Courses

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Inflammation is a double-edged sword. It is required to protect the body, but too much of it can create disease. Diabetes, cancer, depression, and stroke are just a few of the diseases associated with chronic inflammation. How can something that protects us from infection and helps us to repair and restore the body also be so bad for us?

Chronic inflammation is associated with lifestyle factors like obesity, diet, exercise, sleep habits, and stress levels. However, the root cause can be attributed to the impact of these factors at a cellular and a molecular level. An intimate and complex network of communication is constantly taking place in our bodies, and our immune system is at the center of this network. Signals about what we eat, how much we weigh, and how much we exercise are all communicated through our immune system and impact our levels of inflammation. In this online course, we will take a closer look at how our lifestyle choices affect our health through inflammation and investigate the cellular events orchestrating our healthy and unhealthy states.




WHAT MAKES OUR ONLINE COURSES UNIQUE:

• Course sizes are limited.
  You won't have 5,000 classmates. This course's enrollment is capped at 40 participants.
  
  
• Frequent interaction with the instructor.
  You aren't expected to work through the material alone. Instructors will answer questions and interact with students on the discussion board and through weekly video meetings.
  
  
• Study with a vibrant peer group.
  Stanford Continuing Studies courses attract thoughtful and engaged students who take courses for the love of learning. Students in each course will exchange ideas with one another through easy-to-use message boards as well as optional weekly real-time video conferences.
  
  
• Direct feedback from the instructor.
  Instructors will review and offer feedback on assignment submissions. Students are not required to turn in assignments, but for those who do, their work is graded by the instructor.
  
  
• Courses offer the flexibility to participate on your own schedule.
  Course work is completed on a weekly basis when you have the time. You can log in and participate in the class whenever it's convenient for you. If you can’t attend the weekly video meetings, the sessions are always recorded for you and your instructor is just an email away.
  
  
• Opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
  Students who take the course for Credit or a Letter Grade will earn CEUs. CEUs allow the student to receive an official transcript and a grade report as proof of completion.
  
  
• This course is offered through Stanford Continuing Studies.
  To learn more about the program, visit our About Us page. For more information on the online format, please visit the FAQ page.