Time Schedule:
William E Daniell
ENV H 511
Seattle Campus
Effects of exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents, embracing the community and workplace environments. Current issues, using specific cases from recent literature as basis for classroom discussion and written assignments. Offered: W.
Class description
EnvH 511 provides a graduate level overview of the multidisciplinary field of environmental and occupational health. The course covers a broad spectrum of environmental hazards and influential factors, their interactions with human health and well-being, and their relevance to the effective assurance and promotion of public health. Workplace, community, home, regional and global problems are considered, with frequent use of case situations in the United States and developing countries. The course stresses examination of environmental health concerns in the context of social, economic, and other factors that mitigate the effects of environmental hazards or otherwise influence population health. The course should be useful for public health and health care professionals, environmental scientists and engineers, and public administrators. The course is restricted to graduate students.
In Winter 2009, students in EnvH 511 will have an option to enroll in a supplemental 1-credit course (EnvH 590), providing additional coverage of topics in EnvH 511, focused on situations in developing countries. Enrollment in EnvH 590 requires concurrent enrollment in EnvH 511.
Student learning goals
Identify the major types and sources of chemical, microbial, and physical contamination in water, air, soil, and food.
Describe the major pathways of human exposure to representative hazards in environmental and occupational settings.
Describe the major effects of representative environmental and occupational hazards on the human body.
Describe the potential influence of genetic, physiologic, behavioral, social, economic, and political factors on relationships between environmental hazards and human health.
Formulate strategies for preventing, controlling or managing environmental health hazards related to a specific complex situation or issue.
Communicate information about environmental health risks and response strategies to an audience with limited knowledge of the subject.
General method of instruction
The ultimate instructional goal of this course is for students to become capable of applying material they learn during the class, and not just to be exposed to or memorize a wide collection of facts and principles. Course assignments are designed to promote this goal, particularly an "investigative learning" project in which students examine all relevant aspects of environmental and public health in a case community, guided by "real world" instructions in a hypothetical scenario.
Class sessions include a mix of lecture, and class participation, including active engagement exercises during and outside of class.
There are no scheduled sessions on Mondays. However, if there is interest, optional sessions can be arranged on Mondays to discuss the case study, homework assignments, or final exam.
Recommended preparation
Graduate students only. Otherwise, no pre-requisites.
Class assignments and grading
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CASE STUDY: Each student will work in a group of 3 or 4 students, to investigate environmental health hazards in communities located in and near the Duwamish River and industrial area in South Seattle. [Note, in 2010 the course will focus on a different city]. A hypothetical case scenario provides "real world" instructions for the assignment. Each group will provide two intermediate status reports during their investigation, and write a 10-15 page technical report. Each student will write a 1-2 page "plain language" executive summary.
PEER REVIEW: Each student will complete a peer review for two other students' case-study executive summaries, using the same evaluation rubric that the instructor and TA will use. Students will have the option to revise their executive summary after receiving reviewer comments.
HOMEWORK: There are three homework assignments with short-answer or fixed-option questions addressing basic, cross-cutting "principles" of environmental health.
PARTICIPATION: Class sessions include a mix of lecture and participation, including short verbal or written exercises completed as individuals or in small ad hoc groups during class, or completed as individuals online after class; for example, polls, responses to a question(s) or prompt, question formulation.
FINAL EXAM: There will be a final exam, during Finals week. There is no mid-term exam.
Course grades are determined on the basis of: Community environmental health case study 40% (technical report 30%, executive summary 10%); homework 15%; peer review of two executive summaries 5%; final exam 20%; participation and professionalism 20%.
