03-120 Thinking Like a Biologist
6 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Special Topics in Biological Sciences Mini Courses. Topics will vary depending on the semester and instructor. Courses offered under this course number will not require prior knowledge of or exposure to biological sciences and are open to students from any major and class year. Please read individual section descriptions for more information. Fall 2026 Section A2: Sex, Race, & Science: Humans make sense of the world through categorization. We have created the categories of race and sex, among others, to understand our own diversity. But how much do we know about whether these divisions are scientifically valid? How much variation exists within and even outside of them? To what extent do these categories help us make important discoveries in basic research and medicine, and to what extent do their assumptions and blindspots hold us back? In this class, we will read a mix of research papers, popular science communication, and feminist theory to explore these questions. The majority of each class will be spent in discussion, and the main assessments will be reading reflections, quizzes, and an independent project. No prerequisite knowledge is required.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Spring 2027, Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Fall 2025
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