Course Syllabus
ERHS XXX
Industrial Hygiene Ethics
(1 credit)
Spring 200X
Instructor:
Rena Saito
Office: 141A Environmental Health Building
E-mail: rena.saito@colostate.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
Class Meeting Time and Location:
Friday 7:00am – 8:00am
120 Environmental Health Building
Prerequisites:
Graduate student status in environmental health
Textbook:
Reading articles will be posted on RamCT.
Course Goals:
As an industrial hygienist and a scientist, applying appropriate ethical practice is one of the
important aspects. This one credit course offers students to explain the importance of ethics
in industrial hygiene practice and research and help students to make “good” professional
ethical decisions. In this class, both industrial hygiene practice ethics and research ethics
will be taught.
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to explain industrial hygiene and research ethics.
Students will follow the code of ethics (AIHA, ACGIH, and ABIH) and explain the
importance of “good” ethical practice.
Students will be able to identify ethical issues in industrial hygiene practice and research.
Students will be able to apply their ethical knowledge to solve issues in the real world.
Students will make “good” professional ethical decisions.
Course “Basic” Requirements:
Students must have an access to internet.
Students must complete and submit assignments by 7:00am of the due date.
Students must attend class meetings and actively participate in class discussion.
Students must read required reading materials prior to the class.
Class Website:
On RamCT
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Methods of Evaluation:
Traditional percentage grading will be used in this class.
Class participation: 5%
Summary of class: 25%
Assignments (15% each): 30%
Term project: 40%
Grading will be assigned according to the following scale:
A 90 – 100
B 80 – 89
C 70 – 79
D 60 – 69
F < 60
Assignments and Term Project:
All assignments must be typed (documents must be readable/compatible in MS Word 2003 if
send via e-mail). No hand written assignments will be graded.
Summary of class: For each class, students must write down at least three concepts in each
class topic and briefly explain why these concepts are important (there is no single “correct”
answer - students can choose and defend their decision). Each summary is due at the
beginning of each following class meeting. Students must submit ALL summaries to receive
a grade for this assignment; otherwise, students will receive 0 on this assignment. See below
for in case of absence.
Assignment 1: A case study relating to industrial hygiene ethics will be presented to
students. Students must write no more than a 3-page double spaced report. The report
should: 1) identify issues (what is the problem?), 2) identify involving parties (company,
individual, etc?), 3) identify responsibilities of involving parties, and 4) discuss solutions and
consequences.
Assignment 2: A case study relating to research ethics will be presented to students.
Students must write no more than a 3-page double spaced report. The report should: 1)
identify issues (what is the problem?), 2) identify involving parties (company, individual,
etc?), 3) identify responsibilities of involving parties, and 4) discuss solutions and
consequences.
Term project: Students must prepare a presentation (20 min) and a written report (5 - 10
pages, double spaced) on their selected, pre-approved topics. Each student must submit the
topic and a short written description (no more than 1-page) to the instructor before
2/29/200X. Oral presentation will be held on the scheduled final examination time, and the
final written report is also due on the final examination day.
Late assignments will not be accepted and no make-up assignments for assignment 1, 2, and
term project will be given. In case of absence, students must contact another student in the
2
class to obtain sufficient information to complete a 3-page double spaced written report (as a
make-up of summary of class) within two weeks after absence. The report should include: 1)
summary of the topic, 2) your understanding of the issues or case studies discussed, and 3)
discussion on related literatures.
Accommodations:
Please let the instructor know as soon as possible if you have a disability, which may require
some modification of seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate
arrangements may be made.
Class Lecture Schedule: 7:00 am – 8:00 am Friday
Date
1/25
2/1
2/8
2/15
2/22
2/29
3/7
3/14
3/28
4/4
4/11
4/18
4/25
5/2
5/9
5/16
Topic
Introduction
IH roles and responsibility (code of ethics)
Policy, regulation, and standard
Data management and record keeping
Non-traditional workplace
Practice in global companies
Communication
Public health and environmental issues
Ethics in specific industries
Introduction to research ethics
Human subjects
Collaborative research
Conflict of interest
Publication, peer review, and authorship
Social responsibility
Presentation
Assignment Due Date:
Due Date
Subsequent class meeting
2/29
3/14
5/2
5/16
Assignment
Summary of class
Term project: topic
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Term project: written report and presentation
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Reading
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14