Pump Sites
Deaths from cholera
Syllabus
Environmental Health
Geography 402
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Text: Medical Geography by Meade and Earickson
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Instructor: Dr. Paul Marr
Office: Shearer Hall 110
Office Hours: See web page
Phone: 477-1656
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: http://webspace.ship.edu/pgmarr/
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Course Objectives
This course will introduce you to the sub-fields of Environmental Health and Medical Geography. In short, these
sub-fields deal with human / environmental interactions and the influence these interactions have on public health.
We will cover the following general topics:
1.The history of medical geography.
2. Data gathering, reporting, adjusting, and categorizing.
3. Human / environmental interactions.
4. Health / population transitions.
5. Spatial distribution of degenerative.
6. Infectious disease diffusion.
Please note that these topics require at least a general understanding of human biology, ecology, demographics, and
statistics. We will briefly touch on these during class, but the majority of the information will be found in the
assigned readings. Therefore, it is important to complete the readings BEFORE class so that you may participate in
the class discussions.
Grades
Grades will be given using the +/- system, as described in the current student handbook. Your final grade in this
course will be determined by the following:
Points
Exams
200
Research Paper
100
Group Work/Participation
100
Exercises
100
Total
500
Since the information that you learn early in the course will be used throughout the semester, the exams are more or
less cumulative. This does not mean that details from the first exam will be asked on the second, but you will be
expected to know general concepts and specific methodologies. There are no make-up exams, but under special
circumstances exams may be rescheduled (See below).
Exercises will be handed out periodically in class. These exercises are worth 20 points each. They are due the
following class period, unless otherwise noted or in special circumstances. Exercises must be legible, literate, all
work must be shown, and final answers should be clearly noted. Multiple page exercises must be stapled or 5% will
be deducted from the grade. Late exercises will not be accepted, except under special circumstances (See
Attendance Policy below).
Class participation includes but is not limited to: 1. attending all classes, 2. active involvement in class discussions,
3. active involvement in group projects, 4. class preparedness (having read material before class). Class attendance
will be taken randomly, so please try to make all classes. If you must miss a class, please inform me before-hand if
possible (See Attendance Policy below). Class disruptions and side conversations will not be tolerated and will
adversely affect your participation grade.
Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend all classes. If you must miss a class for university reasons, please see me ahead of time. If
you have an emergency (e.g. family, health) please obtain an excused absence slip from the dean, doctor, etc… I will
be reasonable about rescheduling exams, exercises, etc... when reasons for missing class are beyond your control.
However, the schedule for next semester has been distributed, so leaving early for break because it was the only
flight you could get is not a reason for missing class. Please plan in advance. Point deductions for missing more than
3 classes for any reason is 2 pts from final course grade for each class missed beyond 3. Please see the departmental
attendance policy for specific details.
Research Paper
The research paper will allow you to develop a more complete understanding of the spatial distribution, spread, or
etiology of a specific disease. Papers should be a minimum of 10 pages (including maps, excluding cover page, table
of contents, references, and appendices) with a minimum of 7 pages of text, include any pertinent maps or figures,
and all research materials must be cited. The major point of the research paper should be the spatial distribution of
the disease and your research should focus on explaining that distribution—therefore map analysis is very
important. The paper should follow this general format:
Introduction
General description of the disease / illness.
Clearly stated research problem / question.
Current or Historic Research Review
Research and Discussion
Map/spatial analysis
How does geography influence this disease?
Conclusions
References Cited
These papers will be graded on content, style, grammar, writing ability, and thoroughness of research. Please have
someone proof read you paper before handing it in to me. This will save you many points. This is an upper level
college course and you will be expected to write well. If you have any questions regarding the research paper please
see me ahead of time. Coming to me at the last minute with problems is not a good idea. Please note that you must
limit the number of Internet citations in your references. Citing only Internet sources will reduce your grade by 5%.
The outline should be 1 page and should reflect the specific topics that will be covered in your paper. There is a 5%
penalty for missing a due date for each due date missed.
Research Paper Timeline
Topics:
Bibliography:
Final Paper:
Due Date
Sept 16
Oct 16
Nov 25
Please note the following specific requirements for the research paper:
1. A map showing the current or historic distribution of the disease within your study area.
2. An appendix with the data used to construct the above map.
3. A separate title page including the paper title, your name, the course, and a 1 paragraph abstract.