Diploma Program in Environmental Health

Applications are no longer being accepted for the September 2012-13 Academic Year

  • Background
  • Committment
  • Objectives
  • Cost
  • Modules
Environmental Health is a challenging field of research and policy that links the natural, health and social sciences and the worlds of academia, business, labour, government and community groups. The relationships between human health and environment are, however, multidirectional with human health and well-being issues having consequences for the state of the environment. The Diploma Program will provide skills and knowledge for understanding and professional practice in such an interconnected world.
Students are required to register on a full-time basis from September to April. This Program is equivalent to a full year of an undergraduate program. This is an online program which uses E-Learn @ McMaster (ELM).


System requirements:

  • Sound card with speakers and an echo-canceling microphone or headset combo. A headset is strongly recommended - you can get these at the MacMicro store, most electronic goods stores or contact maclivegear@mcmaster.ca to obtain a set.
  • 56K modem or high-speed Internet connection
  • Windows: Windows Client, Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Pentium III 500 MHZ processor, 256 MB RAM, 20 MB free disk space
  • Mac: Mac OS Client, Mac OS Z 10.2.8/10.3.9/10.4, G3/G4/G5 or Intel processor, 256 MB RAM
  • The latest version of Java on your Mac/PC/Unix system. Check your version at java.com

    • For more information on ELM, please click here

The Diploma Program is designed to provide new and/or upgraded skills and knowledge to individuals with a university degree or certification in a relevant field. It is suitable for public health unit professionals, physicians, community health nurses, environmental industrial professionals and those in labour and non-governmental organizations dealing with environmental health issues.
The cost for the Diploma Program for 2012-2013 academic year is $5344.80.
1 FRAMING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
To understand the population health perspective; to examine an example of population health research; to examine the role of science in understanding environmental health issues; and to recognize different kinds of rationality.
2 CRITICAL THINKING, CAUSATION AND INTRODUCTION TO BASIC STATISTICS
To understand the various methods of investigating a causal relationship between an environmental exposure and a health outcome; to critically apply criteria of causation to evaluate the evidence of a causal relationship; and to understand the basics of causation study design and measures of association (including basic statistics).
3 SURVEY DESIGN, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
To become familiar with the basic steps involved in survey design, analysis and interpretation; and to design and pre-test a survey protocol and instrument.
4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
To become familiar with EIA legislation and to understand the place of health in EIA.
5 INVESTIGATIVE METHODS
To learn how to conduct epidemiological investigations; to learn about software tools which assist in investigations; and to understand the definitions of various kinds of outbreaks.
6 INTERPRETIVE METHODS
To examine the strengths and significance of interpretive methods; to document the different types of interpretive methods; to examine the differences between the quantitative and qualitative research paradigms; to understand the basis of the credibility of findings/evidence from interpretive methods; and to consider the presentation of interpretive findings.
7 RISK COMMUNICATION
To explore the bases of concern about environmental health issues and their manifestations in risk perception and risk construction; to examine the purposes and content of risk communication; to examine the relationships between risk comparisons and risk communication; and to understand the challenges of risk communication.
8 PATHWAYS, SOURCES AND HEALTH IMPACTS: AIR, WATER & FOOD
To understand contaminant exposures and pathways; to become familiar with the populations at risk and the health impacts associated with these exposures; and to consider responses to the health problems caused by contaminants through understanding sources, pathways, populations and health impacts.
9 RISK ASSESSMENT / RISK MANAGEMENT
To understand strategies of risk management; the strengths and weaknesses of risk assessment/risk management frameworks; and to understand how risk assessments are done.
10 POLICY ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
To explore the nature and purposes of environmental health policy; to outline the institutional and other constraints on environmental health policy-making; to understand the roles and significance of different stakeholder groups; to understand the role of information and evidence in the policy process; to understand the different types of evaluations; and to explore applications of evaluation methods.

Note:

The Diploma Program in Environmental Health:

  • does not qualify for OSAP
  • is only available to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants