Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
E S D056.
Course Title (CB02)
Introduction to Environmental Health
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
An introduction to the field of environmental health, a branch of public health that deals with the effects that environmental hazards – such as air and water pollution, industrial and hazardous wastes, noise and radiation, food and waterborne diseases, vectors (disease-carrying organisms), and pesticides and other toxic chemical-containing products, including consumer products – have on human health. Investigates the laws, regulations, standards and policies governing environmental and occupational exposures, and the means (principles and practices) used to reduce human health risks from such exposures. Explores associated job and career opportunities in the field.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU transferable and is a requirement for the CTE Certificate and Degree in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention. The course meets a student identified need to learn about the principles and practices used in the vocational field of environmental health.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from the text and other assigned sources.
  2. Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis and critical analysis of data and information

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application.
  2. Written homework assignments that require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze course concepts and principles and their application.
  3. A comprehensive Final Exam to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies
  • (Special Purpose Facilities: 1) LEED Platinum-rated green building designed to showcase and teach about effective energy management, efficient environmental resource use, and pollution prevention, 2) Equipment Demonstration/Computer Lab (KC 239), 3) Natural Science Lab (KC 120) 4) Open Teaching Classroom/Lab (ESA Building), 5) Rooftop Air Pollution Monitoring Station)

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Friis, Robert. "Essentials of Environmental Health." 2nd Edition. Jones and Barlett. 2012.
Moeller, D.W. "Environmental Health." 4th Ed. Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass., 2011.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Kathryn Hilgenkamp. "Environmental Health: Ecological Perspectives." Jones and Bartlett Publishing Company, 2006.
World Health Organization (WHO) website (www.who.int)
National Center for Environmental Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website (www.cdc.gov/nceh)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (National Institutes of Health, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services) website (www.niehs.nih.gov)
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) website (www.neha.org)
Center for Environmental Health, California Dept of Public Health website (www.cdph.ca.gov)
Santa Clara County Dept of Environmental Health website (www.sccgov.org/SITES/DEH)

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Review and assess the historical background of the Environmental Health field
  • Examine the overall structure and major systems and organs of the human body, their functions and the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents.
  • Examine the basic "tools of the trade" used in the Environmental Health field
  • Investigate harmful environmental agents (biological, chemical and physical agents).
  • Explore real-world applications of environmental health
  • Explore job and career opportunities in the Environmental Health field

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate the elements, principles and practices utilized in the field of environmental health.

Outline

  1. Review and assess the historical background of the Environmental Health field
    1. Review and assess ancient history (Greeks and Romans)
    2. Review and assess the pre-World War II Era (1840-1940)
    3. Review and assess the post-World War II Era (1945-1970)
    4. Review and assess the Modern Environmental Era (1970-present)
  2. Examine the overall structure and major systems and organs of the human body, their functions and the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents.
    1. Examine human body organization and structure
    2. Examine the major systems and associated organs of the human body and their function.
    3. Examine the potential negative impacts/effects of environmental agents on the human body (cancer, reproductive harm, neurological damage, blindness, etc.)
  3. Examine the basic “tools of the trade” used in the Environmental Health field
    1. Examine Environmental Epidemiology (the study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of environmentally-related health and disease conditions in defined populations)
    2. Examine Toxicology (the study and analysis of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms)
    3. Examine Environmental Exposure Science (the study and analysis of human exposure to environmental contaminants)
    4. Examine the Risk Assessment and Risk Management processes.
    5. Examine major Environmental Health-related Laws, Regulations and Policies.
    6. Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems and devices employed in Environmental Health.
  4. Investigate harmful environmental agents (biological, chemical and physical agents).
    1. Investigate biological agents (bacteria, viruses, mold, vectors, etc.)
    2. Investigate chemical agents (pesticides, toxic heavy metals, synthetic organic compounds, etc.)
    3. Investigate physical agents (noise, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, heat and cold, etc.)
  5. Explore real-world applications of environmental health
    1. Explore water quality applications
    2. Explore air quality applications
    3. Explore waste management applications (solid, industrial, medical and hazardous wastes)
    4. Explore food safety applications
    5. Explore general sanitation applications.
    6. Explore vector control
    7. Explore consumer product applications
    8. Explore occupational (workplace) applications
  6. Explore job and career opportunities in the Environmental Health field
    1. Explore job and career opportunities with government agencies (federal, state and local).
    2. Explore job and career opportunities with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
    3. Explore job and career opportunities with business/industry.
Back to Top