Georgia State University
Institute of Public Health
PH 7298 syllabus
Spring 2007
PH 7298
Emerging Issues in Occupational & Environmental Health
Spring Semesters (2007-)
Monday, 7:15 PM – 9:45 PM, as a Seminar
Name of Instructor: Derek G. Shendell, D.Env, MPH, Assistant Professor
Prerequisites: PH 7150 (Intro to Environmental Health Sciences) and PH 7011
(Intro to Epidemiology), or if from another department permission from instructor
Office Hours (in-person, phone): TBD per student schedules OR by appointment (please set up by e-mail)
Course Description:
This course will provide structured practice in the development of critical reading, analysis,
technical writing, and presentation—oral and written—skills applicable across the core
disciplines of the prevention sciences track in the masters of public health program, and
generally in the applied health sciences. The reading and writing tasks will strive to build skills
in understanding research designs; expressing the strengths and limitations of the chosen
measurements of exposure and health-related outcomes as well as potentially confounding
variables and effect modifiers; and, the interpretation of statistical results presented in the text,
tables and/or figures. As a result, students will further develop the ability to express one’s
evidence-based arguments clearly and concisely to various important audiences like peers
(students and faculty), government agency staff, policymakers, and the general public.
Course Objectives:
As a result of this course, students selecting this course will be able to:
a.) read and critically evaluate scientific journal papers and conference abstracts/proceedings by
academic researchers, government agencies and non-profits;
b.) organize and prepare various written documents, in particular to understand how to
summarize and articulate concepts, issues and “best practices” concerning interventions, policy,
epidemiology and primary prevention (of exposure and health outcomes) in occupational
health/industrial hygiene and environmental public health sciences/services; and,
c.) organize, compose and deliver concise oral presentations using a balance of text and graphics.
Notes on Readings and Assignments:
The readings in preparation for each class will be selected from peer-reviewed journal papers and
magazines. There will be several appropriate, integrated assignments—in two categories—for
each student, each over 3-4 weeks, with at least one revision of each assignment based on peerreview (i.e., students will be paired off) and then one final revision based on the instructor’s
review of the final draft. The writing assignments may include a paper summarizing and
constructively critiquing a journal article or comparing/contrasting two articles; an abstract
(~300 words, like a conference submission) about the topic of a literature review research paper;
and, the 5-6 page research paper, plus references and any appendix. The presentation skills
writing assignments would include PowerPoint slides for an oral presentation on the first paper,
which will then be delivered and followed by questions and answers with the rest of the class;
and, PowerPoint slides for a second individual or group (two students) oral presentation on the
MPH program, Prevention Sciences
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Georgia State University
Institute of Public Health
PH 7298 syllabus
Spring 2007
second paper summarizing the topic, methods, and the strengths and weaknesses of the assigned
readings on a given topic, followed by further group discussion led by students and professor.
Grading:
Course Requirements
% of Final Grade
Two writing assignments (Times New Roman, double-spaced unless
noted, 12 pt font), which are each about 1000+ words (5-6 pages) plus a
½-one page, single-spaced abstract/summary and a references list
(single-spaced, using one of the GSU accepted formats) from the
literature/WWW (Internet sites, government/non-profit reports and
resources) .
Choose topics–sciences and/or policy topic of student’s choice, with
references—related to: (#1), and/or (#2).
The first paper can be a compare/contrast of two articles or a critique of one
article. The second paper should be a research paper, i.e., literature review.
Criteria for grading include: (1) clear description of the problem; (2) clarity
and thoroughness of supporting information, critical thinking of advantages
and limitations of studies discussed, and use of comparisons and contrasts;
(3) conclusions and/or recommendations for future research and practice; (4)
quality of references cited, and proper formatting of the list.
Oral presentations (one per person or pair of people twice during
course)
Student(s) graded on organization/presentation clarity and mastery of subject
matter
Class participation in leading and contributing to discussions on topics
Students graded on analysis and ability to communicate with professor and
peers.
Class attendance
Overall 20% (1st
paper), and
overall 25% (2nd
paper)
Total
10% (1st), 15%
(2nd)
20% (or, 10%
per half of
semester)
10% (or, 5%
per half of
semester)
100%
90 -100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
NOTE: In general, 100% = 1000 points; every MPH student’s goals is 800 or more points.
There will be opportunities for “bonus points” by attending special events and seminars!
Course requirements:
Each student will complete the assignments listed above and required readings for discussions.
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Georgia State University
Institute of Public Health
PH 7298 syllabus
Spring 2007
Make-up exams:
The mid-term exam is currently scheduled on Monday, February 26, 2007 during regular class
time. Instead of an in-class or take-home midterm, however, we will use class for 1st (shorter)
oral presentation (i.e., on student’s 1st paper) and ensuing discussions led by each student. Please
see this syllabus and associated schedule of readings for assignment due dates.
If a student has a serious conflict for documented personal/family or full-time work related
reasons, he or she must notify the instructor during the class the week before the mid-term exam.
The final exam will only be on the date and time scheduled by the university, without exception,
unless student brings a significant, unavoidable conflict to professor’s attention at start of course.
The final exam has been currently scheduled by the university on Monday, May 7. However,
THERE IS NO IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM. The final classes Monday, April 23 & 30 will be for
2nd (longer) oral presentation and ensuing discussions led by each student and course wrap-up.
Attendance policy:
The nature of the course requirements makes attendance highly critical. Specifically,
absenteeism will affect the class participation grade.
Policy on late assignments:
Three points will be deducted from an assignment’s grade for each day the assignment is late;
assignments must be submitted in hard copy at the beginning of class on the due date.
NOTE: Spring 2007 (class Monday) -- assignments not submitted by Thursday 4 PM receive a zero.
Academic Honesty:
The Policy represents a core value of Georgia State University (the University) and all members
of the University community are responsible for abiding by its tenets. Lack of knowledge of this
policy is not an acceptable defense to any charge of academic dishonesty. All members of the
academic community, including students, faculty, and staff, are expected to report violations of
these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate authorities. The procedures for such
reporting are on file in the offices of the deans of each college, the office of the dean of students,
and the office of provost. In an effort to foster an environment of academic integrity and to
prevent academic dishonesty, students are expected to discuss with faculty the expectations
regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. Students are encouraged to discuss
freely with faculty, academic advisors, and other members of the University community any
questions pertaining to the provisions of this policy.
A special note on Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism includes paraphrasing
or summarizing the works of another person without acknowledgement, and submitting another
student’s work as one’s own. Also, any work, in whole or in part, taken from the Internet or other
computer-based source without proper reference (e.g., “…Internet, URL, date accessed.”) will be
considered plagiarism. If you have any questions about reference citation format, please ask me.
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Georgia State University
Institute of Public Health
PH 7298 syllabus
Spring 2007
Students with disabilities:
If you have a condition such as a medical, physical, and psychiatric/emotional or learning
disability which would make it difficult for you to complete the work described in this syllabus,
please notify the Disabled Student Services Office [Student Center, Suite 230] and the instructor
within the first two weeks of class in order that alternative arrangements can be made. All
information and documentation of the disability will be confidential.
Course Schedule:
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviation may be necessary.
[For example, unforeseen events adversely affect us and/or for guest speakers/contributors.]
Course textbook:
There is no specific required textbook for this course, as the readings will draw from the peerreviewed literature, selected federal and state government research reports, and selected nonprofit reports. These will be available as PDF files on the course WebCT Vista site pages and/or
through the University library on campus as required or suggested reserved readings (from
professor’s library).
Nevertheless, specific chapters from GSU IPH’s PH 7150, “Introduction to Environmental
Health,” provide good background reading if you did not take Dr. Shendell’s version of this
MPH core course:
Environmental Health: From Global to Local. Howard Frumkin. MD, DPh (editor)
Jossey-Bass, August 2005.
This textbook is available for purchase (new and/or used) at the GSU Bookstores, or to borrow to
photocopy selected chapters (see below), from Dr. Shendell and many of your peers:
Ch. 3 (46-69)
Rosenstock and Cullen, Textbook of Clinical Occupational
and Environmental Medicine (Saunders; 1994), Ch. 2.6
Ch. 4 (72-93)
Also, we will use selected chapters of a new book edited by Paul Wilkinson (summer 2006,
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), titled Environmental Epidemiology, for
reference to guide our critical readings of the literature. It is part of the “Understanding Public
Health” series by the McGraw Hill Publishing Company, Ltd., United Kingdom.
Additional Notes:
There are many websites devoted to different aspects of EPH sciences, hosted by various
government agencies and non-profits working at various geographic scales.
SEE ATTACHED TABLES FOR WEEK-BY-WEEK COURSE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS TO
BE COVERED AND THE READINGS FROM THE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK, ETC
Final note about this course, as approved to start spring 2007 in April 2006:
This is a writing intensive course following guidelines established by the Writing Across the
Curriculum (WAC) Program. This course will include writing as a means of improving critical
thinking. For more information, visit the WAC website: http://www.wac.gsu.edu.
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