PBH 438 - Environmental Health Administration

(3 units)

This course provides an applied introduction to the practice of environmental health administration within public health agencies. Students learn how environmental health specialists contribute not only to field-based activities, but also to program oversight, documentation, interagency coordination, policy implementation, and administrative decision-making to emergency response, public health preparedness, environmental and epidemiological investigations, and crisis communication.

Maximum units a student may earn: 3

Prerequisite(s): PBH 334

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. describe the roles and administrative responsibilities of environmental health professionals within public health systems, including program oversight, emergency response coordination, and routine EH operations.
2. apply environmental health surveillance concepts to identify potential hazards, interpret basic surveillance information, and determine when an issue requires investigative or administrative action.
3. analyze environmental and epidemiologic case scenarios to determine likely hazards, contributing factors, affected populations, and recommended next steps.
4. develop a structured approach to investigating an environmental health incident, including complaint intake, information gathering, partner coordination, and documentation, and regulatory considerations.
5. create effective environmental health risk communication materials that demonstrate clarity, accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and crisis communication best practices.
6. explain how selected inspection activities (e.g., food, water, housing, events) support population health and describe the regulatory and administrative context in which inspections occur.
7. evaluate a real or realistic environmental health incident and propose a feasible response plan that integrates investigation, regulatory authority, administrative decision making, and communication strategies.
8. explain how environmental health programs are administered, including budgeting processes, staffing structures, documentation systems, workflow management, and interagency coordination.
9. explain the regulatory frameworks governing environmental health practice, including the roles and authorities of federal, state, and local agencies, and how these frameworks shape enforcement and compliance actions.
10. apply foundational administrative principles (e.g., planning, resource allocation, staffing considerations, workflow management, supervision, and documentation) to the operation of environmental health programs.
11. evaluate environmental health programs and policies using quality improvement, performance management, ethical decision-making, and equity considerations, including implications for environmental justice and vulnerable populations.

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