HPRAP academics include highly desirable courses taught by faculty in a supportive atmosphere.

  • HPRAP student participants take at least one course in the program each semester. Student participants are often able to choose two courses/semester and a course or two in their Sophomore year.
  • Courses are taught on-site within Kittredge West residence hall, limited to an average of 19 students per class.
  • Courses range from foundational life sciences courses to courses on medical ethics, global health policy, writing, and social sciences.
  • As part of the HPRAP experience students are invited to join co-curricular activities that enhance the learning environment and integrate the Health Professions theme through experiences such as field trips, guest speakers, peer groups and topic-focused study sessions.
  • Students working toward a degree typically take 12-16 credits (4-6 courses) each semester.  Registration for HPRAP courses will be facilitated by the program coordinator.

General advising is required and can be arranged through your student Buff Portal. Seeking four-year plans for HPRAP-relevant majors? Please follow the links below:

Useful information about MCDB Labs: https://www.colorado.edu/mcdb/phage-genomics-lab

 

Sample RAP Course Offerings

Fall

Spring

Lecture and Recitation. For students with no high school chemistry or a weak chemistry background. Course prepares students for CHEM 1113/1114. Department enforced prerequisite: one year high school algebra or concurrent enrollment in MATH 1011. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science.

Provides a concentrated introduction to molecular, cellular, genetic, and evolutionary biology. Emphasizes fundamental principles, concepts, facts, and questions. Intended for science majors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science.

Introduces the basics of human anatomy. Department enforced requisite: one year of general biology (lecture + lab). Lecture and Lab may be taken in separate semesters.

MCDB is directed toward understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that provide the basis for biological structure, growth, evolution, embryonic development and genetic inheritance. Undergraduate majors learn about the scientific method, experimental approaches and groundbreaking discoveries that have made modern molecular and cellular biology such an important force in medicine, agriculture and the growing biotechnology industry. Students learn about the diverse tools of modern biology, including recombinant DNA, genomic mapping, transgenic organisms, gene targeting, analysis of mutants, biochemical purification, antibody probes, laser manipulation of living cells, light and electron microscopy and computer modeling.

Considers philosophical topics and concepts related to the natural sciences, such as the following: science and pseudo-science; scientific method; the nature of explanation, theory, confirmation, and falsification; the effect of science on basic concepts like mind, freedom, time, and causality; ethics of experimentation; and the relation of science to society.

Wednesday evening professional speakers series for students interested in learning about and from career professionals: MDs, OTs, OBGYNs, NPs, PTs, PAs etc....  Open to all students participating in Health Professions RAP.

Rhetorically informed introduction to college writing. Focuses on critical analysis, argument, inquiry, and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course places a premium on invention, drafting, and thoughtful revision. For placement criteria, see the arts and sciences advising office. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Approved for GT-C01 and GT-C02. Meets MAPS requirement for English. Approved for arts and sciences curriculum: written communication.

Intended for first-semester students whose academic plans require advanced work in chemistry. Subjects: components of matter, stoichiometry, classes of reactions, gases, thermochemistry, atomic structure, electron configuration, chemical bonding, molecular shapes, covalent bonding, organic compounds, intermolecular forces, equilibrium. Department enforced prerequisites one year high school chemistry or CHEM 1021 (min grade C-); high school math through pre-calculus. Not recommended for students with grades below B- in CHEM 1021. Department enforced co-requisite CHEM 1114. Not open to engineering students with exception of EPEN majors. Credit not granted for this course and CHEM 1111, 1251, 1351, or CHEM 1221/CHEN 1211. Approved for arts and sciences curriculum: natural science. Requisites: AMEN, AREN, ASEN, CHEN, CSEN, CVEN, ECEN, EEEN, EVEN, MCEN, OPEN or CBEN majors are not allowed to take this class.

Provides an overview of writing skills and strategies, emphasizing those most important to the sciences, especially physiology. Focuses on fundamental skills, objective analysis, and scientific persuasion, with attention to clear organization and style, academic and scientific mechanics, and distinctions between audiences.

Provides a concentrated introduction to organisms, homeostasis, development, behavior, and ecology. Emphasizes fundamental principles, concepts, facts, and questions. Intended for science majors. Recommended prerequisite EBIO 1210 (min. grade C-). Approved for GT-SC1. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science.

Introduces the behavior of genes and chromosomes in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Covers three areas: transmission genetics, molecular genetics, and population genetics. Attention is given to genetic mapping, recombinant DNA procedures, and gene expression. Recommended prerequisites MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1210 or CHEN (minimum grade C-). Recommended co-requisites, MCDB 2151 and MCDB 2152. Approved for GT-SC1. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science.

Focuses on scientific thinking, cell physiology, neurophysiology, endocrinology, immunology, and musculoskeletal physiology. The first semester of a two-semester sequence for IPHY and NRSC majors only. Department-enforced requisites: IPHY 3410 and one year of general biology (lecture and lab), and one year of general chemistry (lecture and lab). Requisites: Restricted to Integrative Physiology (IPHY) or Neuroscience (NRSC) majors only.

Focuses on the basic anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of nutrition. Topics include weight management, the role of diet and lifestyle in disease prevention, specific nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, nutrition standards and guidelines, sports nutrition recommendations, agricultural practices, and food policy issues. Credit not granted for both IPHY 2420 and 3420. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science. Requisites: Restricted to non-IPHY majors or IPHY freshmen/sophomores (students with 0-56 credits) only.

Rhetorically informed introduction to college writing. Focuses on critical analysis, argument, inquiry, and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course places a premium on invention, drafting, and thoughtful revision. For placement criteria, see the arts and sciences advising office. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Approved for GT-C01 and GT-C02. Meets MAPS requirement for English. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication.

Intended for first-semester students whose academic plans require advanced work in chemistry. Subjects: components of matter, stoichiometry, classes of reactions, gases, thermochemistry, atomic structure, electron configuration, chemical bonding, molecular shapes, covalent bonding, organic compounds, intermolecular forces, equilibrium. Department enforced prerequisites one year high school chemistry or CHEM 1021 (min grade C-); high school math through pre-calculus. Not recommended for students with grades below B- in CHEM 1021. Department enforced co-requisite CHEM 1114. Not open to engineering students with exception of EPEN majors. Credit not granted for this course and CHEM 1111, 1251, 1351, or CHEM 1221/CHEN 1211. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science. Requisites: AMEN, AREN, ASEN, CHEN, CSEN, CVEN, ECEN, EEEN, EVEN, MCEN, OPEN or CBEN majors are not allowed to take this class.

Intended for second-semester students whose academic plans require advanced work in chemistry. Subjects: acid-base equilibria, buffers and titrations, thermodynamics, redox reactions, electrochemistry, transition elements and their coordination compounds, solubility/solubility equilibria, crystal field theory, kinetics, nuclear chemistry. Department enforced co-requisite CHEM 1134. Credit not granted for this course and CHEM 1131, 1271 or 1371. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science. Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113/1114 or CHEM 1251 or CHEM 1351 or CHEN 1211/CHEM1221 (all minimum grade C-).

Introduces global health by putting its contemporary definition, determinants, development and direction as a field into a broad global context. The course is divided into four core topics: 1) the burden and distribution of disease and mortality; 2) the determinants of global health disparities; 3) the development of global health policies; and 4) the outcomes of global health interventions.

Requires prerequisite courses of MCDB 1111 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1210 (minimum grade C-). Provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in neuroscience. The goal of this first course is to provide a strong foundation in neurobiology-cell biology, physiology of the neuronal membrane, interneuronal communication, neurotransmission, gross anatomy, and how the brain develops. Students will also learn principles of sensory systems functions. Recitation will reinforce lecture concepts through discussion of current research.

Introduces students to moral dilemmas in medical practice, biomedical research, and health policy, placing them in the context of comprehensive ethical theories and core principles of bioethics. Topics may include: euthanasia; abortion; organ procurement; moral status; research on nonhuman animals; navigating cultural differences between patients and health professionals; and the fair distribution of healthcare resources; as well as the bioethical issues arising from technological advances in medicine, including genetic engineering, cloning, and assistive reproductive technologies.

Provides introduction to today's medical terminology common to current healthcare environments. Word roots, prefixes and suffixes used in medical records for major body systems will be defined and described. No prerequisites required.