We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Introduction to Public Health Engineering in Humanitarian Contexts

The world is facing unprecedented humanitarian needs. Today’s humanitarian crisis tend to be greater in number, often in urban settings, longer in duration and broader in regional impact. They generate human sufferings on a greater scale, disrupt essential services, such as water supply or sanitation and put health of large population at risk. Engineers and technical specialists in water, sanitation, energy, environment, and in other related fields play a vital role to respond to these challenges and growing needs. In the humanitarian sector, they are called the public health engineers and today they are increasingly needed! Why public health engineering matters so much in humanitarian crises? And how its related activities are carrying out in such complex environment? This is what this MOOC is all about!

The EPFL, EAWAG-SANDEC and ICRC have decided to partner to guide you through this introduction to the fascinating field of public health engineering in humanitarian contexts.

Enroll now

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

Two deals to help you save

Save money when you learn. Here are two deals and offers that may be relevant to this course.

All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

Valid until July 14

Coursera Plus Annual

Work toward what's next for your career with access to 10,000+ programs. Discover emerging skills and save.

Valid until August 30

Google AI App Builder

Learn how to use Gemini API and API Studio with a three-course series from Google DeepMind

What's inside

Syllabus

Public Health Engineering

The first week introduces the topic of public health engineering and see how engineers can have a significant impact to reduce the mortality and morbidity encountered in many humanitarian contexts. In order to do so, engineers should have a good understanding on how infectious diseases are transmitted. This is why you will be introduced to different environmental transmission pathways of diseases and you will see some measures to be taken to prevent the spread of some diseases. Real study case examples will be introduced to support the understanding.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Course objectives are immediately clear to potential learners

Engages learners with humanitarian crises, public health engineering, transmission pathways, water supply systems, sanitation, waste management, and hygiene

Leads learners on a path to developing professional skills for the public health engineering field in humanitarian settings

Appropriate for learners with an interest in humanitarian work, engineering, and public health

Provides learners with a review of water technologies and practices used in humanitarian contexts

Includes study cases to reinforce learning

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Introduction to public health engineering basics

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in public health engineering within humanitarian contexts. Students appreciate the highly relevant topic and the expertise brought by the expert instructors from reputable organizations. The inclusion of case studies and real-world examples is frequently highlighted as a strength, helping bridge theory and practice. However, some reviews indicate the course can feel too introductory for those with prior experience or seeking deeper technical details, suggesting it might be best for beginners or requires additional study.

Highly credible course origin.

"The expertise of EPFL, ICRC, and EAWAG shines through."

"Knowing it comes from these organizations gives it strong credibility."

"Learned from leading experts in both engineering and humanitarian aid."

Real-world application appreciated.

"The case studies were invaluable for understanding practical application."

"Seeing real-world scenarios helped solidify the concepts discussed."

"I appreciated the examples from actual humanitarian responses."

Provides a good introduction to the field.

"This course provided a very good understanding of the fundamentals needed..."

"Excellent introduction to the field; exactly what I was looking for..."

"I feel I now have a solid base to build upon regarding PHE in emergencies."

Lacks depth for experienced learners.

"As someone with prior experience, I found this too basic."

"It's a good intro, but doesn't go deep enough into technical solutions."

"Wishing for more advanced content beyond the overview."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Public Health Engineering in Humanitarian Contexts with these activities:

Review water resource engineering concepts

Show steps

Refresh essential knowledge on water resource engineering concepts to enhance understanding of course materials and improve overall comprehension.

Browse courses on Water Treatment

Show steps

Review notes and textbooks from previous water resource engineering courses
Participate in online forums or discussion groups related to water resource engineering
Solve practice problems and review fundamental equations

Show all one activities

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Public Health Engineering in Humanitarian Contexts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Health Engineer

A Public Health Engineer is typically involved in designing and building systems that ensure clean water, reduce the spread of disease, and promote overall public health. This course was designed specifically with Public Health Engineers in mind. Taking it will help you succeed in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Engineer

Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer sometimes designs and operates water and sewage treatment plants, holding ponds, and other systems that clean or dispose of waste and pollutants. With your training in public health engineering from this course, you will attract attention in this job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Water Resources Engineer

A Water Resources Engineer is involved in water resource management, flood control, or water quality management. This course can help you understand water supply and sanitation systems used throughout the world and how various systems can be used in humanitarian crises.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Resources Engineer

Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer is responsible for the design of roads, railways, tunnels, pipelines, dams, bridges, and other infrastructural works. In these roles, your knowledge of both public health engineering and water sanitation will be highly sought after.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Sanitation Engineer

A Sanitation Engineer designs and oversees the construction of facilities that improve sanitation conditions and promote public health. This course will give you a broad overview of public health engineering in humanitarian crises. This course will help you find jobs in Sanitation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sanitation Engineer

Environmental Consultant

An Environmental Consultant is hired to help their clients comply with environmental regulations, assess environmental risks, and develop sustainable solutions. Your knowledge of public health engineering will give you a leg-up on the competition in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Water Quality Specialist

A Water Quality Specialist monitors and analyzes water samples to ensure that they meet regulatory standards. This course covers water supply systems. This knowledge will be critical in performing your duties as a Water Quality Specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Quality Specialist

Waste Management Specialist

A Waste Management Specialist develops and implements plans for the collection, transport, and disposal of solid waste. Knowledge of waste management and hygiene promotion will be essential in this role. This course may be useful to someone seeking a career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Waste Management Specialist

Hydrologist

A Hydrologist studies the distribution, movement, and quality of water on Earth. This course can teach you about the environmental transmission of water-borne diseases. This knowledge will be key in studying hydrology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hydrologist

Epidemiologist

An Epidemiologist investigates outbreaks of disease and tries to develop ways to prevent them. This course discusses how diseases are transmitted. It includes case studies on how to prevent the spread of disease and treat outbreaks. This training will make you a great Epidemiologist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Microbiologist

A Microbiologist studies microorganisms and their interactions with each other and with their environment. This course may be useful to you in understanding how disease is transmitted. This knowledge can be useful in understanding the role of microorganisms in disease and how to control their spread.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microbiologist

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

An Occupational Health and Safety Specialist helps protect workers from on-the-job hazards. This role typically requires an advanced graduate degree, such as a master's or PhD. This course may be useful to someone seeking a career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager is responsible for ensuring that a company's activities are sustainable and environmentally friendly. This course may be useful to someone seeking a career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes public policy issues. This course discusses the humanitarian context of public health engineering. This knowledge may be useful to a Policy Analyst working on environmental issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Water Treatment Plant Operator

A Water Treatment Plant Operator operates and maintains water treatment plants. This course can teach you about water supply systems and sanitation systems. Having this background will help you succeed in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Treatment Plant Operator

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Introduction to Public Health Engineering in Humanitarian Contexts:

Fitness, Wellness & Nutrition

19 minute read

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Public Health Engineering in Humanitarian Contexts.

Shadows of Catastrophe