Human Health Risk Assessment and Environmental Health Literacy

Catalog description

The course will provide a foundation in Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) as it is described by United States Health Agencies: The National Research Council, the Agency for Toxic Substances for Disease Registry, and the Environmental Protection Agency. This foundation will then contextualize the emerging field of Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) which is a hybrid of Risk Assessment and Health Communication. EHL thusly draws from well- established methodologies and theories to tackle difficult issues in translational science. Students will gain a detailed comprehension of the historical development of environmental science and how this set of disciplines have integrated with health science. The course will begin with a primer on the philosophical foundations of environmental science by considering late 19th and early 20th century thinkers with accompanied readings. Next, the course will review basic principles of Risk Assessment (with a focus on Human Health Risk Assessment) from the perspective of addressing federal policy. This will lead into some case studies to illustrate the contribution of scientific research to the policy-oriented topic of Risk Assessment. Finally, students will obtain an overview of environmental policy and participate in discussions and assignments that elucidate this important interface between science and society. Students will be evaluated via a midterm exam (20%), a final exam (20%), participation in discussion and organized class debate-styled actives (20%), an oral presentation (20%) and a written essay (20%).