Course Syllabus

Course: HEA 608—Environmental Health

Academic Credit: 3 credit hours

Prerequisites: NONE

For Whom: Required for Public Health Education majors; all other UNCG graduate students welcome

Office Hours: Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm; Thursdays 9:30-10:30am; or by appointment

Instructor: Mark R. Schulz

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Dept of Public Health Education

437B HHP Building

Office telephone: (336) 334-5517; Fax: (336) 334-3238 (this is a HHP fax; faxes must include my name in the subject)

E-mail: mrschulz@uncg.edu

Catalog description: Analysis of local, national, and international environmental issues influencing the health of individuals and communities; air and water quality, waste management, disease control, occupational settings, population, and environmental planning.

Semester: Fall 2005

Lecture Times: Tuesdays 6:00-8:50 p.m.

Classroom: HHP 340

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1) Understand the present population-resources-pollution crisis.

2) Define basic ecological and demographic concepts, patterns and principles.

3) Identify major environmental and occupational diseases.

4) Describe different types of pollution and appraise their impact on human health

5) Examine and appraise proposed remedies to environmental health problems.

TEACHING STRATEGIES

1) Lecture

2) Class discussion

3) Data gathering and analysis and discussion in pairs and small groups

EVALUATION METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENTS

Student’s final grade will be based on,

• Class participation (5%): Students are expected to be present and to participate in in-class activities. All students will receive a subjective evaluation based on participation in class activities- Student Learning Objectives 1-5.

· Midterm Exam (25%):

· Quizzes & Homework essays (25%): A combination of eight short quizzes (on the required readings) and homework essays (on environmental issues) will be given throughout the semester. After being graded, these will be returned to the students. In case of any questions about the final grade, all quizzes and homework should be kept until after the course grades have been submitted to the University Registrar. Each student’s lowest quiz/homework grade will be dropped.

• Class Presentation (20%): As part of the learning experience for this class, students will make a class presentation on an environmental topic. This will include a 10-15 minute presentation by each student. To assign the grade, I will consider both depth, organization and accuracy of the talk and visuals (slides, handouts, others)- 60%; and the student’s skill in presenting the material (eg. speaking to class rather than screen or notes), ability to stay within broad time limits, ability to inspire and answer class questions)- 40%.

• Term paper (25%): A paper of no more than 10 pages (double spaced-single sided) will be required. The paper will be on the same topic as the class presentation. Student Learning Objectives 4-5.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

>93% = A

90-92% = A-

88-89% = B+

82-87% = B

80-81% = B-

77-79% = C+

73-76% = C

70-72% = C-

REQUIRED TEXTS/READINGS/REFERENCES

• The following textbook and the study guide that accompanies it are required for this course: Nadakavukaren, Anne Our Global Environment: A Health Perspective, Fifth edition, Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc; 2000.
• Additional required material may be placed on reserve at the Jackson Library

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE

Students are expected to,

• Obey the UNCG Honor Code. Please see http://saf.dept.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html for an explanation of that policy.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to,

· Be present at all classes. Even if students must be absent from class, they will still be held responsible for getting the class notes and announcements. Unless otherwise noted assignments are due by the beginning of class period on the day assigned. At the instructor’s discretion, assignments may be made up if there is an excused absence. In the event that late assignments are accepted, the instructor may elect to impose a substantial grade penalty. Make-up quizzes will not be administered.

• Be active participants in class sessions. This implies that students will be present, on time and stay for the entire class period. In extenuating circumstances, students should contact the instructor about absences and tardiness.
• Spend a weekly average of 2-3 hours of study time for each hour of class time.

The instructor will be expected to:

• Be available for meetings outside of class (office hours and by appointment).
• Be clear about expectations for student assignments and be timely in returning graded assignments.
• Make efforts to enhance student learning. This will include: (1) maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect in the classroom, (2) using various teaching and evaluation strategies- lectures, class discussion, problem-solving in pairs and small groups and (3) being receptive to feedback and suggestions from students about course content and procedures.

COURSE SCHEDULE (topical outline)

This syllabus may change as we go through the semester. Changes will be announced in class and sent out via e-mail. Students will be held responsible for all announced changes.

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
16 August	Course outline, Self introductions, Bird watching; paper/presentation topics;	Chapter 1
23 August	Ecological Principles; Bird watching; Population Dynamics	Chapter 1 & 2
30 August	Lea Leininger regarding references, citations and library resources; Population Control	Chapter 3;
6 September	People-Food Predicament	Chapter 4;
13 September	Impacts of Growth on Ecosystems (Surviving the Dust Bowl)	Chapter 5
20 September	Environmental & Occupational Disease; Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report (first 45 minutes on vinyl chloride)	Chapter 6;
27 September	Toxic chemicals	Chapter 7; Readings from The dose makes the poison
4 October	Regulation of Chemicals in the Workplace and Environmental Justice	Chapter 6, 7, & readings from The dose makes the poison
11 October	FALL BREAK
18 October	Pests & Pesticides; Mosquitoes & West Nile Virus: & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 8 & 9
25 October	Food Quality & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 9
1 November	Student presentations w/discussion; Radiation;	Chapter 10 (Radiation)
8 November	The Atmosphere & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 11
15 November	Air Pollution & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 12 & 13
22 November	Water Resources & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 14
29 November	Water Pollution & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 15
6 December	Term Paper Due @ 6:00 p. m.
13 December	Solid & Hazardous Waste; Class Evaluations & Student presentations w/discussion	Chapter 16