AIDS: Fear and Hope

The basic biology of the virus, HIV, and the disease it causes, AIDS. The economic, social and political factors that determine who gets sick and who remains healthy, who lives and who dies. The progress of scientific research and medical treatments. The reasons for hope; the reasons for fear. (To get a glimpse of some of the materials that students have been posting on the course forums, go to @AIDSFAH or #AIDSFAH.)

• Unit 1 - Beginnings: A New Disease Surprises The World
• HIV Basics, Stigma, Three Books, Chimps to Humans, Some Memories
• Unit 2 - Transmission, Gender, Politics
• Transmission, Gender, More Memories
• Unit 3 - Testing (and Some Politics and Memories)
• The Critical Issue--Testing
• Unit 4 - Living With HIV
• Not a death sentence, but not easy; More Politics, Sexual Orientation
• Unit 5 - Caring for Patients
• Doctors, Medication, More Politics, More Memories
• Unit 6 - Prevention, Art, Poetry
• Unit 7 - Wrapping Up
• Cure? Legal Issues, Cost, The Future, Acting Up