The seminar will promote critical thinking among students regarding current topics in environmental health. The course also will expose undergraduate students to a broad range of environmental health research, practice, and policy areas in order to assist them with career exploring and planning within the Environmental Health major. It also serves as an introduction and orientation to the EH internships. The format for this class includes group discussions, short lectures, guest panelists, and strong student involvement. Students should come to class prepared to share questions, ideas, and experiences with their classmates.

This course covers the principles and practices of food safety and sanitation that are essential in the hospitality industry for the protection and well-being of staff, guests and customers. The course provides a systems approach to sanitation risk management and the prevention of food contamination by emphasizing the key components of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety system. The course will discuss topics related to food safety and food quality including microbiologic contamination of food, other biological and chemical hazards, and elaboration of such issues using Hazard Analysis System and Critical Controls Point (HASCCP).

This is designed to introduce students to the concepts of emergency management. Students will gain a general understanding of the threats faced by communities. We will discuss the theories, principles and philosophies that make up the field, as well as review its historical context, discuss natural and technological hazards and their risk, and review the four phases that make up emergency management. We will also review the vital function of communications, and the post 9-11 concern of terrorism and the impact it has had upon the field. Topics covered in this class include the history and development of emergency management, hazard identification and risk analysis, mitigation, communications, international disaster management, and the future of emergency management.

Survey of topics in population and resource management, fundamentals of air and water pollution, solid and hazardous wastes, pest and vector control, and radiation protection. Open to majors and non-majors.

Fundamentals of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation with respect to source, exposure dose, biological interaction, methods of surveillance, and protection.

Principles of environmental physiology; medical geography and sociology; international and travel health; adaptation mechanisms to extremes of temperature, pressure, altitude, and microgravity; circadian rhythms.

This course examines the principles and practices needed to address occupational safety and health issues in the workplace. Students will discuss various aspects of safety and health management systems and utilize regulatory standards as a guide to apply policies, procedures, standards and occupational safety and health principles. Industry-recognized best practices, origins of the standards, the process and rules of inspections, policies, citations, and penalties will be covered.

Principles of distribution and determinants of diseases in human populations, including statistical methods and computer applications in data collection and analysis.

Environmental Health Seminar (1 cr.) The seminar will promote critical thinking among students regarding current topics in environmental health. The course will comprise critical review of papers and topics from the literature, discussion of key studies in environmental health, student presentations, presentations by outside speakers, and other topics.

Principles of organization and administration of environmental health programs by governmental agencies, including disease surveillance and health data management, environmental policy and ethics, and health education.

Survey of ambient and indoor air quality changes due to toxic emissions. Atmospheric chemistry and meteorology, standard air pollution indicators, global climate changes, and control strategies discussed.

Develops skills for evaluating exposures causing occupational health problems in the industrial workplace. Emphasis will be placed on mathematical techniques to estimate exposures to chemicals, physical agents, and ergonomic hazards facing employees. Air sampling and monitoring techniques will also be introduced. Principles of Industrial Hygiene provides a rigorous introduction to the field of industrial hygiene. The class introduces concepts, vocabulary, and methodology in the practice of industrial hygiene and identifies resource materials. Students will learn and apply various approaches to anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling occupational hazards in various industries and settings. An emphasis will be placed on the basics of: air sampling, physical hazards, industrial noise monitoring techniques and controls for workplace hazards, as well as basic quantitative analysis.

Survey of microorganisms of ecological, medical, and industrial importance with respect to nutrient recycling, food spoilage, infectious diseases, and biotechnology.

Water and Sewage Treatment and Control ( 4 cr.) This course is an overview of approaches to protecting water quality with an emphasis on fundamental principles. Sources of water pollution as well as theory and conceptual design of systems for treating municipal wastewater and drinking water are discussed. Students will also learn about the effective operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment, wastewater collection systems, and wastewater labs.

Field practicum in industry, governmental agencies, consulting firms, and academic research facilities providing observation and participation in the practice of environmental health programs. .

Survey of structural, electrical, and fire safety of residential, school, hospital, day-care, and penal institutions. Sick building syndrome, emergency planning, and accommodation of disabled persons discussed.

Global environmental issues: famine and starvation, environmental refugees, environmental justice and equity, hazardous waste sites, housing and urban blight, crime and substance abuse.

Comprehensive survey of agricultural and urban pests, disease transmitting vectors and their habitat, principles of entomology, parasitology and zoonoses, integrated vector control, and pest management.

Recognition, measurement, evaluation, and control of workplace hazard exposures. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene, ergonomics, occupational disease surveillance, hazard communication, and worker protection discussed.

Consideration of environmental impacts and risks of legislative proposals, policies, programs, and projects following NEPA regulations: qualitative/quantitative risks, identification, characterization, exposure assessment, dose-response determination, interpretation, communication, and management.

Comprehensive survey of principles of toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics; xenobiotic dispersal and ecosystem response; exposure pathways and target organs; mechanisms of toxicity; toxicity testing for mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and teratogenesis.

Students will acquire and apply knowledge of environmental health issues, challenges, and environmental health systems. When necessary for student progression, the course will offer a specialized designed curriculum to fill student deficiencies that are needed for on-time graduation. 3 hours lecture per week.

Solid & Hazardous Waste Management (4 cr) This course provides a fundamental overview of the major topics in modern solid & hazardous waste management. Definition, classification, characterization, collection, transportation, sources, management and disposal of various types of solid waste and hazardous waste will be discussed in the course. Legal framework related to different types of wastes as well as regulatory requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will be discussed.