This course is designed as a survey course which introduces students to basic environmental health topics and it fulfills the school core requirement. The course focuses on environmental factors impacting human health and the environment. Sources of these factors, methods of identification, recognition, evaluation and regulatory framework control are discussed. Factors might include health hazards associated with contaminated water, food and air, vectors of disease, exposure to toxic chemicals, environmental justice, regulations, and safety in the work place.

This course introduces students to the environmental health concepts and principles used to anticipate, evaluate, and reduce health risks posed by chemical, biological or physical agents. The course will be taught as a series of modules and assignments designed to provide a framework of fundamental environmental health sciences from which to expand upon to understand how environmental hazards impact health. Case studies and discussions will bridge the gap between concepts and application to real world scenarios. Contemporary examples of environmental issues will be discussed. After completing this course, students are expected to be able to apply fundamental environmental health paradigms to the critical public health need for understanding the impact of environmental agents in a complex and changing world.

This course is an introductory course in health physics, medical uses and university uses of ionizing radiation. The course includes radiation protection for both workers and general public. The course is designed to meet the needs Industrial Hygienists. Topics include nuclear reaction terminology, the interaction of alpha particles, electrons, and photons with matter, basic instrumentation for radiation protection, and the use of Poisson counting statistics, radiation medicine issues including radiation epidemiology, internal dissymmetry, use of the LLNL code Hotspot for dispersion calculations, and various advanced topics, including nuclear weapons effects.

Health, as it relates to the workplace, is created by two major forces; what employees bring with them into the workplace (e.g. personal resources, health practices, beliefs and attitudes) and the impact of the workplace on employees (e.g. organization of work in both a physical and psychological sense). Health promotion focuses on the elements that make up a healthy workplace and includes the physical environment, health practices and social environment & personal resources. This course focuses on the total well-being of individuals and groups within a corporate and community context. It emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving workplace, community, and personal wellness.

This course explores interactions between genetic variants and environmental factors, and how they contribute to a variety of population diseases. It bridges foundational concepts in genomics, epigenetics, and environmental health to explore gene-environment interactions (G x E) and epigenetic responses to the environment with relevance to public health. It prepares students to critically analyze established G x E interactions that impact human health and involve environmental toxicants, air pollution, infectious agents, and climate change. Students will study G x E interactions based on real-world cases and examine their biological mechanisms, population-level effects, and implications for disease prevention. Students will evaluate emerging areas of public health, including precision health, One Health and All of Us frameworks.

This course introduces students to local, national, and international food safety. Food resources, production, biological, chemical and radiological contaminants are discussed. Focus will be on health effects resulting from exposure to contaminated food. Sanitary regulations/codes addressing food safety including inspection of food establishments, investigation of food outbreak diseases will also be discussed. Genetically modified foods will also be addressed.

This course presents the application of evidence-based principles that help leaders in government and public health persuade, inform, and ensure the health of a population in a crisis. This interactive course will use a combination of site visits, case studies, and interactive examples to highlight the principles when dealing with uncertainty, communication, building trust and empathy, cross-cultural communication, and leadership ethics. Students will also learn key skills that will give them the tools to apply these principles in the field of public health.

Future public health professionals should be aware of and understand the impact of climate on the health and well being of populations around the world. In this introductory level course, students will examine what climate change is, the environmental factors it influences, how those environmental factors impact health, who are the most vulnerable, how to deal with climate change from a public health perspective, and how we might answer future questions through evidence-based research. Current literature, reports, and relevant case studies inform class lectures, student-directed dialogue, and final presentations. The course will utilize experts on various topics in addition the primary instructor. This course is an elective for all SPHTM students.

This is an introductory course in Water Quality Management. Students will explore the link between water quality and public health. Topics cover the foundations of surface water quality, groundwater quality, and stormwater quality. Students will learn the principals of potable water and wastewater treatment permitting and treatment as well as the scientific causes, consequences, and solutions of pollution in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater. At the completion of this course, students should be able to discuss nonpoint and point source pollution and interpret the physical, chemical, and biological indicators of water quality.

The course addresses occupational health topics including some of the leading occupational disease hazards, their evaluation and control. Concepts of exposure in the workplace and related health outcomes, toxicological updates on selected chemical and physical agents, as well as exposure evaluation are discussed.

This course is designed to provide understanding about microbial pathogens of public health concern and the role of the environment, including water, waste, air and food, in the transmission of infectious diseases. We will explore specific pathogens that cause environmentally transmitted diseases, their detection using both conventional and advanced molecular methods, their prevention and control by technological and other measures, and how the health risks posed by these pathogens are assessed. This course focuses on emerging issues of pathogens in the environment at both local and global levels.

This course presents the fundamental principles of toxicology and the mechanisms by which environmental and occupational chemical agents may alter human health. There are three major themes in this course: 1) General principles: chemical exposure, route, dose response; absorption, distribution, storage, metabolism and excretion; 2) Non-organ toxicology, e.g. epigenetic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, and developmental effects of chemicals. 3) Systemic toxicity of chemicals to liver, kidney, blood, lung, etc.

Occupational exposure to temperature extremes, abnormal pressure, noise, mechanical vibration, non-ionizing radiation, and cumulative trauma/ergonomics are discussed in lecture sessions. The fundamental physics, health effects, and occurrence of these agents, along with methods for evaluating the extent of exposure and approaches to controlling them are discussed in lectures and appropriate measurement instrumentation is demonstrated. A laboratory session on noise measurement is included. Applicable exposure standards, regulations, and guidelines are covered in detail.

This course provides an overview of safety fundamentals in the workplace and focuses on the safety management programs; applicable laws, regulations and standards; hazards and controls; safety training; emergency operations planning; and human performance elements of safety improvement. The student will gain a basic understanding of programmatic safety management as well as applied safety engineering principles related to areas including, but not limited to: electrical safety, fire protection and prevention, heat and cold, transportation safety, noise and vibration, personal protective equipment, etc. Class assignments will focus on application of safety principles in the student’s workplace. Students, through individual, collective and peer review contributions, will develop a safety walkthrough checklist linking items important to safety in multiple key technical areas.

This course is designed to introduce the field of Industrial Hygiene. The objective of the course is to present an overview and historical perspective of Industrial Hygiene, anatomy and physiology of the skin and lungs, occupational diseases, inhalation toxicology, chemical agents, biohazards, ergonomics, noise, thermal stress, indoor air quality, ventilation systems, laboratory safety, radiation safety, personal protective equipment, Hazard Communication and other OSHA standards and community exposures and emergency planning.

Students will gain a cross-disciplinary knowledge of the practical, interrelated aspects of public health preparedness, homeland security and disaster management. Emphasis will be placed on developing an understanding of these fields through the lens of real-world case studies and scenarios. Students should become well prepared for future study in this dynamic and evolving discipline.

Utilizing a strong person-in-environment and ecosystems focus, this course addresses the unique dimensions of mental health issues in disaster or complex community emergencies. The course provides instruction in the Incident Command System, including systemic planning, activation, and evaluation of the functions of psychosocial health services when dealing with a disaster. The course integrates interdisciplinary knowledge and skills from micro, mezzo and macro levels for addressing psychosocial reactions and needs prior to and in the wake of a disaster or major crisis. Students experience a variety of learning activities including online FEMA instruction; live lecture with class discussion, case simulations, field visits, exams, reflection, labs and papers focused on response models that integrate the psychosocial dimension.

The course covers the theoretical development, history, and empirical studies of the psychosocial dynamics and sequelae of disasters. Characteristics of environmental health disasters, reactions and risk factors, as well as trends in disaster mental health are examined. Emphasis is placed on inclusion of psychosocial considerations in the planning, preparation, and very early intervention phases of a disaster. Vulnerable populations are of particular interest in highly interactive case-based learning through reflection labs for application in situations such as natural disaster, environmental health crises, pandemic illness, or threats to national security. Baseline resilience planning is required of all students planning to work in disaster or emergency response fields.

Public health law speaks to the legal aspects of delivering public health interventions to the society. This course introduces students to the functions and outcomes of public health law from local to global and provides a hands-on legal tool for public health protection and practice. It covers a variety of topics such as civil liberties in matters such as quarantine, isolation and mandated medical testing; access to healthcare and health disparities; incentives to vaccine makers, authorization of drugs in declared public health disaster/emergency situations, international law on controlling spread of infectious diseases, the role of the World Health Organization and other global entities in protecting public health, and public health issues arising from migrants and refugee problems.

To protect public health, environmental health practitioners must characterize the extent to which people contact chemical, physical or biological hazards in the environments where they live, work and play. Exposure assessment provides critical information about that contact including how much, how often, and to what level people are exposed through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Exposure assessment also includes estimating the number of people exposed and the characteristics that make groups vulnerable to high levels of exposure or place them at higher risk for adverse health effects due to exposure. This course equips students with the knowledge and skills to conduct an exposure assessment, communicate findings and explore recommendations to manage environmental exposures and protect population health. After completing this course, students will be able to apply the exposure assessment process to evaluate existing and novel environmental health hazards.

This course covers the control and management of chemical hazards in the workplace and indoor environments through engineering, administrative change, and personal protective equipment. The selection, use and limitations of respiratory and dermal protective equipment are discussed. Engineering controls covered include product substitution, process isolation, and ventilation. The fundamentals of design and operation of local exhaust and general dilution ventilation systems are covered in detail and include basic air flow, general dilution ventilation and IAQ, exhaust hood design, duct design, fans, air cleaning and recirculation, system balancing, system evaluation and special ventilation system.

Students will analyze public health emergency preparedness and disaster management principles, best practices, and lessons learned in the context of historical, current, and emerging policy initiatives. This course includes immersive activities such as table-top / functional exercises in a simulated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) environment.

This course complements and supplements ENHS 7230, Fundamentals of Project Management for EH&S. It is an introduction to methods of systematically integrating health and safety programs into standard management systems used by organizations. Topics emphasized include leadership, strategic planning, project management, management of multidisciplinary teams, regulatory affairs management, voluntary standards systems, professional ethics, labor relations, and "selling" health and safety initiatives to all levels of the organization and the public. Systems thinking is emphasized throughout the course. No prerequisites required.

The purpose of this class is to teach students how to use economic and financial analyses to manage EHS programs by developing analytic and inductive reasoning skills that are prerequisites for becoming a successful manager. The course will address some basic financial managing concepts that mid-level EHS managers and professionals will commonly use or be exposed to in a business setting. These concepts include cost behaviors, profit analysis, budgeting, financial ratios, project economics and return investment analysis.

This course helps students understand regulation of workplace safety and health under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSH Act”) primarily covering employer responsibilities, employee rights, and regulatory compliance efforts. The course provides an overview of the history of occupational safety policies culminating in the creation of the OSH Act. Students learn the roles of the (1) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), (2) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (“NIOSH”), and (3) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (“OSHRC”). Important federal statutes, regulations, court decisions and OSHA’s rulemaking, standard interpretations, and resources to assure occupational safety compliance are covered.

The principles and techniques for measuring and evaluating health exposures in occupational and community environments are discussed in live sessions and practiced in laboratory sessions. Covered topics include air flow measurements, aerosol science, particulate sampling with and without size separation, optical microscopy, active and passive sampling of gases and vapors, direct reading instruments, stack sampling, atmospheric dispersion modeling, surface sampling, biomarkers, and noise dosimetry. In-person exposure assessments will be conducted on campus and summarized in laboratory reports.

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills to use data science techniques in addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of climate change and health. With a strong focus on practical applications, the course first introduces fundamental concepts in climate change, epidemiology, and biostatistics and follows with data science methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting climate and health data, enabling students to identify climate change-related environmental risk factors and to engage in evidence-based decision-making and policy development. Lectures focus on the statistical methods and data science application to evaluate the health impacts of climate change-related exposures such as wildfires, extreme temperature events, tropical cyclones, and drought etc. It is open to MS, MPH, and PhD graduate students at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and other Schools with appropriate permissions.

This course develops the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants/chemicals. Basic concepts of qualitative and quantitative risk assessment are demonstrated using practical case studies and review of the primary literature. Emphasis is placed on hazard identification, dose-response evaluation, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Integration of risk assessment with risk management and communicating risks to the public are discussed. Regulatory aspects of risk assessment in the promulgation of environmental standards are presented. Disaster risk estimation and assessment is not a content area covered in this course (e.g. probability of a catastrophic storm event and flood risks under specific scenarios) nor is microbial risk assessment (e.g. foodborne or waterborne pathogen risk assessment).

The course introduces students to the concepts of public health policy with an emphasis on environmental health. The course describes the relationship among public science, policy, and practice and demonstrates the application of this relationship through a series of real cases in environmental health laws, polices, regulations and statutes in the context of public health. Through "hands-on" experience, students examine the policy implications of contemporary environmental public health issues.

Masters students and advisor select a topic for independent study and develop learning objectives and the expected written final product.

Advanced Environmental Health is a doctoral level course that is restricted to students who are admitted to doctoral programs. The course is taught by the departmental members who have extensive research experience. Students will be challenged with contemporary research problems in the field of environmental health that span topics that include environmental health in disaster situations, identifying effects of environmental chemicals, and biological contaminants in the water supply. The course is designed to provide a unified, broad, and advanced experience in environmental health issues for doctoral students.

Environmental Health Methods is a doctoral level course for students enrolled in doctoral programs. The course is taught by the departmental members with active environmental health research programs. Students select an area for study and work closely with a faculty member to 1) identify an environmental health research question that can be approached within a semester, 2) review the pertinent literature on the topic and form a testable hypothesis, 3) develop and employ the appropriate methodological approaches, 4) prepare and analyze data, 5) identify an appropriate journal or other publication forum, and 6) complete a manuscript or report in the appropriate format.

Doctoral students and advisor select a topic for independent study and develop learning objectives and the expected final written product.

Master's Thesis Research course. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.