This fiat lux course creates a collaborative learning community engaging students at Victorville Federal Prison (women's camp) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Students will learn about viruses and vaccines, asking and answering the following questions: What are viruses (e.g., how are they different from bacteria and other disease agents?) and why weren't they discovered until just over a hundred years ago?; What do all viruses have in common even as they display a huge variety of sizes and shapes and "life styles"?; What are vaccines -- and what are they not? -- and how do they work in protein or RNA form?; How does our immune system deal with vaccines and viruses?; What are pandemics, and what is their history and...their future?

A mandatory orientation is required at the beginning of the quarter for participating students. Organized in collaboration with the Prison Education Program and the Center for Justice at UCLA, this course is collaboratively structured to create an experience that strengthens critical literacy and thinking for all participants.

*Interviews are required for all participants. We will follow up to schedule an interview upon application completion.