Course Description
Weekly discussion of research journal articles in the area of environmental health science. Students will present and discuss research journal articles. Notes: May be repeated for a total of 3 credit hours.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Identify strong paper choices for discussion
- Lead paper discussion
- Participate in paper discussions
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Leading one class discussion | 50% |
| Participation in all other discussions | 50% |
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Pick a topic | 5% |
| Pick a paper | 5% |
| Prepare your presentation | 40% |
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Presentations evaluation rubric | Included in presentation grade |
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Participation: present in class | 50 points |
| Participation: listen respectfully and look engaged | 20 points |
| Participation: ask a question or contribute a discussion point | 10-20 points each time |
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 85–100% | Pass |
| <84.99% | Fail |
Attendance/Participation:
Class attendance is expected. Please contact Dr. Jia as soon as possible if in-person attendance is not possible. One missed absence (no reason needed) will be excused and not impact on your grade, with no make-up work required.
Students who miss more than one class discussion must complete a make-up assignment within one week of each absence. The assignment consists of a 1–2-page critique of a designated original research paper. The critique should include a concise summary of the study, a critical evaluation of its strengths and limitations, and thoughtful discussion questions that demonstrate a thorough understanding of the paper. Students must submit the complete critique to the instructor by email within one week of the missed class.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
No course materials are required.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.