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| Credit- Degree applicable | | Effective Quarter: Fall 2020 | I. Catalog Information
| E S 56 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 4 Unit(s) |
| | Requisites: Advisory: EWRT 211 and READ 211, or ESL 272 and 273. Hours: Lec Hrs: 48.00
Out of Class Hrs: 96.00
Total Student Learning Hrs: 144.00 Description: An introduction to the field of environmental health, a branch of public health that deals with the effects that environmental hazards – such as air and water pollution, industrial and hazardous wastes, noise and radiation, food and waterborne diseases, vectors (disease-carrying organisms), and pesticides and other toxic chemical-containing products, including consumer products – have on human health. Investigates the laws, regulations, standards and policies governing environmental and occupational exposures, and the means (principles and practices) used to reduce human health risks from such exposures. Explores associated job and career opportunities in the field. |
| Student Learning Outcome Statements (SLO)
| | | • Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to communicate the elements, principles and practices utilized in the field of environmental health. |
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II. Course Objectives | A. | Review and assess the historical background of the Environmental Health field |
| B. | Examine the overall structure and major systems and organs of the human body, their functions and the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents. |
| C. | Examine the basic “tools of the trade” used in the Environmental Health field |
| D. | Investigate harmful environmental agents (biological, chemical and physical agents). |
| E. | Explore real-world applications of environmental health |
| F. | Explore job and career opportunities in the Environmental Health field |
III. Essential Student Materials IV. Essential College Facilities | | Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies
(Special Purpose Facilities: 1) LEED Platinum-rated green building designed to showcase and teach about effective energy management, efficient environmental resource use, and pollution prevention, 2) Equipment Demonstration/Computer Lab (KC 239), 3) Natural Science Lab (KC 120) 4) Open Teaching Classroom/Lab (ESA Building), 5) Rooftop Air Pollution Monitoring Station). |
V. Expanded Description: Content and Form | A. | Review and assess the historical background of the Environmental Health field |
| 1. | Review and assess ancient history (Greeks and Romans) |
| 2. | Review and assess the pre-World War II Era (1840-1940) |
| 3. | Review and assess the post-World War II Era (1945-1970) |
| 4. | Review and assess the Modern Environmental Era (1970-present) |
| B. | Examine the overall structure and major systems and organs of the human body, their functions and the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents. |
| 1. | Examine human body organization and structure |
| 2. | Examine the major systems and associated organs of the human body and their function. |
| 3. | Examine the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents on the human body (cancer, reproductive harm, neurological damage, blindness, etc.) |
| C. | Examine the basic “tools of the trade” used in the Environmental Health field |
| 1. | Examine Environmental Epidemiology (the study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of environmentally-related health and disease conditions in defined populations) |
| 2. | Examine Toxicology (the study and analysis of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms) |
| 3. | Examine Environmental Exposure Science (the study and analysis of human exposure to environmental contaminants) |
| 4. | Examine the Risk Assessment and Risk Management processes. |
| 5. | Examine major Environmental Health-related Laws, Regulations and Policies. |
| 6. | Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems and devices employed in Environmental Health. |
| D. | Investigate harmful environmental agents (biological, chemical and physical agents). |
| 1. | Investigate biological agents (bacteria, viruses, mold, vectors, etc.) |
| 2. | Investigate chemical agents (pesticides, toxic heavy metals, synthetic organic compounds, etc.) |
| 3. | Investigate physical agents (noise, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, heat and cold, etc.) |
| E. | Explore real-world applications of environmental health |
| 1. | Explore water quality applications |
| 2. | Explore air quality applications |
| 3. | Explore waste management applications (solid, industrial, medical and hazardous wastes) |
| 4. | Explore food safety applications |
| 5. | Explore general sanitation applications. |
| 7. | Explore consumer product applications |
| 8. | Explore occupational (workplace) applications |
| F. | Explore job and career opportunities in the Environmental Health field |
| 1. | Explore job and career opportunities with government agencies (federal, state and local). |
| 2. | Explore job and career opportunities with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). |
| 3. | Explore job and career opportunities with business/industry. |
VI. Assignments | A. | Reading assignments from the text and other assigned sources. |
| B. | Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis and critical analysis of data and information |
VII. Methods of Instruction | | Lecture and visual aids
Discussion of assigned reading
Discussion and problem solving performed in class
In-class exploration of Internet sites
Quiz and examination review performed in class
Homework and extended projects
Field observation and field trips
Guest speakers
Collaborative learning and small group exercises
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VIII. Methods of Evaluating Objectives | A. | Quizzes to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application. |
| B. | Written homework assignments that require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze course concepts and principles and their application. |
| C. | A comprehensive Final Exam to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application. |
IX. Texts and Supporting References | A. | Examples of Primary Texts and References |
| 1. | Friis, Robert. “Essentials of Environmental Health.” 2nd Edition. Jones and Barlett. 2012. |
| 2. | Moeller, D.W. "Environmental Health." 4th Ed. Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass., 2011. |
| B. | Examples of Supporting Texts and References |
| 1. | Kathryn Hilgenkamp. "Environmental Health: Ecological Perspectives." Jones and Bartlett Publishing Company, 2006. |
| 2. | World Health Organization (WHO) website (www.who.int) |
| 3. | National Center for Environmental Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website (www.cdc.gov/nceh) |
| 4. | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (National Institutes of Health, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services) website (www.niehs.nih.gov) |
| 5. | National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) website (www.neha.org) |
| 6. | Center for Environmental Health, California Dept of Public Health website (www.cdph.ca.gov) |
| 7. | Santa Clara County Dept of Environmental Health website (www.sccgov.org/SITES/DEH) |
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