| Course Title: Pregnancy and the Placenta |
| Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026 |
| Term: Spring Semester 2026 |
| Description: Pregnancy is a stunning feat of physiology. It is a conversation between two bodies -- parental and fetal -- whose collective action blurs the very boundaries of the individual. In this course we will explore such questions as: what is pregnancy, and how does the ephemeral, essential organ known as the placenta call pregnancy into being? How is pregnancy sustained? How does it end? We will consider the anatomy of reproductive systems and the hormonal language of reproduction. We will investigate the nature of "sex" hormones, consider racial disparities in pregnancy outcome, and weigh the evidence that the intrauterine environment influences disease susceptibility long after birth. |
| Distribution(s): II - Math & Sciences , SI - Speaking-Intensive |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Sarah Bacon | 413-538-3056 | sbacon@mtholyoke.edu |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026 | Seminar | Monday and Wednesday | 11:30AM - 12:45PM | TBA | TBA | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: 8 credits at the 200 level in Biological Sciences. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Course Tags |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| None |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Waitlisted | Capacity: 18 | Enrollment: 17 | Available: 0 | Waitlist: 8 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| Title: Like a Mother: a Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pr... Author: Garbes, Angela Copyright: 2018 Edition: Volume: ISBN: 9780062662941 Publisher: HarperWave, an imprint of Harper Collins |
Required | 17.00 |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |