Course Description
This course provides an exploration of the intricate relationships between environmental factors, human health, and societal systems. Students will analyze environmental health (EH) topics in the interplay of air quality, water resources, and other critical environmental factors and impacts on health (potential and actual). Through collaborative brainstorming and problem-solving activities, learners will develop creative, feasible, sustainable approaches to address real-world, environmental health challenges to foster positive change. A key component of the course is the design and creation of a sustainable product or project, where students will grow and integrate their understanding of environmental factors, stakeholders, and potential/actual health concerns to propose impactful solutions. This course fosters critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation, preparing students to address pressing environmental health issues in diverse professional and societal contexts. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
- HCA #2. Discuss human resource management, behaviors, diversity, and policies and procedures; review legal and ethical responsibilities in the healthcare organization as they relate to patient/client rights.
- HCA #10. Discuss global factors affecting the healthcare industry.
- HIM #1. Apply knowledge of the different fields of medical science, information technology and business management applicable in health information management.
- HIM #9. Apply leadership skills and discuss the importance of maintaining staff development in health information management.
- NUR #2. Utilize and apply knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making skills to make sound clinical judgments that identify and address individual, population, and organizational challenges.
- NUR #5. Integrate determinants of health and patients’ cultural beliefs and practices into the delivery and management of care to promote health across the lifespan.
- NUR #6. Interact using effective communication skills with patients, families, and interprofessional team members that fosters mutual respect and shared decision making to enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
- NUR #8. Advocate for and participate in patient safety and quality initiatives as a member of the interprofessional healthcare team.
- SWK #4. Learn about and make sound judgments regarding the advancement of human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- SWK #5. Demonstrate the ability to engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- SWK #6. Demonstrate the ability to assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- SWK #7. Demonstrate the ability to intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Analyze and interpret complex environmental health challenges from interconnected environmental factors (such as air, food, water, sanitation, waste, transport).
- Propose and evaluate feasible, creative, sustainable solutions to environmental health challenges towards positive change.
- Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a selected environmental health topic and develop a tailored Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) plan addressing the needs of a specific community.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Points | Weight |
|---|---|---|
Discussions (25 points x 8) (Weeks 1-8) | 200 | 20% |
Weekly Assignments (75 points x 7) (Weeks 1-7) | 525 | 52.5% |
Check-ins (Week 3 and Week 6) | 50 | 5% |
Final Project (Week 8) | 225 | 22.5% |
Total | 1000 | 100% |
Required Textbook
- This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are no cost for students.
Course Schedule
Week | PLOs | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1 | Topics: Introduction to Design Thinking (DT) and Environmental Health (EH)
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2 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1 | Topics: Understanding Environmental Challenges: Empathy
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3 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topics: Identifying the Problem: Ideation
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4 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Generating Solutions for Environmental Health
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5 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Creating an Environmental Health Prototype
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6 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Testing and Gathering Feedback on Prototype Ideas
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7 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Evaluating Possible Outcomes
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8 | HIM 1,9; HCA 2,10; NUR 2,5,6,8; SWK 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Finishing Your EH Final Project
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.