This course examines the fundamental concepts in environmental health, health needs assessment, and environmental risk assessment and management. This will include a range of environmental risks, including water and food quality, sanitation, air quality, occupational health, environmental toxicology and the built environment. This course will also examine the pathways through which climate change is likely to influence human health. These include the likely health effects of rising ambient temperatures, shifting patterns of vector-borne and food-borne diseases, physical and mental health risks of extreme weather events, potential food and water insecurity, occupational health risks, and the likely impacts of climate change on health equity, vulnerability and resilience.
This course will provide an introduction to research methodologies used to examine the relationships between environment and health, and examine the determinants and management of health protection. The emphasis will be on understanding the literature linking environment to health, the assessment of health risks and benefits associated with environmental factors, and the evaluation of frameworks designed to protect public health, including the risks and benefits associated with current and future climate change.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe environmental risks to health
- Define the key steps of environmental health risk assessment and identify the sources of uncertainty at each step
- Explain the direct and indirect pathways through which environmental change can impact population health
- Critically evaluate an environmental health topic of global importance
Indicative Assessment
- Online quiz (multiple choice and short answers) (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Essay (1,500 words written assessment) (30) [LO 3,4]
- Peer Teaching through 8 minute presentations (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Attendance and participation (either in-person or online) over 13 weeks. Each week will consist of 3 contact hours each week during the first semester 2020, with an expectation of 6-7 hours per week of additional, self-directed work, including course readings and assignments
Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on understanding the relationship between environmental risks and human health, interpreting published works in the area and synthesising and analysing the strength of the evidence.
Lectures and small group group discussions will be used to facilitate learning and provide opportunities to explore specific topics in more detail.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
McMichael, Anthony J., Rosalie E. Woodruff, and Simon Hales. "Climate change and human health: present and future risks." The Lancet 367.9513 (2006): 859-869.
Butler, Colin D., Carlos F. Corvalan, and Hillel S. Koren. "Human health, well-being, and global ecological scenarios." Ecosystems 8.2 (2005): 153-162.
Assumed Knowledge
This course is designed for public health professionals and post graduate students from a range of disciplines seeking to gain skills and expertise in the fields of environmental health and climate change, specifically as they relate to health and strategies to optimise health outcomes.
Basic epidemiological knowledge and biostatistics skills would be helpful but not essential.
Recommended courses (not prerequisites):
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4200 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
