Exemplars - Concepts Environmental Health
ESHH-511

An intensive course designed to familiarize students with fundamentals of environmental health from a scientific and conceptual perspective. Topics are considered within multi-causal, ecological, adaptive systems, and risk-assessment frameworks. Includes consideration of biological, chemical, and physical agents in the environment, which influence public health and well-being. Recommended prerequisite: graduate standing.

This course takes place asynchronously and online. Weekly assignments and tasks are due each Monday by 9 a.m. 

• Blogs should be completed in the Blog tool (Blog tab along the left side bar)
• Quizzes and the final exam can be found under the Tests & Quizzes tab
• Final paper (as well as outline and draft) can be found under the Assignments tab

I will post a pdf of the pertinent chapters of this book under Course Materials for each week. You are welcome to purchase the book if you prefer to have a physical copy, but it is not essential.

All readings and other materials (e.g., videos or pod casts) will be provided to students through the Course Materials section in Sakai. There is no cost for any of this. 

The instructor has made an effort to include diverse voices across the topics covered in this course. Students are encouraged to share any additional relevant materials from voices not traditionally represented in the field(s) of environmental health with the instructor; in addition, as you are researching different topics for your blogs and term paper, try to ask yourself whether your source include a variety of voices (race, gender, ethnicity, etc.).  

COURSE COMPETENCIES

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify major environmental and occupational health problems, and determine approaches for measuring them, preventing them, and/or minimizing them;
• Describe the effects of environmental hazards on the health of exposed groups and populations (with special consideration of vulnerable populations);
• Communicate the science behind environmental health concepts to colleagues in public health and/or stakeholders;
• Find and interpret peer-reviewed literature to support critical examination and analysis of a problem in environmental public health;
• Write persuasively about an environmental problem, focusing on finding solutions;
• Discuss the social, cultural, political, and regulatory pressures that affect solutions for environmental and occupational health issues.

CEPH COMPETENCIES

Upon completion of this course, students will have addressed the following competencies outlined by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH):

D1_7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

D1_11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease

D1_12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health

D2_18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors

You will be asked to comment on your attainment of these competencies in the final exam.

OUTCOMES

As a result of completing this course, students will have:

• increased their knowledge about a variety of environmental health topics;
• gained experience in communication through writing (informally and formally);
• applied environmental health knowledge to propose solutions to important public health problems;
• practiced looking at environmental health topics through an equity lens

Blog rubric:

Requirements: 400 words, 1 image, 1 link, comment on 3 peer blogs

White paper rubric:

White papers are often the product of workshops on a given topic of interest or concern, and they usually reach the desk of someone who needs to be convinced. Think about who your potential audience might be and write it to them.

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Evaluations of the course and instructor will take place in three ways:

1. OHSU evaluation: in the 'Blue' evaluation platform, opens at the end of the term
2. Qualtrics surveys administered by the instructor mid-way through the term

All students are responsible for following the policies and expectations outlined in the student handbook for their program of study. Students are responsible for their own academic work and are expected to have read and practice principles of academic honesty, as presented in the handbook: https://ohsu-psu-sph.org/graduate/handbooks-policies-forms/.

The School of Public Health values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to fostering mutual respect and full participation for all students. My goal is to create a learning environment that is equitable, useable, inclusive, and welcoming. If any aspects of instruction or course design result in barriers to your inclusion or learning, please notify me. 

• If you are already registered with disability services at either OHSU or PSU and you are taking a course at the opposite institution, you need to contact the office you're registered with to transfer your accommodations.
• If you are not already registered with a disability services office, and you have, or think you may have, a disability that may affect your work in this class, and feel you need accommodations, use the following table for guidance about which office to contact to initiate accommodations.

Resource Table

For more information related accessibility and accommodations, please see the "Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities" within the Institutional Policies section of this syllabus.

The School of Public Health is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of prohibited discrimination and discriminatory harassment. The School of Public Health students who have questions about an incident related to Title IX are welcome to contact either the OHSU or PSU's Title IX Coordinator and they will direct you to the appropriate resource or office. Title IX pertains to any form of sex/gender discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment or sexual violence.

• PSU’s Title IX Coordinator is Julie Caron, she may be reached at [email protected] or 503-725-4410. Julie's office is located at 1600 SW 4th Ave, In the Richard and Maureen Neuberger Center RMNC - Suite 830.  
• The OHSU Title IX Coordinator’s may be reached at 503-494-0258 or [email protected] and is located at 2525 SW 3rd St.

Please note that faculty and the Title IX Coordinators will keep the information you disclose private but are not confidential. If you would like to speak with a confidential advocate, who will not disclose the information to a university official without your written consent, you may contact an advocate at PSU or OHSU.

• PSU’s confidential advocates are available in Women’s Resource Center (serving all genders) in Smith Student Memorial Union 479. You may schedule an appointment by (503-725-5672) or schedule on line at https://psuwrc.youcanbook.me. For more information about resources at PSU, please see PSU’s Response to Sexual Misconduct website.

• OHSU’s advocates are available through the Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP) at 833-495-CAPS (2277) or by email [email protected], but please note, email is not a secure form of communication. Also visit www.ohsu.edu/CAP.

At OHSU, if you encounter any harassment, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, veteran or military status, sex, marital status, pregnancy or parenting status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or any other protected status, please contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) Department at 503-494-5148 or [email protected].

At PSU, you may contact the Office of Equity and Compliance if you experience any form of discrimination or discriminatory harassment as listed above at [email protected] or by calling 503-725-5919.

The OHSU ITG Help Desk is available to assist students with email account or network account access issues between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday at 503-494-2222. For technical support in using the Sakai Course Management System, please contact the Sakai Help Desk at 877-972-5249 or email us at [email protected]

List of OHSU Graduation Core Competencies

• Professional Knowledge and Skills
• Professionalism
• Information Literacy
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Community Engagement, Social Justice and Equity
• Patient Centered Care

To access a descriptive list of OHSU Graducation Core Competencies:  OHSU Graduation Core Competencies

OHSU is committed to inclusive and accessible learning environments in compliance with federal and state law. If you have a disability or think you may have a disability (mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts) contact the Office for Student Access at (503) 494-0082 or OHSU Student Access to have a confidential conversation about academic accommodations. Information is also available at Student Access Website. Because accommodations may take time to implement and cannot be applied retroactively, it is important to have this discussion as soon as possible.

Portland State students also have similar resources available via the PSU Disability Resource Center (website http://www.pdx.edu/drc ). Please contact the DRC at tel. (503) 725-4150 or email at [email protected]

Course evaluation results are extremely important and used to help improve courses and the learning experience of future students. Responses will always remain anonymous and will only be available to instructors after grades have been posted. The results of scaled questions and comments go to both the instructor and their unit head/supervisor. Refer to Student Evaluation of Courses and Instructional Effectiveness, *Policy No. 02-50-035.

*To access the OHSU Student Evaluation of Courses and Instructional Effectiveness Policy, you must log into the OHSU O2 website.

Copyright laws and fair use policies protect the rights of those who have produced the material. The copy in this course has been provided for private study, scholarship, or research. Other uses may require permission from the copyright holder. The user of this work is responsible for adhering to copyright law of the U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code). To help you familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its Copyright Web Page

Sakai course web sites contain material protected by copyrights held by the instructor, other individuals or institutions. Such material is used for educational purposes in accord with copyright law and/or with permission given by the owners of the original material. You may download one copy of the materials on any single computer for non-commercial, personal, or educational purposes only, provided that you (1) do not modify it, (2) use it only for the duration of this course, and (3) include both this notice and any copyright notice originally included with the material. Beyond this use, no material from the course web site may be copied, reproduced, re-published, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without the permission of the original copyright holder. The instructor assumes no responsibility for individuals who improperly use copyrighted material placed on the web site.

Syllabi are considered to be a learning agreement between students and the faculty of record. Information contained in syllabi, other than the minimum requirements, may be subject to change as deemed appropriate by the faculty of record in concurrence with the academic program and the Office of the Provost. Refer to the *Course Syllabi Policy, 02-50-050.

*To access the OHSU Course Syllabus Policy, you must log into the OHSU O2 website.

OHSU is committed to creating and fostering a learning and working environment based on open communication and mutual respect. If you encounter sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran’s status, ancestry, sex, marital status, pregnancy or parenting status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other protected status please contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or [email protected]. Inquiries about Title IX compliance or sex/gender discrimination and harassment may be directed to the OHSU Title IX Coordinator at 503-494-0258 or [email protected].

Portland Campus:  Marquam Hill and South Waterfront

Students should review O2 or call OHSU’s weather alert line at 503-494-9021 for the most up-to-date information on OHSU-wide modified operations which include but are not limited to delays or closures for inclement weather.

If your home institution is not on the Portland campus (Marquam Hill or South Waterfront, contact your home institution for more information.

Remote Learning Resources
The Remote Learning webpage on O2 contains concise, practical resources, and strategies for students that need to quickly transition to a fully remote instructional format.

Registrar’s Office
Mackenzie Hall, Rm. 1120
503-494-7800; Email the Registrar

Student Registration Information: 
To Register for Classes

OHSU ITG Help Desk
Regular staff hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, but phones are answered seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Call 503 494-2222.

Teaching and Learning Center
Academic Support Counseling and Sakai Course Management System, please contact the TLC Help Desk at 877-972-5249 or email TLC Help Desk

Student Academic Support Services
For resources on improving student’s study strategies, time management, motivation, test-taking skills and more, Please access the Student Academic Support Services Sakai page. For one-on-one appointments or to arrange a workshop for students, please contact Emily Hillhouse.

Confidential Advocacy Program
Support for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. Contact Us.

Concourse Syllabus Management
For help with accessing your Concourse Syllabus:  Please contact the Sakai help Desk for all other Concourse inquiries please visit the Concourse Support - Sakai or please contact the Mark Rivera at [email protected] or call 503-494-0934

Public Safety
OHSU Public Safety-Portland Campus (Marquam Hill and South Waterfront)

• Emergency on Campus: 503-494-4444 (Portland)
• Non-emergency: 503-494-7744; Contact Public Safety

Student Health & Wellness Center 
Baird Hall, Rm. 18 (Primary Care) and Rm. 6 (Behavioral Health)
503-494-8665; For urgent care after hours, 503-494-8311 and ask for the Nurse on call.
Wellness Center Information  
Wellness Center Website

If your home institution is not on the Portland campus, contact your home institution student support services for more information.

Ombudsman Office
Gaines Hall, Rm. 117
707 SW Gaines Street, Portland, OR 97239
503-494-5397; Contact Ombudsman; Ombudsman Website

Library: Biomedical Information Communication Center
BICC Library Hours of Operation

Students may be asked to take classes remotely through videoconferencing software like WebEx. Some of these remote classes will be recorded. Any recording will capture the presenter’s audio, video, and computer screen. Student video and audio will be recorded if and when you unmute your audio and share your video during the recorded sessions. These recordings will not be shared with or accessible to the public without prior written consent.