TO: Sam Atkinson

FROM: Brooke Evetts

DATE: October 2, 2014
RE: Proposal for new course Neurobiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Introduction
I am proposing the addition of a new course to the department of biological sciences catalog called
Neurobiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases. There is rapid growing funding for research of
Neurodegenerative diseases because of the longer lifespan of people today in junction with new
technologies available. A study done by the ADI (Alzheimer Disease International) showed that cases of
dementia will rise to 76 million by 2030 and to 136 million by 2050.(Noorden) This means because
these diseases are becoming more common there is and will be a larger need for neurobiologists who
specialize in neurodegenerative diseases. The course will focus on nervous system diseases that affect the
neurons in the brain due to genetics, old age, and other risk factors. The course will also focus on current
findings and research of the diseases. This course would benefit UNT students because it gives them an
idea of what studying such detrimental diseases are like for possible future occupations that are growing
in significance. I will be outlining the problem with not having this course and why it would benefit the
students of the university as well as the university as a whole.
Problem
There are an abundance of biological science courses available at UNT for undergraduates. Many of these
classes provide a look at future job interests. There are basic neuroscience courses: neuroscience I and
neuroscience II. What we do not have is a more specific neuroscience class like Neurobiology of
Neurodegenerative Diseases. Many prestigious universities such as UCLA and Stanford University, a
number one ranking university for biological science and number one for neuroscience/neurobiology in
the United States, offer very similar courses for their students. This shows that we should seriously
consider adding this course to the Biological Sciences catalog. Not only does the lack of this course hold
the university, as a whole, back from competing with other universities, but not having this course may
not be giving the students of UNT the same opportunities as the students at these other well known
universities. It is also limiting students at our university to certain specific existing studies without
knowing the content available to them in this course.
Solution
We will need to find a qualified professor to teach the course, either one already employed at the
university or one we could hire to fill the position. The content of the course will be based off of a number
of similar courses offered at universities across the United States (Genetic Molecular and Genomic
Approaches to Neural Development and Disease at UCLA, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of
Neurodegenerative Diseases at University of Pennsylvania, Molecular Mechanisms of
Neurodegenerative Disease at Stanford University, etc.) and will adhere to the universities curriculum as
well as incorporate the opinion of the biological sciences staff, the chosen professor, and yourself. By
adding the course Neurobiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases the students at the university would not
only be on the same level academically as the previously mentioned universities, they will also be more
familiarized with a possible future career interest in this field of study. Many students at the university are
interested in courses in Biological Sciences and by adding such an educational course as this one it would
attract a lot of these students, especially for those curious of what the neuroscience/neurobiology field has
to offer.
Course Content
The course will be a higher level course and will require the prerequisites General Chemistry for science
majors I and II as well as Biology for science majors I and II. Neuroscience I will also be recommended
but not required for enrollment into the class. Neurobiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases will be
offered every other semester in the spring or fall. It will have two one hour and twenty minute meeting
times a week for lecture, either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. A one hour weekly
recitation will also be required for the discussion portion of the course. Based on similar classes from
previously mentioned universities this would be a suggested brief course guide:
General neuroscience and neuroanatomy relevant to material discussed in class and fundamental
neurobiology of the nervous system
In-depth study of cellular and molecular based brain dysfunctions by neurodegenerative diseases
Studies and research of the genetics involved in neurodegenerative diseases, how old age affects
the diseases, and other risk factors that contribute to them
Current event and advances in research and findings on different neurodegenerative diseases
including Alzheimers and other dementias, Parkinsons disease, Huntingtons Disease, and
Mitochondrial disease (many more diseases will be discussed as well)
Clinical aspects through case presentations
Grades:
Homework/written assignments 30%
1 Group project 20%
1 Midterm over Diseases 20%
Final: 1/2 written assignment 1/2 exam 30%
Cost
The cost to add this new course would include the annual salary of the professor if a new one is hired for
the job. The addition of a new staff member would be the only serious expense to adding this class if you
found a need to hire someone else for the position. But if we are looking for a very practical and less
expensive option Jannon L. Fuchs is a likely candidate. Fuchs is a current neuroscience professor at the
university. Fuchs has taught, and continues to teach, both Neurosciences I and II at UNT and has the
experience in research of neuroscience/neurobiology it would take to successfully fill the position.
Conclusion
The students at UNT and the University as a whole would benefit from the addition of this course. Not
only will it provide a larger variety of classes for students in the biological sciences department but it will
also keep the university on track to building a stronger more educational science department like the ones
these other colleges already have.
Works cited

"Biological Sciences." Best Biological Science Programs. U.S. News & World Report, 2014. Web. 29
Sept. 2014.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases University of Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania, n.d. 29 Sept. 2014
Genetic Molecular and Genomic Approaches to Neural Development and Disease UCLA. UCLA, n.d.
web 29 Sept. 2014
Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Disease Stanford University. Stanford University, n.d. 29
Sept. 2014
Noorden, Richard V. "Nature.com." Nature News Blog. N.p., 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.