Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHC6353
Tracking Number - 2965
Edit function not enabled for this course.
Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2013-02-26
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: Change
Course Change Information (for course changes only): change course title to 'Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment' to better reflect course content
Comments: to GC 10/31/12 - Change title only. Was ending Learning outcomes. Recd. Back to chair for review 12/4/12. GC approved 1/28/13. to USF Sys 1/28/13; to SCNS 2/5/13. Approved eff 4/1/13
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2012-10-11
- Department: EOH
- College: PH
- Budget Account Number: 640200
- Contact Person: r. harbison
- Phone: 8139743467
- Email: rharbiso@health.usf.edu
- Prefix: PHC
- Number: 6353
- Full Title: Environmental Risk Assessment
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: Y
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?:
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Env Tox Risk Assess
- Course Online?: O -
Online (100% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: none
- Corequisites: none
- Course Description: Provides the knowledge about the principles and methods used in the practice of environmental risk assessment including the methods used for identifying and evaluating environmental hazards and appropriate techniques.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course:
- 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? the course already exists. just seeking name change.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times?
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) 1 year experience in addition to a doctorate
- 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.
- Learning Outcomes: 1. Define Toxicity Assessment and outline the process
2. Determine and evaluate the roles of the individual steps within the Toxicity Assessment process.
3. Compare and contrast the Toxicity Assessment methods for carcinogens and noncarcinogens.
4. Examine the role of various governmental regulatory agencies and the information that each contribute to Toxicity Assessment.
5. Describe the concepts and principles involved with Toxicity Assessment. (For example, NOAEL, LOAEL, RfD, slope factor, etc.)
- Major Topics: Introduction to Risk Assessment
Exposure Assessment
Risk Characterization
Risk Calculation
Cancer & Individual Risks
Risk Assessments Review, RAGS, & Exposure Factors
Risk Assessment Assignments
Current Risk Assessment Topics
- Textbooks: none - students have online readings
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: readings available through blackboard
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Class Participation/ Weekly Assignments 20%
Final Report 20%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%
- 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.
- 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.
- Policy on Make-up Work: Students are expected to submit weekly assignments on time and respond to instructor emails with 48 hours. See Institutional Policies section for Emergency Preparedness for Academic Continuity
- Program This Course Supports: Toxicology and Risk Assessment
- Course Concurrence Information: Environmental and Occupational Health
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.