Course Title: Occupational and Food Toxicology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Occupational and Food Toxicology

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PUBH1355

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Internet

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Assoc Prof Paul Wright

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7075

Course Coordinator Email: paul.wright@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no prerequisite courses for this course. Students would find it of benefit to have completed ONPS2309 ’Essential Toxicology’.


Course Description

This is a fully online web-based course. Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms. This course provides an understanding of the relevance of toxicology in our food and the occupational setting.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students are expected to gain a sound knowledge and understanding of important aspects of occupational toxicology, including: rationales for deriving occupational standards; interrelated disciplines of occupational toxicology; biomonitoring in the workplace; common types of occupationally-induced diseases; and major chemicals used in the workplace and their associated toxicological problems.

The student will also gain an understanding of important aspects of food toxicology, including: the nature and sources of food toxicants; interactions between diet and toxicity; food additives; regulation of chemicals in foods; and estimations of dietary chemical intake.

This flexible distance-learning course has modules that are specifically designed to equip students with essential skills to work in the fields of:

  • Occupational toxicology, both in private industry and government;
  • Risk assessment of chemicals in the workplace; and
  • Toxicity of food contamination.



Overview of Learning Activities

The online modular delivery of this course enables independent learning.  Module tests are provided to aid your understanding of concepts in selected modules. Discussion sessions are held throughout the course on topics linked to course content and assignments. Online discussions and tutorials enable you to practice teamwork, collaborative skills, articulation of ideas, discussion and argument, in response to scientific questions and educational content presented by the academic staff. Participation in discussions is compulsory and a requirement for completing the course. The short assignment is approached though problem-based learning in an occupational setting. 


Overview of Learning Resources

This course is accessed and studied online via the RMIT Learning Hub ("Online @ RMIT"). The content for this course is provided through online modules and the prescribed textbook. Further learning resources such as articles and links to relevant web sites are provided where appropriate.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks include: online topic quizzes to aid understanding of concepts; online discussions and tutorials to articulate ideas and practise collaborative skills; short assignments linked to module topics; and an open book exam.