Posted on March 26, 2002 at 2:03 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) will offer a course for all UAB students in biological and chemical weapons detection and response beginning in May.

“There has been no course offering available to UAB students concerning the impact of biological and chemical weapons use on health care delivery systems or voluntary and governmental agencies,” says course master Pat Greenup, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical laboratory sciences. “Current events since September 11th have moved the topics of emerging infectious diseases, bioterrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the preparedness of health care providers from low to high profile for academic programs preparing graduates for the emerging marketplace and the environments of health care delivery systems.”

The summer term class, called Biological and Chemical Weapons: Detectors/Response, is a two credit hour class and open to all UAB students. There is no pre-requisite. The undergraduate course number is MT 300 VT and the graduate number is CLS 500 VT.

Greenup says the class will describe the social, political and economical implications of biological and chemical weapons. The class will also identify academic programs of study that can assist students in preparing for careers in countering terrorism that employs such weapons.

The course will provide web-based supplemental instruction in biological and chemical weapons response from UAB and community leaders, including representatives from the UAB Center for Disaster Preparedness, Southern Research Institute, the School of Public Health, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Jefferson County Department of Public Health.

The course is offered by the medical technology and clinical laboratory science program in the department of diagnostic and therapeutic sciences at SHRP. It is co-sponsored by the UAB Center for Disaster Preparedness.