Units / MPH5310
MPH5310 · Introduction to environmental and planetary health
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit will cover the environmental influences on health. The unit will examine the impact of physical, chemical and biological hazards in the environment. It will integrate that knowledge with the principles of assessment, management and control of environmental health risks. Theoretical models of risk communication will be developed, with learners applying this knowledge in developing evidence based interventions to control and prevent simple environmental risks.
Areas of study: Public health
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Monash Online | Teaching period 4 | Monash Online (MO) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case study analyses and reflection (1,800 words) | Written | 30% | — |
| 2 | Environmental and planetary health foundational principles workbook (1,800 words) | Exercise | 30% | — |
| 3 | Environmental health risk assessment report (2,400 words) | Written | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- MPH5203 — Environmental influences on health
Learning outcomes
- Identify important chemical, physical and biological hazards in the environment and analyse related risks to health from environmental factors in Australia and the interdependence of human health and the health of the environment globally.
- Communicate fluently using appropriate terminology to describe chemical, physical and biological hazards encountered in a variety of contexts.
- Critically appraise the epidemiological literature which informs the evidence base for environmental health risk control strategies.
- Identify common hazards, appropriate techniques for exposure measurement and risk assessment methodologies in environmental media such as water air and food.
- Apply theoretical models of risk communication to appropriately communicate the principles of effective management of environmental health risks.
- Develop evidence based interventions to control simple environmental risks and prevent or mitigate harm.
Workload
24 hours per week including directed and self-directed learning (including any asynchronous and synchronous tasks, prescribed activities and independent work).
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