Course Syllabus

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PUBHLTH 514: Public Health Sciences and the Environment

2 credits

Tuesday, 1-3 PM

Location: M1020 SPH II

 

Instructor:     Richard (Rick) Neitzel, PhD, CIH, FAIHA

Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

Email: rneitzel@umich.edu

Office: Room 6611D, SPH I Tower

Phone: 734-763-287

Office hours by appointment

 

GSIs:           Note that office hours will be held virtually

Thu Le (Last names A-Ko)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Email: thule@umich.edu

Office hours: TBD

   Kira Rib (Last names Kr-Z)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Email: krib@umich.edu

Office hours: TBD

 

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Course description

Readings

Course assistance

Course goals

Course competencies

Course assignments

Late and missed assignments

My Learning Analytics (MyLA)

Classroom expectations/etiquette

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Academic integrity

SPH writing lab

Student well-being

Student accommodations

Course summary

 

Course Description

Many public health outcomes are directly influenced by human contact with the environment.  This course will explore an important discipline within public health, environmental health sciences – that is, the study of how environmental factors affect human health and disease.  We will apply environmental health and systems thinking principles to evaluate several major threats to public health: climate change, the built environment, and environmental justice issues.  We will also assess the effectiveness of policies designed to address and reduce the threats presented by these and other issues.

PUBHLTH 514 is organized into four modules:

Module 1: Will introduce the core principles of environmental health science.

Module 2: Will introduce key ‘environments’ and their potential impacts on human health.

Module 3: Climate change.

Module 4: Environmental justice.

 

Readings

Readings will be available in Canvas, the course management system used for this course. For some class topics, readings will be provided that are optional (i.e., they will not be the sole source of any information that will be required for the exams or paper) for learning more about specific areas; they will clearly be identified as “Optional Readings”. In general, the portions of the readings Instructors consider most important will be identified by them and you may be tested on your knowledge of them.

 

Course Assistance

The Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) is available to help you with course content and questions throughout the semester. Please take advantage of this resource.   The GSI can be accessed in the following ways:

  • Email – The GSIs will plan to respond to emails within 48 hours. Emails specific to an assignment or test that are sent after 8pm the night before the due date will not be answered. If there are multiple questions pertaining to a single topic, the response may take the form of an announcement on Canvas.  Please put "PUBHLTH514" in your subject line to guarantee that your email will be answered. 
  • Office hours – Weekly office hours will be arranged, and announced through Canvas.
  • Review Session –There will be a review session in advance of the midterm exam. This will take the form of a group meeting, dedicated office hours and/or online chats. More information closer to the date of the exam.

 

Course Goals        

Learning objective #

Council on Education for Public Health Learning objective

Expected level of knowledge

CEPH LO6

Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

Basic

CEPH LO7

Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health (linked to competency M1)

Intermediate

CEPH LO11

Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease (linked to competency CEPH C22)

Intermediate

 

Other learning objectives

 

1

Apply process mapping methods to systematically evaluate the generation and movement of environmental hazards on the public (linked to competency CEPH C22)

Intermediate

2

Explain the impact of pollution control policies on public health outcomes (linked to competency CEPH1 C5)

Basic

3

Explain how environmental and occupational exposures can be measured and connected to human health  (linked to competency M1)

Intermediate

4

Explain why a focus on sensitive and vulnerable groups is critical in environmental health science (linked to competency CEPH C15)

Basic

5

Explain strategies that can be applied to reduce environmental and occupational hazards (linked to competency M2)

Basic

 

Course Competencies

Comp #

Council on Education for Public Health competency

Expected level of

competency

CEPH C15

Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Basic

CEPH C22

Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Basic

M1

Recognize common environmental and occupational hazards and the health impacts they cause

Intermediate

 

Other competencies

 

M2

Recommend appropriate exposure controls to reduce health impacts of environmental and occupational hazards

Basic

 

Course Requirements

Performance in this class will be evaluated as follows:

Evaluation method

 

Format

% of grade

LOs tested

Competencies tested

Quizzes x3 (5% each)

Multiple-choice online format (Canvas “Quizzes”) and open for a 3-day period.  Will measure mastery of fundamental concepts covered in the lectures and readings.  4/1 update: two lowest quiz scores will be dropped

15

CEPH: L07, LO11

Other: 1-4

CEPH: C15,

C22

Other: M1, M2

Homework x3

(5% each)

Provided online (Canvas “Homework”) to help engage students, stimulate discussion, and to personalize EHS for each individual student.

15

Other: 1-4

CEPH: C15,

C22

Other: M1

Brief reports x2

(25% each)

Designed to let students apply to several environmental health issue their discipline-specific knowledge in the creation of a brief, interdisciplinary report.

50

Other: 1-4

CEPH: C15

Other: M2

Midterm examination

(20%)

Online (Canvas “Midterm”), multiple-choice and short answer questions, 2 hours in length, and held during usual class hours; check course schedule for the specific date. Will assess  mastery of the materials presented in class and readings.  Open note.

20

CEPH: L06, L07, LO11

Other: 1-4

CEPH: C22

Other: M2

TOTAL

 

100%

 

 

 

Letter grades are assigned on the standard scale normalized by percent total as indicated:

98-100 A+         87-89  B+          77-79  C+

93-97  A             83-86  B             73-76  C

90-92  A-           80-82  B-           70-72  C-

Final grades will not be rounded up.

 

Late and missed assignments

Unless prior authorization is received from the instructor, the grade for homework assignments and quizzes submitted late will be reduced by 30%.  The midterm cannot be taken after the date and time at which it closes without prior authorization from the instructor.  Missed quizzes and a missed midterm will be assigned a score of 0.

 

My Learning Analytics (MyLA)

MyLA has been added to the Canvas course for this class. MyLA allows you to check your course performance and view your progress toward learning goals.  Three views use data from Canvas to provide a look into effective study habits and how you can manage your progress.  Find out more about using MyLA on the My Learning Analytics website or check out the introductory video.

 

Classroom expectations/etiquette

Attendance at all lecture sessions is expected.  To encourage attendance, the instructor reserves the right to offer additional, unannounced assignments to be completed in class for extra course credit.

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SPH is committed to creating classroom environments that are supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

Academic Integrity

The faculty and staff of the School of Public Health believe that the conduct of a student registered or taking courses in the School should be consistent with that of a professional person. Courtesy, honesty, and respect should be shown by students toward faculty members, guest lecturers, administrative support staff, community partners, and fellow students.  Similarly, students should expect faculty to treat them fairly, showing respect for their ideas and opinions and striving to help them achieve maximum benefits from their experience in the School.

Student academic misconduct refers to behavior that may include plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, falsification of records or official documents, intentional misuse of equipment or materials (including library materials), and aiding and abetting the perpetration of such acts.  Please visit https://sph.umich.edu/student-resources/mph-mhsa.html for the full Policy on Student Academic Conduct Standards and Procedures.

 

SPH Writing Lab

The SPH Writing Lab is located in 5025 SPH II and offers writing support to all SPH students for course papers, manuscripts, grant proposals, dissertations, personal statements, and all other academic writing tasks.  The Lab can also help answer questions on academic integrity. To learn more or make an appointment, please visit the SPH writing lab website. 

 

Student Well-Being

Students may experience stressors that can impact both their academic experience and their personal well-being. These may include academic pressure and challenges associated with relationships, mental health, alcohol or other drugs, identities, finances, etc.

If you are experiencing concerns, seeking help is a courageous thing to do for yourself and those who care about you. If the source of your stressors is academic, please contact me so that we can find solutions together. For personal concerns, U-M offers the following resources:

SPH faculty and staff believe it is important to support the physical and emotional well-being of our students. If you have a physical or mental health issue that is affecting your performance or participation in any course, and/or if you need help connecting with University services, please contact the instructor or the SPH Office for Student Engagement and Practice. Please visit https://sph.umich.edu/student-life/wellness.html for additional information on wellness resources available to you.

 

Student Accommodations

Students should speak with their instructors before or during the first week of classes regarding any special needs. Students can also visit the SPH Office for Student Engagement and Practice for assistance in coordinating communications around accommodations. Students seeking academic accommodations should register with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). SSD arranges reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please visit https://ssd.umich.edu/topic/our-services for more information on student accommodations.

Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent. Please visit http://www.provost.umich.edu/calendar/ for the complete University policy.

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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