COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Prefix/Number: PHC 6005
Course Title: Disease Transmission in the Urban Environment
Course Credit Hours: 3
Instructor Name and Contact Information:
John Lanza, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP
email: lanza1@bellsouth.net
Office hours: by email only
Julie Philippart, MS, MT (ASCP)
Mobile: 850-380-0137; email: jphilipp@utmem.edu
Office hours: by email only
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: none
Course Description: This course focuses on disease transmission in the urban
community – how interaction between human behaviors and environmental changes
contribute to the spread of disease in urban areas in developed and developing countries.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Following this course, student shall be able to:
1. Describe the nature of infectious disease, modes of transmission, and disease
agents.
2. Contrast and discuss historical and modern issues related to spread of
infectious diseases and their control.
3. Describe behavioral and environmental factors associated with infectious
disease transmission.
4. Discuss means of preventing disease by behavioral and/or environmental
modification.
5. Discuss the important groups of communicable diseases - differentiate
between bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents.
6. Discuss current issues related to the spread of disease and prevention
strategies used in communicable disease control.
7. Understand epidemiologic tools used to measure association and be able to
apply these concepts to evaluate the probable cause of an outbreak.
8. Discuss data management for infectious diseases and tools for managing
surveillance and laboratory data.
Topics Covered: Migration and Disease, Emergence of New Diseases, Re-emergence of
Diseases, Development of Antibiotic Resistance, Use of Microbes for Bioterrorism,
Infectious Process and Modes of Disease Transmission, Food-Borne Illnesses, Hospitalacquired Infections, Immunization and Vaccines, Tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, Upper
Respiratory Infections, Zoonotic Infections, Arthropod-Transmitted Diseases, Global
Climate Change and Infectious Diseases, the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Seasonal
Variation in Host Susceptibility and Cycles of Certain Diseases, Environmental Effects
on Disease Transmission
Texts:
Required texts: Smolinski, M.S. et al., Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence,
Detection, and Response, Institute of Medicine, The National Academies Press,
2003.
Grading/Evaluation:
Evaluation of student grades will be based on their performance in the following
areas:
1. Study questions on topics covered in each module.
2. A mid-term exam will be given after module 6.
3. The research paper on an appropriate topic approved by an instructor will
count as the final exam.
GRADE/PERCENTAGE:
A =
A- =
B+ =
B =
B- =
C+ =
C =
C- =
D+ =
D =
F <
95+%
90 – 94.9%
87 – 89.9%
84 – 86.9%
80 – 83.9%
77 - 79.9%
74 - 76.9%
70 - 73.9%
67 - 69.9%
63 - 66.9%
63%
Research Paper/Presentations: All students will perform research on a topic
approved by the faculty. The topic must be presented via email to either faculty
member for approval by the 6th week of the class. The paper will consist of
fifteen typewritten pages using the APA style. An appendix will contain
references, figures, charts, etc.
Grade Determination:
Module Study Questions
Mid-term exam
Research paper/final exam
120 points
100 points
200 point
550 points
References/Bibliography:
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report. Web site: www.cdc.gov/mmwr
Public Health Service-Healthy People 2101. Web site: www.healthypeople.gov
PROMED. Web site: www.promed.org
National Association of County and City Health Officials. Web site:
www.naccho.org
National Institutes of Health. Web site: www.nih.org
The American Journal of Public Health
Special Technology Utilized by Students:
Power point
Expectations for Academic Conduct/Plagiarism Policy:
Academic Conduct Policy: (Web Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Plagiarism Policy: (Word Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Student Handbook: (PDF Format)
Assistance:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other courserelated accommodations should contact Barbara Fitzpatrick, Director of Disabled Student
Services(DSS), dss@uwf.edu, (850)474-2387. DSS will provide the student with a letter
for the instructor that will specify any recommended accommodations.
Class Schedule
Module
Topic
Instructor
1
Introduction to the class;
History of Infectious Dis
Philippart
2
Migration and Diseases
Philippart
3
Infectious Processes and Modes of
Transmission; Emergent/Re-emergent Diseases
Lanza
4
The Ecology of Infectious Diseases;
Environmental Effect/Global Climate
Change and Infectious Diseases
Philippart
5
Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Lanza
6
Food-borne Illnesses
Lanza
7
Seasonal Variability in Host Susceptibility
& Cycles of Certain Diseases
Mid-term exam
8
TB/HIV/AIDS/STD’s
9
Hospital-acquired Infections
Philippart
10
Immunizations and Vaccines
Lanza
11
Zoonotic/Arthropod-transmitted Diseases
12
Use of Microbes for Terrorism
Research paper
Philippart
Lanza
Philippart
Lanza