Principles of Environmental Health – HLTH 505

Course Description

This course is a study of environmental factors including biological, genetic, physical and chemical factors that affect the health of a community.

Rationale

Environmental health science is one of the five basic areas of knowledge needed to practice public health as defined by the Council on Education for Public Health. New environmental threats and concerns present their own danger to the ecology of the planet and to the health of the human inhabitants. Humanity’s God-ordained role as stewards is not to destroy, but rather to work and keep the earth (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). This course is designed to help prepare Christian students in public health to take a leadership role in protecting the environment to safeguard human wellness.

Course Assignment

Textbook Readings and Lecture Presentations/Notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (8)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 400–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. Each thread must also contain at least 2 references in current AMA format. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–250 words and must contain at least 1 reference in current AMA format. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Conservation Coalition Project Assignment

The student will create a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation that synthesizes what he/she has learned from the conservation effort chosen as a part of the discussions. The student will attempt to convince a lay audience to adopt the chosen conservation effort. (CLOs: A, C, D, E, F)

Research Paper Assignments (3)

The student will explore a current environmental issue as it relates to human health. The student will write a 15-page research paper that includes a thorough discussion of the science behind the issue as well as the theory and possible policies for mitigation of the associated problems. This assignment will be submitted in 3 parts:

Quiz: Topic Submission

The topic will be chosen from a list provided by the instructor and must be submitted. The student will submit their topic via a quiz. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F) 

Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

A bibliography of at least 10 scholarly references must be submitted. The student should write a 150–200 word synopsis/critique of each article. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Research Paper: Final Assignment

This required research paper project is a 15-page (approximately 4,500 words) document that should be double-spaced. It should include 10 sources. The final draft of the paper must be submitted via Turnitin. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Quizzes (8)

The student will complete 8 quizzes covering the Textbook Readings for the Modules: Weeks in which they are assigned. Each quiz will consist multiple-choice and/or true/false questions based upon the module week's readings. Quizzes 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8 will have a 1-hour time limit, Quiz 2 will have a 30-minute time limit, Quiz 6 will have a 40-minute time limit, and Quiz 7 will have a 90-minute time limit. (CLOs: B, D, E, F)