Course Number & Complete Course Title: PH 7540: Introduction to Public Health Laboratories
(CRN 88525)
Instructor’s Name: Christine E. Stauber
Division: Environmental Health
Faculty Accessibility
Course Basics
Semester: Fall
I.
Year: 2014
Class Day/Time:
Mondays 1:00-3:30pm
Class Location:
Petit Science Center (PSC) 433
Prerequisite(s):
None
Required Course Materials
Public Health Laboratories: Analysis, Operations and
Management. Wiley D. Jenkins. 2011. Jones and Bartlett,
Sudbury, MA
Instructor(s) of Record:
Christine E. Stauber
Office Location:
PSC 414
Phone Number(s):
404-413-1128
Email:
cstauber@gsu.edu
Office Hours/Availability:
By appointment (please send an email to set up a time).
Course Description: This is an in-depth course on the role of laboratory analysis in public
health. It will focus on development of an understanding of the way laboratory data are
collected and integrated into the public health system. The role of state and federal
laboratories will be examined as will various laboratory methods in a laboratory setting. We
will also examine the current challenges and possibilities for enhancing the role of public
health laboratories and how knowledge about this area can enhance the integration into the
field of public health. The course will be approximately half lecture and half laboratory
experiments. Students will gain experience in performing basic laboratory analysis in both
clinical and environmental fields.
II.
Course Objectives / Competency / Assessment of Student Learning:
This course is designed to support students in acquiring competence in the following areas, as
indicated in the GSU School of Public Health Graduate Student Handbook (see MPH
Competencies).

Demonstrate knowledge of the implications of regulations, laws, standards, and various
types of policy on activities aimed at protecting environmental health. (Environmental
Health Concentration Competency #1)
 Articulate how biological, chemical and physical agents interact with the environment and
affect human health. (Environmental Health Concentration Competency #3)
 Apply biological, chemical, physical and public health principles to development and
implementation of prevention and control programs. (Environmental Health Concentration
Competency #4)
Course Objectives
Program Competency Assessment Method(s)
Describe the historical, current and future aspects of
EH Concentration
In-class discussion assignment;
public health laboratories at the state, federal and
Competency #1
international levels.
Evaluate the core functions for public health
EH Concentration
laboratories, and how these can be integrated into the Competency #1
public health system at various levels and the role they
play in supporting environmental health regulations
and research.
In-class discussion assignment;
Take-home mid-term
Carry out routine laboratory procedures, describe
techniques and assays used routinely in an
environmental health setting and evaluate the results
and place them into the context of current research
with a focus on microbial and chemical environmental
hazards.
EH Concentration #3
& #4
In-class discussion assignment;
Laboratory report assignments;
Take-home mid-term
Develop critical writing skills for reporting and
examining results from environmental health
laboratory reports.
Critically evaluate the benefits and challenges of public
health laboratories and the role that current laws and
regulations play in support of public health
laboratories.
EH Concentration #3
& #4
Laboratory report assignments
EH Concentration
competency #1 & #4
In-class discussion assignment;
Final presentation and paper
III.
Course Assignments and Requirements
Course Requirements
% of Final Grade
Discussion of an article during class – Each student will select an article on a topic (specific
to role of public health laboratory/laboratory research and public health) for the class
period. The student will provide an introduction to the article as well as open up a brief
discussion for the class. The article and discussion questions will be sent out one week prior
to the discussion so that the class is prepared to discuss. Dates for discussions to be
determined in the first two class periods.
Laboratory reports: 3 (1 worth 10% and 2 worth 15% each):
We will perform three laboratory experiments and two field trips during the course. You will
be given a laboratory report/field trip report format to use. All students will write up the
first lab and then you will choose two additional experiments/field trips to write up. All
laboratory reports will be due two weeks after the laboratory/field trip was completed
unless otherwise listed.
Take home mid-term examination (assigned 10/13/14 – due 10/20/14) – An open note,
book mid-term will be assigned and will be due back on 10/20/14.
Final Paper and Presentation (12/8/14): Analyzing the challenges and future directions for
public health laboratories and public health laboratory science. Students will select an
area of research focused on the future of public health laboratories. A paper and
presentation for the class will be due on 12/8/14.
Total
IV.
10%
40%
25%
25%
100%
Grading Policy
90 – 100 points
80 – 89.9 points
70– 79.9 points
60 – 69.9 points
Below 60 points
A
B
C
D
F
V.
Attendance and Class Participation Policy: Attendance at each class meeting is extremely
important and is highly correlated with overall success in the course. The nature of the class
makes attendance essential. In addition, because we will be doing experiments that may take
more than one day, visits to the laboratory on Tuesday may be required. Students will form
pairs so that one of the students will be able to come to the laboratory the following day. If no
one from the pair will be available to check results the following day, please let the professor
and/or GRA know at the beginning of the semester.
VI.
Late Assignments and Make-up Examination Policy: Laboratory experiments, Assignments and
Exams: If a student has a serious conflict for a documented personal/family or full-time work
related reasons, he or she must notify the instructor at least 48 hours prior to laboratory or
exam. If the student misses the exam or laboratory experiment prior to informing the instructor,
make up will only be available in extenuating circumstances communicated and determined by
the professor. Late Assignments Policy: Five percent of total assignment will be deducted per
day for any assignment turned in late.
VII.
Syllabus Deviation Policy: The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations
may be necessary.
VIII.
Student Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Honesty: All students at this University are
expected to engage in academic pursuits on their won with complete honesty and integrity. Any
student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary
action. The complete Academic Honesty policy is located in the GSU Graduate Catalog, Section
1350: http://enrollment.gsu.edu/catalogs/. Students and faculty are expected to review and
conform to the university’s policy on academic honesty. Information on the Student Code of
Conduct and related policies and procedures are available at: http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu/.
Special attention should be paid to the sections on plagiarism and multiple submissions:
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as, “appropriating and putting forth as one’s own the ideas,
language, or designs of another” (The Living Webster, 1975) – and it is strictly forbidden.
Written and oral presentations must be a student’s own work. Students plagiarizing or cheating
in any form will face disciplinary action which could result in an “F” in this course and
suspension or expulsion from the University. Copying from written materials, presentations,
websites, etc. without source acknowledgement and referencing is plagiarism. Read it,
appreciate it, learn from it, and make sure you source it – and then reflect it with your own
thoughts and words! If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the
instructor.
Multiple Submissions. It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the
same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to
whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is a natural
development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be
desirable, even required; however, the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part
of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.
IX.
Disability Accommodations Policy: Students who wish to request accommodation for a
disability may do so by registering with the GSU Office of Disability Services. Students may only
be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation
Plan and are responsible for providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in which an
accommodation is sought. The Office of Disability Services is located in the GSU Student Center,
Suite 230 and online here: http://disability.gsu.edu/.
X.
Course Evaluations Statement: Your constructive assessment of this course plays an
indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing this course, please
take time to fill out the online course evaluation.
XI.
Career Services: The School of Public Health provides career services & student leadership
opportunities (student clubs & organizations) to all current SPH students and alumni. SPH
Career Services can help students with resume writing, interviewing, job searching, internship
development, and professional networking. Students are invited to attend our career events
and workshops, and individualized career counseling appointments can be arranged. To see
what career panels, career fairs, and events are available this semester, please visit:
http://publichealth.gsu.edu/students/career-resources/. The SPH Career Services office is colocated with the Office of Academic Assistance in room 640 at One Park Place.
XII.
Tentative course schedule, topics, and readings: Please see course schedule below.
Class
1
Date
8/25/14
9/1/14
2
3
Primary Topic of Class
Course Overview
9/8/14
Lecture - - Overview of
Association of Public Health
Laboratories
9/15/14
Field trip to State Public
Health Laboratory
5
9/29/14
6
9/29/14
Guest Speaker - Nathalia
Sanchez - 2:30-3:30pm
9/22/14
Class Subtopic 2
Role of Public Health Laboratories
(Core Functions) - Lab Safety
Training for semester (Ch. 1) (APHL
Website)
Future Directions and Challenges for PHLs -
Labor Day (No Class)
Lecture - Basics of Microbial
Analyses
Laboratory class* - Basic
Bacteriological Techniques Will require visit to
laboratory on Tuesday
afternoon
4
Class Subtopic 1
Discussion of State Public Health
laboratories (MMWR 51 (RR-14), 18))
Clinical sampling for infectious
disease as well as other indicators of
disease (blood lead, etc) (Ch. 2, 5, 6)
Water sampling for microorganisms and
chemicals
Streak plate techniques (Laboratory
Procedures for Lab 1) - Read before
class
Dilution series and spread plating
7
10/6/14
Laboratory class* Detection of bacteria in
water - Will require visit to
laboratory on Tuesday
afternoon
8
10/13/14
Take home given out - no class
9
10/20/14
Lecture - Food testing
10
10/27/14
11
11/3/14
12
11/10/14
Laboratory class* Detection of bacteria in
foods - Will require visit to
laboratory on Tuesday
afternoon
Laboratory class* Isolation and identification
of bacteria - Will require
visit to laboratory on
Tuesday afternoon
Lecture - The Basics of
Chemical Analysis - Air
Testing
11/17/14
Laboratory class - Analysis
for NO2 in air
13
Membrane filtration (Laboratory
Procedures for Lab) - Read before
class
IDEXX Colilert Quantitray Assay (an MPN
technique)
Important bacteria, parasitic and viral
agents of foodborne disease (Ch. 7)
Role of various agencies in food safety including FDA, USDA, CDC, EPA
Sample preparation - homogenization
(Laboratory Procedures for Lab) Read before class
MPN assay for E. coli on beef and Aerobic
plate counts for vegetables
Enterotube
PCR
Sample collection and preparation
(Ch. 3, Ch. 8)
Testing for various air pollutants including
PM, NOx, SOx,
Dr. Christina Fuller will assist with
interpretation of data from air samples
collected in the area.
Thanksgiving Break
11/25/14
No class
14
12/1/14
Work outside of class on
final project/presentation
15
12/8/14
Final project - report due and
presentation in class
No class meeting -