COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Prefix/Number: PHC 6005
Course Title: Disease Transmission in the Urban Environment
Course Credit Hours: 3
Instructor Name and Contact Information::
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John Lanza, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP
o Office: 850.494.7095, email: lanza1@bellsouth.net
Julie Philippart, MS, MT (ASCP)
o Mobile: 850.380.0137, email: jphilipp@utmem.edu
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: none
Course Description:
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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 will be able to:
 Describe the nature of infectious disease, modes of transmission, and disease
agents.
 Contrast and discuss historical and modern issues related to spread of infectious
diseases and their control.
 Describe behavioral and environmental factors associated with infectious
disease transmission.
 Discuss means of preventing disease by behavioral and/or environmental
modification.
 Discuss the important groups of communicable diseases - differentiate between
bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents.
 Discuss current issues related to the spread of disease and prevention strategies
used in communicable disease control.
 Understand epidemiologic tools used to measure association and be able to
apply these concepts to evaluate the probable cause of an outbreak.
 Discuss data management for infectious diseases and tools for managing
surveillance and laboratory data.
Topics Covered:
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Migration and Disease,
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Emergence of New Diseases,
Re-emergence of Old Diseases,
Development of Antibiotic Resistance,
Use of Microbes for Bioterrorism,
Infectious Process and Modes of Disease Transmission,
Food-Borne Illnesses,
Hospital-acquired 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:
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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:
 Study questions on topics covered in each module.
 A mid-term exam will be given after module 6.
 The research paper on an appropriate topic approved by an instructor
will count as the final exam.
GRADE/PERCENTAGE:
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A = 95+%
A- = 90 – 94.9%
B+ = 87 – 89.9%
B = 84 – 86.9%
B- = 80 – 83.9%
C+ = 77 - 79.9%
C = 74 - 76.9%
C- = 70 - 73.9%
D+ = 67 - 69.9%
D = 63 - 66.9%
F < 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:
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Module Study Questions - 120 points
Module Exercises - 120
Mid-term exam - 100 points
Research paper/final exam - 200 point
Total = 540 points
References/Bibliography:
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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:
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Microsoft PowerPoint
Expectations for Academic Conduct/Plagiarism Policy:
 Academic Conduct Policy [Web]
 Plagiarism Policy [ PDF]
 Student Handbook [ PDF]
Assistance:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other course-related
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
1
Topic
Instructor
Introduction to the class; History of Infectious Philippart
Disease
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 Philippart
and Infectious Diseases
5
Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Lanza
6
Food-borne Illnesses
Lanza
7
Seasonal Variability in Host Susceptibility &
Philippart
Cycles of Certain Diseases + Mid-term exam
8
TB/HIV/AIDS/STD’s
Lanza
9
Hospital-acquired Infections
Philippart
10
Immunizations and Vaccines
Lanza
11
Zoonotic/Arthropod-transmitted Diseases
Philippart
12
Use of Microbes for Terrorism
Lanza
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Research paper
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