Students

ENVS8519 – Environmental Health

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Paul Beggs
paul.beggs@mq.edu.au
Contact via Contact via iLearn
12 Wally's Walk, Office 224
Marker
Raelene Sheppard
raelene.sheppard@mq.edu.au
Contact via Contact via email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MSusDev or MPH
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores those aspects of human health determined by physical, chemical, biological and social components of the environment. The unit explores this relationship through a broad range of local, regional, national and international topics including the interrelationships between physical, biological and socio-economic environments; population and environmental health measures and methods; identifying the causes, impacts and mitigation of environmental hazards; the regulatory framework covering various aspects of local and national environmental health; and emerging issues in environmental health such as climate change and globalisation.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Good Health and Well Being; Climate Action

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate a broad understanding and knowledge of the nature of environmental health issues at different geographic scales - local, regional, national and global.
  • ULO2: Evaluate information in key environmental health reports, journals, and internet resources, and contribute to the public discourse on a range of environmental health issues
  • ULO3: Prepare and present a detailed research investigation on a specific environmental health topic.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate critical, analytical and integrative thinking through class discussions, problem-solving activities and written tasks
  • ULO5: Explain the interdisciplinary nature of the skills and knowledge employed by environmental health professionals in the context of other units of study.

General Assessment Information

Requirement to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

  • Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration. 

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

  • Assessment Task 1 – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 
  • Assessment Task 2 – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
  • Assessment Task 3 – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Task 3 - Class presentation 20% No 30/10/2026 Individual No Observed
Task 2 - Research project report 50% No 23/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Task 1 - Research literature review 30% No 28/08/2026 Individual Yes Open

Task 3 - Class presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 30/10/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

The presentation will provide a summary of your research project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate information in key environmental health reports, journals, and internet resources, and contribute to the public discourse on a range of environmental health issues
  • Explain the interdisciplinary nature of the skills and knowledge employed by environmental health professionals in the context of other units of study.

Task 2 - Research project report

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 37.5 hours
Due: 23/10/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

The research project report will present your research on climate and infectious disease in Sydney.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate information in key environmental health reports, journals, and internet resources, and contribute to the public discourse on a range of environmental health issues
  • Prepare and present a detailed research investigation on a specific environmental health topic.
  • Demonstrate critical, analytical and integrative thinking through class discussions, problem-solving activities and written tasks

Task 1 - Research literature review

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22.5 hours
Due: 28/08/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

The research literature review will be a short review of the research literature on an air pollutant and its effects on health.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding and knowledge of the nature of environmental health issues at different geographic scales - local, regional, national and global.
  • Evaluate information in key environmental health reports, journals, and internet resources, and contribute to the public discourse on a range of environmental health issues

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

This unit has a weekly workshop on Wednesdays from 1-4 pm in 01CC 109 Groupwork Lecture Space.

Please see the unit's iLearn site for the Unit Schedule, Assessment Tasks, Announcements and Discussion Forum, and weekly content.

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. You are expected to monitor these on a daily basis. Queries to the Unit Convenor can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to the Unit Convenor via the contact email on iLearn and in this Unit Guide.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook