Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Jennifer A. Ross, DrPH, MS
Coordinator Public and Community Health Programs, Norman
Public and Community Health
Office Hours: Zoom office Hours Wednesday 10- 11 am, Thursday 2-3 pm, by appointment (email for appointment)
In-person office hours can be made available if requested
Phone: (405) 325-2528 (I am not in my office all the time)
Email: jenross@ou.edu
Live Session: no live sessions, lectures will be posted.
Zoom link: https://oklahoma.zoom.us/j/93781687643?pwd=RTVnN1FtZnZEWUtNTHNBYmxJMG5Gdz09
this link can be used for office hours
Meeting ID: 937 8168 7643
Password: 68097495
Course Details
The purpose of the class is to introduce public health students to the field of environmental health, through a broad understanding of current health issues related to environmental factors.
Course Prerequisites
PHCH 2013 or equivalent, and instructor permission.
Course Materials
Required Textbook:
Essentials of Environmental Health (second edition), by Robert H. Friis, ISBN: 978-0763778903
There will be lectures and assignments that do not involve material from the book. The book is to reinforce or clarify information.
Environmental Health News: Students are encouraged to start a free subscription to the online journal Environmental Health News to keep up-to-date on emerging environmental health topics and issues. Subscribe at http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/.
Global Health Now; Public and Community Health students are strongly encouraged to subscribe to this public health news source, delivered by MPH students from JHU. Subscribe at https://www.globalhealthnow.org/subscribe
Recommended Open-Access Journals:
Environmental Health Perspectives (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/)
Environmental Health (http://www.ehjournal.net/)
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments (8) | described below (5 points each) | 40% |
| Tests (4) | described below (15 points each) | 60% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
This course will use the traditional letter grade option without the use of pluses or minuses. Therefore, final grades will consist of the following: A, B, C, D, F. Grades will be calculated based on the standard formula (90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; 59% and below = F). Grades will be rounded like Excel does (An 89.4999 is a B, while an 89.50000 is an A). Late assignments including failure to participate via the Discussion Board will be graded zero unless there are serious and verifiable extenuating circumstances.
Course Components
This course is presented in an online format, divided into weekly sections. You will be expected to post in discussions, do the 8 assignments, and the 4 tests. All material will be organized into 4 weekly folders, one for each week of class. Every week will have a guide with expected, topics, videos, extra readings, assignments, and a test.
Assigned Readings and Topics
There will be 4 overarching topics with associated reading material. The topic slides will be in the weekly folders. Each topic will have videos associated with it that can be found in the weekly folder.
Weekly assignments
The first week you have three assignments, there are 2 in the second and third weeks, and one in the fourth and final week. These assignments are to give you a chance to take a deeper dive into the material and to prepare you for the tests. Assignments in total are 40% of your grade, with each assignment being 5 points.
Tests
There will be 4 tests– with the fourth test as your final exam. These will be administered through Canvas, and I expect you to complete all tests individually without help from peers, friends, family, or anyone else. Tests are 60% of your grade, with each test, equally weighted, worth 15%.
calendar with due dates: summer 2021 calendar.pdf
Course Policies
Communication
- Please email, or join me in Zoom office hours.
- If you need different office hours or want to meet in person, please email a request, and I will try to make it happen.
- When emailing your professors, please be courteous and professional. Make sure to write word or phrase for what you want to discuss in the subject line, example, Re: 3313 epi info question). I try to respond to emails quickly, but meetings and life happen. I will not answer late night/early morning emails, and I am slower to respond on the weekend.
- Email me if you have any problems that might interfere with your completion of this course. I will work with you as much as is reasonable and I am able.
Late Policy
This course is only four weeks and as such, getting behind on lectures, assignments, and tests will have stronger repercussions than in the fall or spring. Everything is online and should be able to be done. If you have a serious issue that interferes, please discuss it with me.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalogue.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|