Associate Professor, Environmental Health Sciences; Associate Director, Global Public Health; Professor, Global Public Health
Environmental Health: the Foundation of Global Public Health
What You'll Learn
- Explore environmental health policies that can be used to address and reduce the impacts of environmental health hazards.
- Use systems thinking to understand and analyze environmental health issues.
4 Modules
20 Hours
5 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Environmental Health: the Foundation of Global Public Health
The first course of the Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health specialization will provide you with a foundation in environmental health sciences (EHS). We will explore four main topics. The first is an introduction to EHS and the exposure-disease model – a very useful framework for understanding the influence of the environment on human health. The second topic is key concepts in EHS and environmental health policies that can be used to address and reduce the impacts of environmental health hazards. The third topic is the application of systems thinking to understand and analyze environmental health issues. The fourth and final topic is occupational health, which is a key environment that represents a major source of morbidity and mortality from a public health perspective.
Skills You'll Gain
- Environmental Health
- Environmental Health Management
- Population Health
- Public Health
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Environmental Health: the Foundation of Global Public Health, an online course that introduces the core principles shaping how environmental factors influence population health worldwide. You will explore environmental health science, policy approaches, systems thinking, and occupational health using global and U.S. examples. This course, the first in the Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health series, builds foundational knowledge to help you understand how environmental hazards are identified, evaluated, and addressed in public health practice.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences
- Video: Environmental Health: the Foundation of Global Public Health
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Reading: Community Engagement
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself
- Reading: Help Us Learn More About You!
- Graded Assignment: Exposure-Disease Framework Practice Quiz
- Video: Introduction to Exposure-Disease Framework
- Video: Introduction to Environmental Health
- Video: Exposure-Disease Framework Details
- Reading: Environmental Health Sciences in a Translational Research Framework
- Video: Major Environmental Health Events
- Reading: Environmental Health: Lessons from the Past and Looking to the Future
- Video: Hazards and Exposures
- Discussion Prompt: EHS in the News
Module 2: Environmental Health Policy
- Video: Overview of Environmental Health Policy
- Video: EHS Policy Process and Agencies
- Reading: Is There a Role for Benefit-Cost Analysis in Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulation?
- Video: Evaluating Policy Impacts on Health
- Video: Example: Evaluating Policy Impacts on Motor Vehicle Safety
- Reading: 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash Test
- Graded Assignment: Policy Impacts on Motor Vehicle Safety Practice Quiz
- Reading: Evaluate Policy Impacts on Your State's Motor Vehicle Safety
- Reading: Health Benefits of Air Pollution Reduction
Module 3: Exposure Pathways & Systems Thinking in Environmental Health
- Video: Pathways and Routes of Exposure
- Discussion Prompt: Pathways Example: Nanoparticles
- Video: Assessing Exposures
- Reading: Optional: Assignment 2 Instructions: Personal Exposure Pathway
- App Item: Optional: Submit Assignment 2: Personal Exposure Pathway
- Reading: The Application of Systems Thinking in Health: Why Use Systems Thinking?
- Video: Introduction to Systems Thinking
- Video: Approaches to Systems Thinking
- Video: Example: Applying Systems Thinking to EHS Hazards
- Video: Toxic Release Inventory (TR) Assignment
Module 4: Occupational Health
- Reading: An Approach to Assess the Burden of Work-Related Injury, Disease, and Distress
- Video: Introduction to Occupational Health
- Video: Occupational Health Hazards
- Video: Occupational Health Outcomes
- Graded Assignment: Why Underreporting Practice Quiz
- Video: Agencies Focused on Occupational Health
- Video: Controlling Occupational Hazards
- Graded Assignment: Identifying Occupational Hazard Control Practice Quiz
- Video: Recap on Environmental Health: the Foundation of Global Public Health
- Reading: Post-Course Survey
Grading Policy
Course materials and assignments are available for self-paced learning. Learners must earn an overall grade of 80% or higher to pass the course and receive a certificate. The course grade is based on three quizzes worth 60% (20% each), and a peer-graded assignment worth 40%.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No prior experience required
