Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of ecology and the place of humans in the global ecosystem; various human disorders that arise from ecological imbalances and the introduction of foreign substances into human environments; the nature of disease-causing organisms; common childhood infectious diseases; the human immune system and immunisation.
Synopsis The subject continues the consideration of factors in the environment that impact on the health of individuals and human populations. The emphasis in this subject is on the impact of external influences, both abiotic and biotic, on human health. Topics to be covered include ecosystem structure and function; food chains; energy pyramids; human-ecosystem interactions; cancers; the nature of radiant energy and associated health impacts; noise and noise related disorders; air pollution and related health impacts; the immune system; disorders of the immune system; epidemiology of AIDS, psychoimmunology; the nature of infectious diseases; communicable childhood diseases, public health and infection control; childhood vaccination. The subject is taught by lectures and tutorials.
Assessment Three class assignments (1000 words): 45% + Examination (2 hours): 55%