Environmental Influences on Health

Subject 505-112 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Classroom
For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Either a one 2-hour lecture or one 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: In addition students are expected to undertake at least 8 hours per week in further reading, preparation for tutorials and undertaking written assignments and examination preparation.
Prerequisites:

Students are strongly advised to have completed 505-102 Epidemiology or equivalent
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Professor Brian Priestly, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University

School of Population Health, University of Melbourne

Subject Overview: To give students an understanding of the principles and techniques of hazard identification and risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication; and to illustrate these principles by providing examples of how chemical, physical and biological factors in our environment may influence health.

Objectives: At the end of this subject, students should be able to:
  • nominate the important hazards and risks to health from the environment in Australia;
  • demonstrate fluency with the terminology used to describe chemical, physical and microbiological hazards;
  • relate methods to identify common hazards and nominate measures of risk from these hazards;
  • nominate common interventions used to control environmental risks and the key personal, social and economic factors that inhibit controls or lessen their impact; and
  • effectively and sensitively communicate information and principles about environmental hazards and risks.
Assessment:

A minor assignment (30%), a major assignment (40%), plus a multiple choice question examination (30%)
Prescribed Texts:

Cromar N et al. Environmental Health in Australia and New Zealand. Oxford University Press 2004.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au
Notes: This subject is a Master of Public Health Consortium subject.
Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

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