This course will review environmentally transmitted pathogens with respect to their sources and occurrence, mobility, and fate in the environment.  This course will be of use for public health and health care professionals, microbiologists, civil and environmental engineers, environmental scientists and bio-defense specialists.

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.      Recognize the major classes of environmentally transmitted pathogens and describe specific examples for each class in different environmental media;

2.      Discuss the major epidemiological elements of environmentally transmiteed infectious disease;

3.      Summarize the major exposure pathways and routes of transmission;

4.      Compare and contrast the different types of microbiologically relevant foodborne disease;

5.      Discuss factors that affect occurrence, growth, and persistence of microbiologic agents and by-products in food;

6.      Outline and distinguish the factors affecting the persistence, fate and mobility of microbial hazards in water;

7.      Discuss the trends in waterborne disease;

8.      Identify and describe factors affecting transmission of microbiological agents by surfaces;

9.      Summarize fomitic and sharps-based transmission of infectious agents;

10.  Demonstrate an understanding of occupationally relevant exposures to microbiological hazards;

11.  Identify and describe factors affecting the airborne transmission of microbiological hazards;

12.  Categorize the different mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and factors affecting their development;

13.  Define and contrast zoonotic and vectorborne transmission of microbiological hazards; and interpret, summarize and discuss relevant research articles on environmental transmission of microbiological hazards.

Recommended Texts/References:

Manual of Environmental Microbiology 3^rd edition (ed. Hurst et al., ASM Press)

Environmental Microbiology (Maier, Pepper and Gerba, Academic Press)

Additional Readings and course materials will be available through the course webpage or handed out in class. The following texts are recommended references for more in-depth detail on course topics (more will be given during the duration of the course):

Books

Although class attendance is not expressly required, students will be expected to participate in classroom discussion and in-class group learning activities.  Students will not have the opportunity to earn class participation credit for course periods during which they are absent.

Class periods on Monday and Wednesday will be an interactive lecture format.  With notable exceptions, Fridays will be largely dedicated to student-led discussion.

For the sake of this class, letter and numerical grades will typically be distributed according to the university grading scale between the following standards:

         A(4.0) = Excellent and exceptional work

                        (typically >95% of available points)

         D (1.0) = Deficient work

                         (typically <66% of available points) 

It is expected that most students will perform at a level of ~3.5.

Graduate Student Points will be available according to the following percentage breakdown:

            Curriculum Vitae (5%):  Each student will be required to provide a 1-2 page CV describing the student’s background and interests.  CVs will be due by the second class period. 

            Homework (20%):  Students will have the opportunity to complete 2 homework assignments, each worth 10 % of the overall grade.  Homework assignments will be due as indicated on the course outline.  Late assignments will be penalized 10% of point value for each class period that they are late. 

Midterm Exam (25%):  Midterm exam will consist primarily of short answer questions, but may include multiple choice and fill-in the blank questions as well.  Exams will be conducted during a scheduled course period.  Exam will be open book and open note.  Early or make-up exams will only be offered in case of emergencies or prior arrangement with instructor.  Formats for early and make-up exams are left to the discretion of instructor.

            Class Participation (20%):  Participation credit may be earned during Monday and Wednesday session by participating in question answer sessions.  Additionally, participation-credit questions may be asked in class for email response.  Students will be broken into groups for Friday activities.  Participation in group learning activities will be evaluated by quality of group presentation and peer evaluation. 

            Final Exam (30%):  Final Exam will be offered on December 17^th 8:30-10:20.  Final exam will be comprehensive and will consist of short answer multiple choice, true/false-explain, and problem solving questions.  Exam will be open book and open note. 

Undergraduate Student Points will be available according to the following percentage breakdown:

            Curriculum Vitae (5%):  Each student will be required to provide a 1-2 page CV describing the student’s background and interests.  CVs will be due by the second class period. 

            Homework (20%):  Students will have the opportunity to complete 2 homework assignments.  Homework assignments will be due as indicated on the course outline.  Late assignments will be penalized 10% of point value for each class period that they are late. 

Midterm Exam (30%):  Midterm exam will consist primarily of short answer questions, but may include multiple choice and fill-in the blank questions as well.  Exams will be conducted during a scheduled course period.  Exam will be open book and open note.  Early or make-up exams will only be offered in case of emergencies or prior arrangement with instructor.  Formats for early and make-up exams are left to the discretion of instructor.

            Class Participation (10%):  Participation credit may be earned during Monday and Wednesday session by participating in question answer sessions, or Friday article discussions.  Additional participation credit questions may be asked in class for email response. 

            Final Exam (35%):  Final Exam will be offered on December 17^th 8:30-10:20.  Final exam will be comprehensive and will consist of short answer and problem solving questions.  Exam will be open book and open note. 

1.      Come to class, please try to let me know ahead of time if you can not make it. 

2.      Arrive on time

3.      Turn in assignments on time

4.      Come to class prepared (keep up with reading)

5.      Be courteous (No newspapers, audible cell phones, PDAs, beepers)

6.      Food and drinks are welcome (but keep it quiet)

7.      Refrain from unnecessary talking

8.      ASK QUESTIONS

9.      Try to remain awake (at least no snoring please)

10.   Let me know how I am doing (if I am moving too fast, not being clear, or otherwise not getting the message across, I need to know.)