Undergraduate Course Catalog

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31.100	Environmental Health Seminar	Credits: 0
This required, non-credited seminar for Freshman and Sophomore Environmental health Students explores current affairs and controversies in environmental health theory and practice. Readings and outside speakers will supplement short lectures, faculty and student-led discussions.
31.201	Community Health and Environment	Credits: 3
This course emphasizes the concepts, philosophy, and principles of public health and their relationship to physical, mental, and social well-being of the community. The focus is on the prevention of disease, the promotion and maintenance of health, and the provision of environmental and personal health services through organized community effort.
31.203	Technology in Public Health	Credits: 3
A lecture and hands-on course designed to help students better understand the role of computers and information technology in public health. Students will be guided through the use of various software applications that enhance public health efforts, including: word processing, database design and management, spreadsheets, presentations, geographical information systems (mapping health data), and internet based applications for social networking to address health related issues, as well as other uses. Discussions of what the future may hold for health information technology will also be included. Hands-on assignments will help students become more proficient with PC based software.
31.204	Intro to Health Promotion	Credits: 3
This course focuses on the role health education plays in the development of healthful patterns of living. A philosophy of health education emphasizing holistic health will be generated. The organization and administration of school, community, health care facility, and workplace health education programs are introduced.
31.206	Research Methods in Public Health	Credits: 3
Introduction to research methodologies used in the study of community and environmental health problems. Students will discuss actual research studies conducted by UMASS Lowell faculty in the School of Health and Environment.
31.301	Program Planning in Health Promotion	Credits: 3
This course is primarily designed to introduce undergraduate students studying Health Education to the concepts and principles underlying the educational strategies geared toward promoting health and preventing disease in a variety of settings. The course emphasizes practical utility of the concepts as they relate to the students' future health education/promotion efforts. The importance of a needs assessment and program evaluation will be especially focused upon in the course, as well as strategies integrating these valable tools into curriculum design.
31.302	Computer Methods in Health Education	Credits: 3
Focuses on methods for using computer technology for health education programs in school, community, and occupational settings. Applications of microcomputers in program administration, teaching, and evaluation are discussed, demonstrated, and practiced. Students will review and evaluate Web sites relevant for health education and will develop web sites for computer-assisted instruction in health. Juniors only.
31.303	Social Determinants of Health	Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the concept of social determinants of health, and strongly emphasizes the influence of social power relations on public health. An examination of a set of major health issues, at both the international and national levels provides the framework for students to learn and understand these concepts. A set of learning modules begins with identifying major contemporary health problems,definitions of health and health promotion as established through the World Health organization, and an exploration of social power relations and how they can shape public health. The course then moves to examine a set of specific health issues to see how they have been shaped by their social determinants. Juniors only.
31.304	Politics of Health	Credits: 3
The course addresses a range of contemporary health problems (primarily in the U.S.) that are described and analyzed in their social context. Areas for consideration will include: political, economic, scientific/technological, environmental, and cultural factors. Students will be introduced to health education theories and methods that support the development of strategies for social change. Juniors only.
31.305	Introduction to Epidemiology	Credits: 3
This course is designed to introduce basic epidemiological methods used in the study of current major health problems. Content includes explanation of the scope and focus of epidemiology, simple measures of disease frequency and association used in the study of the distribution and determinants of disease, types of epidemiological study designs, and practical applications. Emphasis on interpretation of epidemiological information and application of findings Prerequisite: Community Health and an elementary statistics course. Required for seniors in Community Health Education; open by permission to other upper division students in Health Professions.
31.306	Socio-Ecological Health Assessment	Credits: 3
Systems thinking, ecological and spatial principles and techniques are used to assess multiple contemporary health issues such as health literacy, emergence,reemergence of infectious diseases, climate change impacts and dimensions, aging population, and war and violence among other topics. The practical component of the course includes mapping and spatial analysis projects. Juniors only.
31.313	Princples of Environmental Health	Credits: 3
This course will survey the rapidly growing field of environmental health through an introduction to the links between environmental stressors and impacts on public health. The course will explore human and indusrial activities that impact on environmental health such as population, food production, air and water pollution, waste, the built environment, toxic substances, pests, and global climate change. The coure will also examine the types of diseases and illnesses that result from environmental impacts. Students will be encouraged to examine in greater detail a specific topic in environmental health of personal interest.
31.316	Environmental Health in Practice	Credits: 3
Through a combination of class lectures, field trips, and a service learning project, this course is designed to introduce students to the daily reponsiblities of an environmental health professional. The class will provide indepth knowledge and hands-on understanding of topics such as food safety, indoor air quality, water quality, waste water disinfection, and chemicals management. Through lectures and guest speakers students will understand the challenges facing environmental health professionals and the resources available to them. Students will undertake a final group project for a health board or other organization.
31.321	Health Care Systems	Credits: 3
This course describes and analyzes the nature and functions of health care services and health professionals. The course examines the impact of social, political, economic, ethical, professional, legal, and technological forces on them and the system they comprise. Juniors and Seniors only.
31.370	Food Safety and Agriculture	Credits: 3
This course focuses on food safety and agriculture using a production-consumption life cycle model. Multiple ecological, socio-economic and regulatory aspects of food production, preparation, and consumption systems are explored. The course has an integrated theoretical and experiential learning component.
31.371	Chemicals and Health	Credits: 3
Provides a broad overview of how the design, manufacture, use and disposal of chemicals and chemical products affect health and ecosystems. Provides an in-depth overview of how chemicals are monitored in the environment (including biomonitoring), how their risks are characterized, and the prevention of chemical risks through safer chemical design.
31.403	Mind, Body and Health	Credits: 3
The interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit is integral to achieving "wellness". It is also important to acknowledge the impact each of these three aspects of wellness has upon each of the others. The growing body of research indicating the significant effects of things such as stess, anger, optimism, and healthy relationships on health status will be analyzed and evaluated. Practical strategies related to health advisement will be shared and experimented with during the semester. In this senior level course, we will explore these and many other areas of mind, body, and spirit awareness that are critical to consider when conducting health education programs.
31.405	Communication Techniques in Health Promotion	Credits: 3
This course focuses upon the communication techniques and mass media approaches necessary to promote and implement effective health promotion programs and activities. Awareness and sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity will be particularly emphasized when discussing various communication techniques in relation to particular health issues.
31.409	Service Learning in Community Health	Credits: 3
This course is designed to serve as a service learning experience in the fall semester of students' senior year in Health Education. Students will be expected to participate in a pre-determined community health project happening in the City of Lowell for a minimum of 40 hours. During the course of this experience, students will provide the community health organization with their time, knowledge, and effort, and will, in return, gain tremendous experience in the organization, development, implementation, and/or evaluation of Community Health Education and Promotion Projects. Collaboration with various professionals involved in the programs and projects will certainly add to students' understanding of what a Health Educator does! An integral piece of this service learning experience will be the bi-monthly seminar geared toward asuring the connection between the community experience and the theoretical and academic framework from which it is derived Through the use of readings, discussions, student presentations, and guest speakers, students will gain wonderful experience in terms of what it means to "build the capacity of a community".
31.410	Community Health Practicum	Credits: 10
Full-time health education field experience (28 hours per week). Students continue at the prepracticum site, participating in the development, implementation and evaluation of health education programs and take an active part in the total community health education process. Seniors only.
31.414	Program Management in Health	Credits: 3
The concepts of program planning, development, budgeting and evaluation, which are essential functions for individuals working in health care agencies, are presented. Starting with the mission of the organization, the steps of conceptualizing, designing, implementing, budgeting and evaluating health programs are covered. Students will be expected to develop a grant proposal for an agency. This course is a capstone experience and resources from all other relevant coursework will be called upon. Seniors only.
31.416	Environmental Health Practicum	Credits: 10
This course is designed to provide students real world practical experience in the field of envirnomental health, as final preparation for their BS Degree. This 32 hour/week internship opportunity situates students in an environmental health setting most conducive to his or her needs and interests. Placements can vary from health boards and health departments to non-profit agencies, government agencies, university research institutes, and industry. Students work directly with an academically and professionally qualified preceptor to assure their progress in the field. The faculty supervisor is responsible for periodic meetings and correspondence to also assure appropriate development.
31.417	Climate Change: Science, Communication, and Solutions	Credits: 4
Climate change offers one of the greatest challenges yet faced by society and scientists. The scientific consensus is clear that climate change is occurring, its pace is accelerating, its impacts on human society will be largely negative, and it is largely caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, despite strong scientific evidence for the enormous challenges that society may face, scientists' attempts to disseminate that evidence beyond their peers have not yet been successful. Indeed in today's media world of blogs, YouTube video clips, and sound-bites, confusion over the scientific reality of climate change frequently dominates the discourse in classrooms and communities. This course will provide students with the tools and knowledge that they need to develop their own well-informed view of climate change. Because climate change is both impacted by humans and will increasingly impact society, this course takes a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating science, policy solutions, and media literacy as they relate to climate change.
31.493	Directed Study	Credits: 1-3