Courses
Courses by Department
Environmental and Occupational Health
- Environmental and Occupational Health - SPH-V
- SPH-V 201 Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (3 cr.) Occupational health has become an increasingly important area within the field of environmental health. Occupational health, as discussed in this course, includes occupational safety as the two topics work together to protect the individual's health in the work environment. Noise exposures, physical hazards, chemical hazards and industrial hygiene are just a few of the topics covered in this class. Students will learn how to evaluate hazards in the work environment and interpret standards that apply to employee safety and health.
- SPH-V 214 Environmental Regulations and Code Compliance (3 cr.) In this course, students will be introduced to the federal, state and local environmental regulations and learn about methods of compliance with these laws. At the federal level the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and others will be studied. At the state level, current regulations found in the Indiana State Department of Health administrative codes will be examined. Topics will include radon, lead-based paint, indoor air quality, food safety, and other relevant regulations. Active learning activities will be used to encourage class participation while maintaining interest in the course material.
- SPH-V 215 Food Safety and Sanitation (3 cr.) Food safety is an important component of public health. This course is designed as a study of the principles of food-borne illness, sanitation, safety, personal hygiene, rodent and insect controls, regulations, and equipment affecting safe food handling in all operations. Students will study common pathogens and learn how pathogenic organisms can contaminate foods, principles of safe and sanitary food handling, and safety principles used to select, preserve, thaw, cook, and store foods. The course will include a discussion of food safety management practices such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), public health policies, risk assessment, and federal food safety agencies and regulations. Active learning activities will be used to encourage class participation while maintaining interest in the course material.
- SPH-V 235 Introduction to Public Health Biology (3 cr.) This course will examine the biological and chemical basis for human disease, its prevention and treatment. Topics covered will include the etiologies of acute and chronic diseases and their impacts on public health.
- SPH-V 241 Foundations of Environmental Health (3 cr.) An understanding of Environmental Health issues that affect Public Health is essential for any student of Public Health. This course is designed to introduce the student to the many varied areas of Environmental Health and demonstrate the important role this field plays in Public Health.
- SPH-V 310 Natural Resource Issues and Environmental Health (3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor; completion of core and required courses. This course approaches the issues of human health from the broad perspective of natural resources such as air and water quality, climate change, and habitat fragmentation and how these issues impact public health. In order to accomplish this task, this course will encompass a variety of readings, class discussion, guest speakers, and several experiential learning components (ELCs).
- SPH-V 311 Human Health and Natural Environments (3 cr.) This course approaches the issues of human health and quality of life from the perspective of the natural environment. That is, in what ways do natural environments impact human health and an individual's reported sense of quality of life? In order to accomplish this task, this course will encompass a variety of readings, class discussion, guest speakers, and several experiential learning components (ELCs).
- SPH-V 341 Environmental Health Management and Policy (3 cr.) Environmental health management and policy issues in public health using case-based approaches. Study of environmental health management and policy making at the local, county, state, federal and global scales.
- SPH-V 422 Issues in Global Environmental Health: Investigations and Interventions (3 cr.) This course is designed to provide undergraduate students an overview of the most important environmental health challenges across the world. Many public health students may plan to seek employment opportunities in various environmental programs and projects of the United Nations other international agencies and some other international NGOs. This course will provide knowledge of global environmental health problems from toxicological, risk management and epidemiological perspectives. Additionally, region-specific intervention studies will be discussed for deeper understanding of mitigation options. Lectures will address issues in the areas of air, water and soil pollutions, global warming and climate change, infectious diseases, genetically modified foods etc. Strategies and programs that have successfully minimized the risks of environmental exposures and associated outcomes will be mapped.
- SPH-V 442 Introduction to Toxicology (3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor; completion of core and required courses. Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms and is an essential component of environmental health and public health. This course will provide the basic principles of toxicology in its application to public health. The course will be divided into three components: the general mechanism of toxic agents, the effect of toxic agents on target tissues and organs, and selective toxic chemicals or class of chemicals.
- SPH-V 443 Environmental Sampling and Analysis (3 cr.) Collecting reliable and defensible environmental data requires proper sampling and analytical techniques, and is an essential job function for many environmental professionals. Currently, a diverse and diffuse array of environmental sampling and analysis tools are used in the field of environmental health. The overall objective of this class is to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of environmental sampling and analysis for students in environmental health and others interested in sampling and analytical work. Topics covered will include planning, sampling, analysis, QA/QC, and reporting with respect to air, water, solid liquid, and biological samples matrices. Active learning activities will be used to encourage class participation while maintaining interest in the course material.
- SPH-V 496 Field Experience in Environmental Health (3-5 cr.) P: Permission of Instructor; Students must have completed all major coursework and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Public health skills are developed through professional experiences in public health settings facilitated by preceptors and supervised by faculty. Regular critiques will be held with supervisors, written progress reports and development of a major independent project are required. S/F grading.
- SPH-V 510 Human Health and Natural Environments (3 cr.) Numerous textbooks address the relationship between human health and natural environments from either the perspectives of toxicity or environmental degradation. This course approaches the issues of human health and quality of life from the perspective of the natural environment. That is, in what ways do natural environments impact human health and an individual’s reported sense of quality of life? In order to accomplish this task, this course will encompass a variety of readings, class discussion, guest speakers, and several experiential learning components (ELCs).
- SPH-V 522 Global Environmental Health Issues (3 cr.) This graduate level course approaches issues of human health from the broad perspective of natural resources including air and water quality, climate change, disease vector migration, and habitat fragmentation and how these issues affect public health through increased vulnerabilities, impacts to recreational endeavors, and specific events such as heat islands.
- SPH-V 532 Foundations of Global Environmental Health (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, Permission of instructor. Global environmental health is concerned with health problems caused by environmental exposures that transcend national boundaries. This introductory graduate elective course for public health and other majors from the environmental, biological, medical, and social/behavioral sciences examines current and emerging global environmental health problems, priorities, programs, and policies using an interdisciplinary perspective. Covers climate change, environmental degradation, globalization, and other complex environmental factors affecting health. Discusses local, regional, and global initiatives and strategies designed to improve health/well-being and prevent and control disease. Course places special emphasis on the "One Health" concept which recognizes that the health of humans is connected to the health of animals and the environment and on environmental justice for low resource communities in the U.S. and low-income and middle-income countries.
- SPH-V 533 Human Health Assessment Methods in Global Settings (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, permission of instructor, at least one graduate-level environmental health class. The applied research course will examine health assessment strategies and instruments commonly used in surveys and other field research studies conducted in the low-resource communities in the U.S. and low- and middle-income countries. Students will learn how to select the appropriate health indicators for specific types of global health projects, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and receive hands-on training in their use. Emphasis on standardized data collection procedures and quality control. Training received in course is useful for public health and other students who plan to conduct field research on health-related topics for a graduate thesis or dissertation.
- SPH-V 541 Environmental Health (3 cr.) Environmental health management and policy issues in public health using case-based approaches. Study of environmental health management and policy making at the local, county, state, federal and global scales.
- SPH-V 542 Principles of Toxicology (3 cr.) Examines the basic concepts of toxicology as they apply to public health. Covers distribution cellular penetration, metabolic concision, and elimination of toxic agents and fundamental laws governing the interaction of foreign chemicals with biological systems. Applied to public health prevention using case study format concepts.
- SPH-V 545 Exposure Assessment and Control (3 cr.) Addresses: methodologies and applications of exposure assessment, determination of exposure monitoring strategies, assessing dose-response and intervention control strategies, exposure assessment models, exposure route, populations at risk and ecological impacts.
- SPH-V 546 Risk Assessment Policy and Toxic Regulations (3 cr.) Covers hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Through case studies, addresses concepts of risk management and their application to environmental health policies and toxic regulations.
- SPH-V 548 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (3 cr.) Examines effects of environmental factors on human health. Covers the health effects from exposure to physical, chemical and biological agents including the contribution of social, economic and cultural factors that are related to these exposures.
- SPH-V 549 Public Health Biology (3 cr.) P: Biology and Microbiology. This course explores pathophysiology within the context of the disciplines and profession of public health. Students will understand the pathogenesis of various disease conditions and how to identify critical points at which such pathogenesis could be prevented or interrupted through lectures and labs.
- SPH-V 625 Integrated Modeling for Environmental Health Research (3 cr.) This course introduces mathematical methods and quantitative techniques to model the transport and fate of chemicals in the environment as well as in the body. Statistical modeling approaches are applied to link the exposure scenarios with adverse health outcomes for risk assessment to support environmental decision making.
- SPH-V 633 Field Research Methods in Global Environmental Health (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, permission of instructor, at least one graduate-level environmental health or environmental science class, and at least one graduate-level class in one of the following fields: statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology. Introduction to methodological concepts and techniques commonly used in environmental health field research conducted in low-resource communities in the U.S. and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Course emphasizes a problem-based, practical approach to field research. Includes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods study designs commonly used in community health assessments, interventions, and evaluations. Development of knowledge and skills including ethical considerations and practices in global environmental health research, community participatory research, location and critiques of extant data sources, and global health research project design (identification of global environmental health problems, community needs assessment, research question conceptualization and hypothesis testing, variable selection, computerized database design, data analysis and interpretation, and presentation of results in community and scientific/ professional venues.
- SPH-V 635 Interdisciplinary Field Research in Global Environmental Health (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, SPH-V 533, SPH-V 633, and permission of instructor. Faculty-supervised, immersive field research experience in low-resource U.S. communities or other countries where students gain experience in the informed consent process, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students are required to present a written report and an oral/poster presentation at an approved seminar or similar venue to complete the field experience.
- SPH-V 650 Special Topics in Environmental Health (3 cr.) This course is designed with the flexibility to provide the student with the opportunity to explore a variety of current issues in Environmental Public Health. Topics will vary by instructor and topic. Topics might include ethics, nanotechnology, alternative energy sources, or occupational diseases. Course format will also vary. Repeatable for credit with different topic.
- SPH-V 691 Readings in Environmental Health (1–3 cr.) P: Graduate GPA of at least 3.0; Instructor permission. Planned readings in specialized areas of professional interests in environmental health are conducted under the direction of a member of the Environmental Health graduate teaching faculty. Enrollment is limited to Advanced Graduate students, and reading proposals must be approved by faculty in Environmental Health. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 692 Research in Environmental Health (1–8 cr.) P: Graduate GPA of at least 3.0; Instructor permission; Research proposals must be approved in advance. Research projects are conducted under the direction of a member of the Environmental Health Graduate teaching faculty. Enrollment is limited to Advanced Graduate Students upon the approval of Faculty. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 696 M.P.H. Field Experience in Environmental Health Health (1–7 cr.) P: Graduate GPA of at least 3.0; Instructor permission. Public health skills are developed through professional experiences in public health settings facilitated by preceptors and supervised by faculty. Regular critiques will be held with supervisors, written progress reports and development of a major independent project are required. Graded by S/F only.
- SPH-V 698 M.P.H. Culminating Experience in Environmental Health (1–3 cr.) P: Permission of academic advisor; C: SPH-V 696; Students must be in their final year of the MPH program to enroll in the fall semester SPH-V 698 course. Enrollment in the spring semester SPH-V 698 course requires successful completion (passing grade) of the fall semester SPH-V 698 course. This course provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate the extent to which they have met the MPH Program Competencies in Environmental Health. Graded on S/F basis only. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 741 Molecular Toxicology (3 cr.) P: Principles of Toxicology. This is a lecture, laboratory and discussion-based class. The molecular mechanisms of several toxicant classes is covered. Emphasis is placed on the effects of xenobiotics on cellular processes, including biochemical reactions and signaling pathways.
- SPH-V 743 Environmental Health Sampling (3 cr.) P: Environmental Health. This course introduces students to the basic principles of environmental sampling and analysis to prevent or reduce public health hazards. Lectures and labs will examine sampling and analytical methods used to measure contaminants in the workplace and in community environments.
- SPH-V 745 Advanced Toxicology (3 cr.) P: Principles of Toxicology. Advanced Toxicology is a course designed for the toxicology student interested in broadening his/her experience into the sciences of toxins (poisons) and their influences on biological systems and the environment. Course content will cover specific toxicant types (poisons, pesticides, solvents, oils, estrogen, estrogen mimics, triclosan, carcinogens, teratogens, natural toxins and pollutants), adsorption, distribution, metabolism, biological elimination, sequestration, and remediation. Lectures will cover mammalian systems with emphasis on target organs, detoxification and adverse effects. Methods to extract toxicants from soil, water, air, and plant material will be covered from journal articles, EPA published methods, and methods developed in our labs. Pesticide toxicity and organ effects will be demonstrated in invertebrate systems focusing on routes of entry, solubility, sequestration, elimination, and detoxification.
- SPH-V 747 Carcinogenesis (3 cr.) P: Principles of Toxicology. Fundamental aspects of oncology at the cellular and molecular levels; mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression, oncogene action, DNA damage and repair, carcinogenesis by radiation, chemicals, viruses; tumor immunology, anticancer therapies through lectures and laboratories.
- SPH-V 749 Advanced Occupational Health (3 cr.) Lectures will provide an introduction to the principles and practice of occupational hygiene. Occupational hygiene is concerned with the Anticipation, Recognition, Evaluation and Control of work place hazards to health and safety.
- SPH-V 750 Current Topics in Environmental Health (2 cr.) Course organization varies from year to year. We will be examining any environmental health topic from the basis for swimming beach water quality standards to low-dose exposures to agrochemical pesticides over long periods of time. Repeatable for credit with different topic.
- SPH-V 752 Toxicology in Rural Environments (3 cr.) P: Principles of Toxicology. This course explores the way that toxicological risks are controlled in the rural environments - looking at the way that various government programs are established, organized and operated to prevent or control toxicological hazards in rural communities.
- SPH-V 753 Rural Environment Epidemiology (3 cr.) P: Principles of Toxicology. This course offers an overview of selected important topics in rural environmental epidemiology. Epidemiologic methods for studying rural occupational and environmental determinants of disease will be presented in the context of studies of specific health outcomes, such as cancer, non-malignant respiratory diseases, adverse reproductive outcomes, and neurologic diseases.
- SPH-V 755 Rural Public Health Policy and Environmental Law (3 cr.) This course will discuss and explore the intricacies of rural public health law and policy analysis in a context of competing ethics, values, and powers.
- SPH-V 757 Women's Health: Law, Environment, and Health Policies (3 cr.) Through lectures this course will examine the preservation of wellness and the prevention of illness in women and their surrounding environments through the law.
- SPH-V 782 Environmental Health Research Rotation (3 cr.) This course will provide doctoral students with an opportunity to work directly with faculty and research staff in a specific laboratory.
- SPH-V 791 Advanced Environmental Health Readings (1–3 cr.) P: Instructor permission required. The main goal of this variable credit hour class is to help doctoral degree students develop some of the readings skills required for successfully completing the dissertation. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 792 Advanced Environmental Health Research (1–3 cr.) P: Instructor permission required. The main goal of this variable credit hour class is to help doctoral degree students develop some of the research skills required for successfully completing the dissertation. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 794 Environmental Health Seminar (1–3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to expose students to a broad range of environmental and occupational research, practice, and policy issues through seminar series. Repeatable for credit.
- SPH-V 799 PhD Dissertation-Environmental Health (1–30 cr.) Every dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree must represent the equivalent of at least 30 semester hours of work. Repeatable for credit.
