Meet the Wake Forest University Bioscience Experts

Summary:

Wake Forest University offers a pre-college online course on bioscience and the impact of infectious diseases. Hear from the professor who designed and teaches the course, as well as other experts in fields associated with biology and the study of disease.

Key Points:

• Pre-college online course designed for motivated high school students.
• Study infectious diseases such as HIV, COVID-19, and tuberculosis. 
• Hear from course designer and Wake Forest University professor Dr. Megan Rudock, Ph.D., and other experts in fields such as infectious diseases, virologists, pediatricians, and more.
• Discover six ways you will benefit from this course

Are you a high school student curious about infectious diseases? Do you wonder how they transition from nature to humans and then spread globally among populations? Would you like to know how scientists come up with treatments for conditions such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, HIV, and more? If you see yourself one day pursuing a career in the field of bioscience, then Wake Forest University has just the course for you.

Wake Forest is a big proponent of online enrichment courses for high school students. This course, titled Bioscience: An Inside Look at Infectious Diseases, provides an in-depth exploration of the fundamental science behind infectious diseases. 

Designed by Wake Forest faculty member Dr. Megan Rudock, Ph.D., here’s what she and other featured experts have to say about this intriguing program:

"We’ll talk about the basic science of infectious disease. We’ll explore fields like epidemiology, virology, and bacteriology. Who should take this course? Any motivated high school student who enjoys science and has an interest in research or medicine. You’ll learn about the different careers available, such as biomedical research on human diseases. You'll take a deep dive into infectious diseases such as cholera, yellow fever, and influenza, for instance. And you’ll hear from infectious disease pediatricians, virologists, epidemiologists, and microbiologists.

This course features a Final Capstone Project where you will research a specific infectious disease and put together a video presentation explaining all the fundamental aspects of your disease. I believe this course explains infectious diseases and is especially valuable if you are considering a future in the field.” 

~Dr. Megan Rudock, Ph.D., Wake Forest University

“This is a great opportunity to understand more about what it’s like to be a scientist.” 

~Martha A., Alexander-Miller, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine.

“ I think a course like this is a major step forward.”

~Douglas S. Lyles, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Beyond the benefit of hearing from these masters in their fields, here are six key additional benefits you will derive from taking this fascinating course.

Five Benefits of Wake Forest’s Pre-College Online Program Biology Course

1. You’ll understand how epidemiologists discover, trace, and treat infectious diseases.
2. You’ll learn the basics of scientific research, how to work with databases, and medical literature.
3. You’ll gain an understanding of the difference between viral, bacterial, and other pathogens that cause disease.
4. You’ll gain a working knowledge of the molecular and chemical structure of infectious disease.
5. You’ll know if college courses and careers related to infectious disease are the right fit for you.

The course is one of many offered by renowned universities that partner with Prelum, Powered by Kaplan. You’ll find a rich array of college prep STEM courses as well as summer academic enrichment programs. All pre-college online courses feature a flexible format, allowing you to study on your own schedule. Plus, you’ll enjoy the support of mentors who answer your questions and support your learning experience as you work toward your Final Capstone Project and earn a Certificate of Completion. Join us, and get a jumpstart on your future.

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 07/11/2025.