Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHC6353
Tracking Number - 2869

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2012-06-14
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: Change
Course Change Information (for course changes only): The credit hour value will be changed from 2 hours (currently) to 3 hours, due to the addition of assignments and course material.
Comments: To GC Chair 5/4/12 for MPH - MCH. GC appd 5/15/12. to USF 5/15/12. to SCNS 5/23/12. Appd eff 8/1/12. posted in banner


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2012-04-13
  2. Department: Public Health
  3. College: PH
  4. Budget Account Number:
  5. Contact Person: Dr. Raymond Harbison
  6. Phone: 8139743467
  7. Email: rharbiso@health.usf.edu
  8. Prefix: PHC
  9. Number: 6353
  10. Full Title: Environmental Risk Assessment
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: Y
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Environmental Risk Assessment
  19. Course Online?: O - Online (100% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites:
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: This course provides knowledge on the principles and methods in the practice of environmental risk assessment including the methods used for identifying and evaluating environmental hazards and techniques for the evaluation of risk posed by those hazards.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for program/concentration/certificate change
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Required for the Toxicology and Risk Assessment Program. Valuable elective for students in the Environmental and Occupational Health field as well as the field of Health Science at large.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Terminal degree in Toxicology, Risk Assessment, or other related field.
  29. Objectives: 1. Describe the principles of Environmental Risk Assessment, contrast actual and perceived risks, and be capable of appraising the impact of health risk management on resource allocation.

    2. Review environmental risk assessments in order to assess exposure scenarios and develop a stepwise approach to the assessment of risk from suspected contamination.

    3. Practice methods used for hazard identification and evaluation.

    4. Use risk assessment software tools such as Pro-UCL.

    5. Apply the principles and methods used in environmental risk assessment in accordance with regulatory guidelines (including the formulation of exposure and toxicity assessments, and performing risk calculations for carcinogens and non-carcinogens).

    6. Discuss approaches to Risk Communication.

    7. Formulate risk assessment strategies (develop Clean-up Goals) to direct remediation and achieve risk management objectives.

  30. Learning Outcomes: 1. Recognize toxicological responses to chemical insult;

    2. Identify chemical hazards, and how their physical and chemical properties influence and interact with the environment, and in turn, the human body;

    3. Recognize uses and limitations of animals for toxicity testing and inferences that can be made for human health effects;

    4. Analyze risks associated with chemical exposures, both environmental and occupational, and methods of intervention and prevention;

    5. Identify pathways and pharmacological aspects of chemical exposure;

    6. Identify the role of toxicologists in public health, medical, environmental and industrial sectors;

    7. Interpret and translate research findings and apply to problems arising from chemical pollution;

    8. Identify various laboratory techniques to evaluate chemical, biological and radiological hazards;

    9. Build communication skills, both written and verbal;

  31. Major Topics: Risk Characterization

    Risk Calculations

    Risk Assessment

    Non-Cancer Risk Assessment

    Cancer & Individual Risks

    RAGS, & Exposure Factors

  32. Textbooks: N/A
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Reading assignments and materials will be provided on a weekly basis online through Blackboard.
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Course materials will be available at the beginning of each week (Monday) and assignments will be due at the end of each week (Sunday, midnight). Materials consist of presentations, text assignments, primary scientific literature, and agency reports. Assignments will be weekly and consist of question and answer format or calculation; all weekly assignments are due the following Sunday by midnight. Exams will be short answer/essay format, open book, and must be taken within the week with which they are assigned.

    FINAL GRADE

    Class Participation/ Weekly Assignments = 20%

    Final Report = 20%

    Midterm Exam = 30%

    Final Exam = 30%

    Total = 100%

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: 1. Class Participation/Weekly Assignments

    Each student is required to prepare for and participate meaningfully in a number of asynchronous on-line discussions ("threaded bulletin board") throughout the semester. Various Case Studies or other risk-related problems will be presented for group discussion to be analyzed in the context of risk assessment principles described in the course materials. Every discussion thread requires a response within 7 days of its posting. Each student's posting must be original work and should include unique, independent observations on the chosen topic (references may be cited and/or attached).

    More often, students will be assigned a weekly assignment to be completed and submitted by the next Sunday, Midnight. Instructions will be provided for each individual assignment as they are assigned.

    2. Report

    Each student will be expected to develop a Final Report (6-10 pages) dealing with the policy surrounding an environmental contaminant or a group of environmental contaminants. The report should include (but not necessarily be limited to) topics such as the historical development of regulatory levels for the contaminant, the assumptions used to determine the regulatory level, the recommendations for remediation for different forms and amounts of contamination, differences between State and Federal rules, and a conclusion based on your newly educated opinion about the sense, efficiency, and efficacy of the policies examined.

    All report topics require prior approval of the instructors via email. Students will need outside resources to complete this paper. Graduate level coursework requires double-spaced, one-inch margins, and an appropriate number of references (normally 10+). The number of text pages does not include reference list or footnotes, and please organize in a standard acceptable publication format (see an issue of Risk Analysis or Environmental Science & Technology for examples). Use of spell check and grammar check will greatly help your grade.

    3. Exams

    The midterm and final exam will include essay and problem solving questions (including calculations). Students will have 1 week to complete exams and submit them to the appropriate link on Blackboard. Exams are open book and students should feel free to use any course materials while taking the exam. While the final exam is not necessarily cumulative, some concepts used throughout the course will be incorporated into final exam questions.

    Determination of Grades.

    Class Participation/ Weekly Assignments = 20%

    Final Report = 20%

    Midterm Exam = 30%

    Final Exam = 30%

    Total = 100%

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Incomplete grades may be issued in extenuating circumstances according to COPH policy.

    COPH policy: http://publichealth.usf.edu/academicaffairs/academic_procedures.html

  38. Program This Course Supports: Toxicology and Risk Assessment
  39. Course Concurrence Information: Toxicology and Risk Assessment

    Industrial Hygiene

    Environmental Health Science

    Epidemiology

    Occupational Medicine



- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.