Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHC6326
Tracking Number - 5126
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Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2015-04-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: For MPH: PH- Health,Safe, Env - required. Repeatable 2 times. GC apprd 2/11/15. To USF Sys 2/27/15. Nmbr 6380 approved as 6326. Effective 4/1/15
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2014-10-23
- Department: Environmental and Occupational Health
- College: PH
- Budget Account Number: 640200
- Contact Person: Steve Mlynarek
- Phone: 8139746628
- Email: smlynare@health.usf.edu
- Prefix: PHC
- Number: 6326
- Full Title: Global Issues in Environmental Health
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: Y
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Global Issues
- Course Online?: O -
Online (100% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites:
- Corequisites:
- Course Description: Introduces students to global issues regarding civilization, industrialization and globalization and their effects on the environment and the health of workers and their families.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed to compete with national trends
- 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? This course is to be a required course in the HSE online MPH program. This course has been offered at least 3 times and attracts 8-20 enrollees, and is growing more popular.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) PhD in appropriate are of Environmental Studies / Environmental Science and 5 years non-academic experience in these areas.
- Objectives: This course introduces students to global issues regarding civilization, industrialization and globalization and their effects on the environment and the health of workers and their families. It will develop understanding of challenges and possible solutions to global environmental crises that impact human health and the biosphere. It prepares students for work in governments, international organizations, and globally operating companies.
- Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze and describe global trends in core areas of environment-human interaction, with emphasis on developing countries and effects on vulnerable populations.
2. Describe dynamics and effects of industrialization, urbanization, and globalization of trade and manufacturing, on natural resources and human health
3. Compare and contrast specific environmental practices and policies in different areas of the world, recognizing that global problems share commonality but don’t necessarily have the same solutions in all areas.
4. Identify and discuss issues surrounding water resources, including water scarcity and pollution, methods of collection, treatment, storage, and protection of surface ground water supplies, and management of water resources.
5. Discuss existing methods of human waste disposal and its treatment, the health impacts of improper management, and recommendations for appropriate methods which can be applied in resource poor settings.
6. Discuss the health effects of improper collection, storage and disposal of solid waste, proper and recommended use of recycling, and health issues surrounding hazardous chemical, nuclear, and electronic waste.
7. Discuss concepts of “clean” and renewable versus “dirty” energy, including effects on indoor and outdoor air pollution and a sustainable energy future.
8. Identify the environmental health problems uniquely facing displaced populations and discuss proper emergency responses to their water, sanitation, food, shelter, and other needs.
9. Describe and discuss different levels of responsibility for global environmental health issues, including those of individuals, government (through law and policy), international corporations, international organizations and community groups.
10. Evaluate case studies and action programs of international organizations, non-governmental organizations, or government entities which are responding to environmental issues of public health importance.
- Major Topics: Globalization of Environmental Issues
Population Growth and Urbanization
Energy Use
Air Pollution
Land Degradation
Ecosystem and Biodiversity Loss
Climate change
Environmental Disasters
The Importance of Water
Water Pollution and Sanitation
Feeding the world
Chemicals and Waste
Environmental Law and Regulation
Current Issues in Global EOH
- Textbooks: Cunningham, W. and Cunningham, M. (2008). Environmental Science: A Global Concern (12th edition).New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies.
Global Environment Outlook GEO 4 (Environment for Development. (2007). United Nations Environment Program. Book can be downloaded free of charge in its entirety or by chapter at http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4.asp.
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases:
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Grading for the course is broken down as follows:
10 Quizzes: 20%
2 Case studies: 10%
2 Review articles: 10%
Discussion board participation: 10%
Midterm: 25%
Final: 25 %
Grading Scale:
90% and above = A
80-
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: 1. Scientific journal reviews: Students will select and write a review of 2 scholarly journal articles (not already included in assigned course readings) related to topics discussed in the course. Each brief review will summarize the article, offer critique, and provide an explanation for how the issue fits into the overall state of environmental health in the global context. Each review is to be between 750 and 1000 words and must offer appropriate citation of the article. More instructions will be given on Canvas. Each review is worth 5 % of the final grade and will be submitted through Canvas. LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED.
2. Case Studies: Each student will select, as case studies, 2 summary reports of an organizational effort to improve public health through environmental measures. The reports must be official reports from the organization that implemented the intervention: this may be an international organization, corporation, non-profit entity, or government agency. The intervention must NOT be based in the US, but the subject of the intervention may include any environmental issue addressed in the course (waste, water or food scarcity, pollution, etc). Each report should be between 750 and 1000 words and include a summary of the problem, what was done to combat it, and what (if any) indicators are present to show whether or not the intervention is effective. In addition, the student must provide an opinion as to whether he/she thinks the intervention is effective and/or provide ideas for improvement. More instructions will be posted on Canvas. Each case study is worth 5% of the final grade. LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED.
3. Discussion Board: At two times during the course, each student will post a discussion board question for the class related to their journal reviews and case studies. Each posting is to be a 3-5 sentence summary of the article or case study, followed by a well- reasoned question to the class based on the article. Each student will then have 7 days from the date of posting in which they must provide a thoughtful response to another student’s question. Failing to either post a question and/or respond to another student’s question by the required deadlines will result in receiving a “zero” for this portion of the course. Each discussion board assignment is worth 5% of the final grade.
4. Quizzes: There will be 9 short quizzes spaced throughout the semester which cover materials from the assigned readings, lectures, and supplementary activities such as videos. It is suggested that you take notes on videos presented, as this material may be on both quizzes and exams. Each quiz will be on-line, multiple choice, and between 20 and 40 questions. The quiz may be completed anytime during the week(s) in which the module is open, and one hour will be given in which to complete the quiz. Quizzes MUST BE COMPLETED BY SUNDAY AT 10 PM of the week in which the material is covered. No make-up quizzes will be offered. See the course calendar for details. Quizzes are worth 20% of the final grade
5. Midterm exam and final exam. Each exam will be worth 25 % of the final course grade. Each exam will be open for a 24 hour window on Canvas, and students may access and take the exam anytime during that 24 hour period. Students will have 3 hours from the time the exam is opened in order to complete the exam. PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF EXAM TIMES ON THE COURSE CALENDAR. No make-up exams will be offered if the exam is missed. Exams are open book but it is expected that outside resources (such as internet search engines) will not be used.
- 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: No late work accepted. Make-up work acceptable only with physician statement.
The Institutional Policies can be found on the Academic Affairs Forms website, and are available in pdf form here: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/For Faculty/Syllabus institutional Policies Resources.pdf
- Program This Course Supports: Health, Safety, and Environment
- Course Concurrence Information: Environmental Health
Occupational Safety
Industrial Hygiene
Occupational Nursing
Environmental Policy
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.