. Marine ecologists aim to reduce this knowledge gap while using biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography, and meteorology to study oceans and the hundreds of thousands of known species that live below their surface.

How can cats see in the dark? How can snakes smell with their tongues? How do optical illusions “trick” the brain? You’ll answer these questions while exploring the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the way different organisms’ brains process sensory information in order to experience their surroundings. You’ll learn about sensory abilities that humans don’t have, like electric organs and sonar navigation. In the lab, you and your classmates will dissect organs like a sheep’s brain and a cow’s eye to explore how senses relate to functionality.

How we behave under stress often gives a rare, unfiltered glimpse into how we think and act, but what about our institutions? Examine the UN—specifically, the World Health Organization (WHO)—by studying past epidemics such as Ebola and AIDS in order to effectively address a future global health crisis.

Start building your communication superpowers by learning just how cool words and language can be! In this course you will study excerpts from classic stories like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Wind and the Willows, and The Jungle Book, to analyze parts of speech and explore the flow of words and how they fit together to convey meaning.

Working through five units, you’ll write creative pieces and work with your classmates to review each other’s work and share ideas.

For generations, great mysteries have captivated readers with compelling characters and suspenseful storytelling punctuated by intriguing, unconventional sleuths like Eve Titus’s Basil of Baker Street and Wendelin Van Draanen’s Sammy Keyes. In this course, we’ll analyze and interpret examples of the genre, gaining expertise with literary elements such as foreshadowing, tone, and narrative arc. What does it take to be a great detective? How do mystery writers keep us guessing?

Why are round-trip fares from Orlando to Kansas City higher than those from Kansas City to Orlando? How do interest-rate adjustments affect the real estate market? How does one calculate the price-to-earnings ratio of a stock and use it to predict future performance? Mathematics plays an indispensable part in answering these questions.

What rights would you give up in order to feel safe? What safety would you give up to protect your rights? How does a democratic republic, with rights reserved for both the federal and state governments, create a coherent response to a crisis? Drawing upon a variety of documents, explore U.S. policy decisions during crises such as the Civil War and 9/11 and their long-term effects. In a pandemic, for instance, is a church or a gun store an essential service? Who decides?

Geometric and spatial reasoning skills are essential for living in and making sense of the world around us. Everything from solving a jigsaw puzzle to arranging furniture to efficiently packing a bag requires these abilities. Learn and practice these skills as you delve into the mathematical relationships between objects—ones that include congruence and symmetry, reflection and rotation, or expansion and contraction.