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Course Syllabus
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Professor Anita Slechta
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Global Perspectives of Environmental Health is an Upper Division GE course within Section E. It will count for both Section E and Upper division if you are a CSUN student with 60 units and your major is not Environmental and Occupational Health. If you are a Health Science major, this course may count as a major elective and as a GE. (Please check with your Health Science advisor).
Environmental Health is the study of the relationship between chemical, physical and biological factors in the environment and the health of human populations. Discussion is focused on sources of environmental exposures and how we aggravate, manipulate and try to control the environment to prevent human injury and illness. The focus is human health, with the ultimate goal of protecting the health of human populations. Topics covered include air pollution, water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, radiation exposure, food protection, toxic chemicals, disease (biologics) control, and pests.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course each student will have a basic understanding of: 1) the environmental processes that affect human health, and 2) current and future environmental concerns from a consumer perspective.
This course is designed to be taken completely online. Students will develop the computing skills that they will use for life-long learning after graduation. All course assignments, synchronous (chat) and asynchronous discussions and tests will be conducted through the online WebCT application at CSUN. One of the most important points for an online course is on-time submission of assignments. Therefore, you should be familiar with your computer systems and have a backup-computing plan because technology failure will never be an accepted excuse for late submissions. All course assignments will be due (uploaded onto WebCT) on Thursdays at noon, PST, for credit. Any late submission (12:01 PM to 7:00 AM on the Saturday following the due date) will only receive 50% credit. NO EXCEPTIONS for any reason because answers will be posted on the web site at 7:00 AM Saturday morning. Remember that you can submit early. Assignment availability and due dates will be posted in the course calendar on WebCT. Answers will be posted on Saturday at 7:00 AM on WebCT. Once answers are posted, no further submissions will be accepted. Both timeliness and accuracy will count toward your grade.
If you have concerns about your potential success in an online course, please take the aptitude test developed by Professor Cheal.
Remember, an online course is designed to require as much time as an in class course with equal study time for mastery. The advantage is that you can be home in your bathrobe while you discuss recycling in your community and submit discussions at times no one else is available.
As a full time professor, I have taught this class for 18 years. I have taught this online course for two years. I have found that most students thrive in the online environment when they have mastered the computing and WebCT skills. CSUN offers classes in WebCT and has a help line ((818) 677-1400). You probably need a computer at home or one that is readily available. You need an ISP (Internet Service Provider such as Earthlink, PacBell etc.). I prefer you do not use AOL unless you already have that service. You need an email account and either Netscape browser (version 7.1 or older) or any version of Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. You need to learn, register for and become competent in WebCT discussions, assignment submission (uploading) and chat by the end of the first week of class. If you do not have access to CSUN, you can register for the course and learn WebCT with the online instruction page. During the first week of class you will be added to my EOH353-c email list, which we will use as an additional communication link. All assignments will be emailed to the class at EOH355-c@csun.edu. You may also email the class with quests, requests, etc. ALWAYS put "EOH353" in the subject line of any email communication and sign your message.
ONLINE COURSE COMPONENTS:
Assignments:
- Reading chapters and submitting answers to questions.
- Submitting a discussion essay on a current issue.
Synchronous Discussion (chat room): Two Extra Credit discussion (chat) activities will be available. If you reserve a place for an extra credit activity, you will have to be online at the same time in an assigned WebCT chat room to participate in a discussion. These synchronous discussions will occur on specific Fridays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Dates will be posted on the WebCT calendar. Reservations for participation will occur one week before the discussion so that the chat room assignment can be determined in advance.
Asynchronous Discussion: There will be several mandatory discussions during the semester (10% of your grade). Each student will post a thoughtful response to the discussion before the due date. Student comments on fellow student responses will also be required within a specified time frame.
Midterm and Final Exams. Timed online testing will occur on specific times and dates for both the midterm and final. The tests will be multiple choice and have a time limit. Students will need to know the material to be successful.
Extra Credit - Self-Arranged Field Trip: Each student will be able to arrange an extra credit tour of a facility that has to do with environmental exposures. A landfill, drinking water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, etc. are acceptable alternatives. Approval by me of the selected site must occur before the tour takes place and verification (entrance pass and signed tour-guide business card) will be mailed to:
Professor Slechta
Health Science Department
CSUN
Northridge, CA 91330-8285
Textbook required:
Nadakavukaren, Anne. Our Global Environment (Fifth edition).
Prospect Heights, Illinois. 2000.
Communication is the key to success in an online course. You will find that you have access to me almost every day for questions. Normally I answer within 24 hours. During the week it may be just a few hours before I respond. I will grade your homework and post the answers for review on WebCT. I will be available for phone calls and chat when you arrange it in advance with me. My office hours on campus are always available for you if you are an on-campus student, and you can arrange appointments with me at other times if my office hours are not convenient for you. You in turn must submit all assignments on time for credit and communicate your questions and concerns. Grade progress will be available in WebCT (go to "My Grades").
OFFICE HOURS at CSUN in EN2207:
Monday 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Tuesday 9:30 - 11:00 am
Wednesday 12:30 - 1:00 pm
Or online by appointment (email me)
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