HLS/PHP 410: Public Health Preparedness for Disaster and Bioterrorism Emergencies I (3):

Analyzes the history of terrorism and explores the preparation and response to specific terrorist threats, natural disasters, and conventional catastrophes.

Prerequisite: Graduate Students—Enrollment in the MHS program, the Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate in Homeland Security, or permission from the instructor.

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Overview

This course introduces students to the preparation and response necessary to deal with specific terrorist threats, such as chemical, biological, and radiologic agents, as well as conventional civilian attacks. Students will analyze the history of terrorism from a public health perspective, and examine recent domestic and international terrorist incidents. The coordination and planning of specific natural disasters will also be explored. Students will examine the consequences of conventional civilian disasters, including crisis management of conflict-related disasters and transportation and industrial-related catastrophes. The current state and inherent challenges of drug, vaccine, and laboratory response to disasters will be reviewed. Students will also be introduced to models used to predict mass casualties.

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Objectives

At the end of this course, learners should be able to

• describe the evolution of bioterrorism as a tool to inflict mass casualties;
• discuss the challenges involved in the preparation and coordination of disaster response based on insights gained from examining recent incidents;
• summarize the complexities involved in the preparation, recognition, treatment, and prevention of biological, chemical and radiologic agents that may be used in terrorist attacks; simulate the preparation and coordination of resources involved in conventional civilian disasters, including the management of conflict-related disasters and industrial- and transportation-related disasters;
• recall fundamental principles involved in protecting the public from specific types of natural disasters;
• explain the unique problems involved in mobilizing ancillary support services during disasters, including drug, vaccine, and laboratory response and preparedness; and
• describe how existing models in the public domain can be used to predict mass trauma casualties and how these models can be applied to develop meaningful disaster planning.

Staying in Touch

The online course format offers a number of ways to stay in touch. Here is a quick summary:

Medium	Type of Message	Notes
Course Announcements	General course announcements from the instructor to the class	Resources tab > Course Announcements
General Course Discussion Forum	Questions related to course logistics, functionality, etc.	Lessons link > General Course Discussion Forum
Weekly Team Discussion Areas	Communications around specific weekly team activities	Lessons link > [Weekly Lessons]
Course E-mail	Individual communications between class participants and/or instructor	Communicate link > Course Mail
Video Conferencing	Individual communications between class participants and/or instructor. Communications around specific weekly team activities	VSee: vsee.com Skype: skype.com
Student Lounge Chat Room	Option for live chats among class members (Students can set up times whenever)	Communicate link > Live Chat

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​Google: Online Collaboration

This course will use a number of Google's online collaborative tools, such as Google Drive (formerly Googledocs), Google Calendar and Google Maps. If you do not already have a personal Gmail account, you will need to create one; this is a required tool for the course. To create a new account, go to Create a New Google Account. To learn more, watch this video about Google Drive.

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VSee

VSee is a free video conferencing and screensharing program that functions on both Windows and Mac platforms. This tool will be used during the course. Go to VSee.com to create an account. To learn more about how the program works, watch the VSee Livetour video.

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Document File Formats

When submitting documents electronically, please ensure that you use either the .DOC format or the .RTF format.

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Netiquette

Netiquette ("[inter]net" + "etiquette") is a special set of personal conduct rules for online communication and a topic worth reviewing. Remember, it is inappropriate to send offensive email, chain letters, or items that interfere with others' work. See these tips for guidance on the content of your postings and other online communications in this course.

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Documenting References

Please note that APA style is preferred for documenting references in your assignments for this course. You can find information on APA formatting at Citing your Sources.

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Google Scholar

As you research various course topics, you may find a new Google search tool particularly useful:

"What is Google Scholar?
Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. Google Scholar helps you identify the most relevant research across the world of scholarly research."

Feel free to explore Google Scholar.

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Power Searching with Google

The ability to find information on the Internet is a skill unto itself. Google provides self-paced online courses on Power Searching and Advanced Power Searching. You can also use Power Searching with Google Quick Reference Guide to help you search the Internet.

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Obtaining Transcripts

Students can access all of their Penn State administrative information (e.g. schedule, grades, tuition bill, etc.) online at eLion (https://elion.psu.edu). If you need hard copies of your grades, you may also request this through eLion.

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Registering for Future Courses

For more information on upcoming courses in the program, see the Penn State World Campus online catalog at http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CourseCatalog.woa. If you have further questions regarding registration, you can contact Penn State World Campus Student Services at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/contacts-help-current-students.

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Interacting with the Course Instructor

The course instructor interacts with teams and individual students through discussion forums, e-mail, or videoconference. He or she provides guidance and feedback, as needed, with respect to team and individual activity assignments. Finally, the instructor serves as a resource to students for general questions regarding lesson content and regarding preparation for the essay, research proposal, and final exam.

Response Time

The instructor will attempt to respond to each e-mail within 24 to 48 hours.

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Interacting with the Course Teaching Assistant

Your course may have a teaching assistant (TA). The course TA interacts with teams and individual students through discussion forums, e-mail, or Collaborate. They provide guidance and feedback, as needed, with respect to team and individual activity assignments. Finally, the TA serves as a resource to students for general questions regarding lesson content and regarding preparation for the essay, research proposal, and final exam.

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Participation Points

In calculating each student's participation points, the instructor will take into consideration the following:

• Total number of hours logged
• Total number of log-ins
• E-mail activity
  • Number of e-mails initiated
  • Number of e-mails replied to
• Total number of discussion forum posts
• Peer evaluation results.

At the end of the course, students will be ranked from first to last for each category (i.e., worst to best). The number of participation points allocated will then be based on each student's overall relative ranking score.

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Materials

Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.

View the short tutorial from PSU Libraries on how to access HBR.

Using the Library

Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can

• access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
• borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
• get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
• much more. 

You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service.  The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.

Library e-Reserves

This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.

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Technical Specifications

For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:

Technical Requirements

Operating System	Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version
Processor	2 GHz or higher
Memory	1 GB of RAM
Hard Drive Space	20 GB free disk space
Browser	We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion, and for advice on downloading a supported version, please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers. Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses.
Plug-ins	Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe] Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe]
Additional Software	Microsoft Office (2007 or later)
Internet Connection	Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required
Printer	Access to graphics-capable printer
DVD-ROM	Required
Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers	Required
Monitor	Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution

Outreach Helpdesk

If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.

For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!

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General Course Discussion Forum

Traditionally, many of the team and individual assignments in HLS/PHP 410 are high quality and thought-provoking. Students are encouraged to submit their work in the General Course Discussion Forum Folder found under the Lessons tab. Student submissions often invoke topics or discussions that are not within the scope of the lesson but are "value added.” The submissions posted have generally introduced material and ideas that were not specifically discussed in the lesson, and may contain content that is in some way provocative or innovative.

Submitting team and individual work for public review and discussion is therefore worthwhile because your work has the potential to stimulate interesting public discussion. Students are encouraged to engage in a constructive academic exchange of ideas and opinions related to these posts.

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Format for Papers

The preferred formatting for papers is Times New Roman, 12-point font size, 1.5 line spacing, and one inch margins. The exception is the Lesson 8 Grant Project in which double-spacing is preferred. APA style is suggested for citing references. Points are not specifically deducted for deviations in these recommendations. However, papers that are difficult to read tend to detract from the overall quality of the presentation and therefore the grade.

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Week One Grading

*Please note the following exception to the syllabus with regards to Week One grading:

1. Academic Integrity Form: 5 points (Equivalent to a pass/fail grade)
2. Student Questionnaire Form: 5 points (Equivalent to a pass/fail grade)
3. Authorship/Plagiarism Reflection Activity: 10 points (Equivalent to a pass/fail grade)

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Assignment Deadlines

Unless noted otherwise, all weekly activities are due by 2:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the first Monday after the week of the lesson.

Eastern Time is implemented in this course to ensure that the deadlines reasonably accommodate all time zones in the contiguous U.S.

Grading Policy

Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.

Deferred Grades

If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.

For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.

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Late Penalties

Weekly Team Activities are awarded a maximum of 15 points a piece and are due by 2:59 a.m. ET on the first Monday after the week of the Lesson. Late penalties are as follows:

• One day late: 2 points off
• Two days late: 4 points off
• Three days late: 15 points off

Weekly Individual Activities are awarded a maximum of 10 points total per week and are due by 2:59 a.m. ET on the first Monday after the week of the lesson. Late penalties are as follows:

• One day late: 1 point off
• Two days late: 2 points off
• Three days late: 10 points off

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Unsatisfactory Grades

Unsatisfactory Grades All degree-seeking students in the MHS program who receive an F in the course will be reviewed by the Committee on Admissions and Academic Affairs, which has the final say regarding continued progress toward the degree, and under what conditions.

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Final Grading Parameters

Letter Grade	Points Earned
A	935.0 to 1000
A-	895.0 to 934.9
B+	865.0 to 894.9
B	835.0 to 864.9
B-	795.0 to 834.9
C+	765.0 to 794.9
C	735.0 to 764.9
C-	695.0 to 734.9
D	645.0 to 694.9
F	< 645 points

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Privacy Notice

For your privacy, the World Campus has chosen to limit course access to only those individuals who have a direct affect on your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant may be assigned to the course to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. At times, your course instructor may invite a guest lecturer in order to meet a specific educational goal or objective. Each course has one or two instructional designers to assist the instructor in managing both the course content and the online delivery. Finally, the Program Chair has course access for administrative and educational purposes. The Program Chair can serve as a valuable resource and mentor to both faculty and students. The Program Chair, in collaboration with your instructor, is ultimately responsible for overall course quality and for making sure that the academic integrity of the course is consistent with University and Program policies.

Course Schedule

Course Access

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

Graduation

NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .

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Policies

Accommodating Disabilities

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.

In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

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Additional Course Policies

For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.

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Military

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

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​Time Zone (for due dates)

Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).

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Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.