Syllabus - MPH 601/NRHL 601-D3A2 Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health

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Instructor: Office Phone: Home Phone: External email:

Jude-Marie Alexis Smalec, Dr. PH 845-635-0053 Instructor Phone jAlexisSmalec@ben.edu

Virtual Office Hours: By appointment

Course Description
Behavior and Social Aspects of Public Health examines the current emphasis in the U.S. on individual behavior and personal responsibility for one's own health and the social factors that influence health from a population perspective. The course guides students to examine factors that influence health behavior, theories and models that can assist in successful health behavior change interventions, and evidence based research to improve the health of our country. We will also examine some global health issues and see how they are related to U.S. population health.

Learning Objectives
Understand the relationship between behavior and a selection of major health issues. Identify the social and behavioral theories that guide our understanding of health-related behavior, and that form the background for health promotion and prevention efforts. Explore some of the ways in which these theories and approaches are used in applied health education/promotion efforts across a variety of settings.

MPH Competencies
This course, among other courses will prepare the student to: Identify basic theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in public health research and practice. Identify the causes of social and behavioral factors that affect health of individuals and populations. Identify individual, organizational and community concerns, assets, resources and deficits for social and behavioral science interventions. Describe the merits of social and behavioral science interventions and policies. Apply evidence-based approaches in the development and evaluation of social and behavioral science interventions. Specify multiple targets and levels of intervention for social and behavioral science programs and/or policies. Develop public health programs and strategies responsive to the diverse cultural values and traditions of the communities being served.

Required Text and Resources:

Text: Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice Author: Glanz, Barbara K. Rimer, & K. Viswanath (Editors) Publisher: Jossey-Bass (A Wiley Imprint) Ed/Year: 4th Ed. /2008 ISBN: 978-0-7879-9614-7

Library Resources
The primary mission of the Benedictine University Library is to provide library resources and services that support the Benedictine University community and meet its academic and research needs. To support our mission, the Library has made provisions for all students to gain access to important academic resources through the Benedictine Library Website. As you begin your academic journey please take note of these key concepts that will affect that access: Entry into academic databases and most Library resources must be made through the Benedictine Library Website at www.ben.edu/library Within one week of your official enrollment your patron information will be automatically entered into the library system, where once entered, you will be able to check out books and access databases When off-campus you will be prompted by authentication software (a proxy server) to provide your Library ID number and last name to access article databases and request books. This software proxy server confirms that you are a current Benedictine University student and thus allowed access Your Library ID number is a combination of the Benedictine Library prefix 2281100 and your seven-digit student ID number (also called your number). Thus 2281100XXXXXXX is the Library ID number with being the seven digit student number. This number is prominently located just below the barcode on your Benedictine ID card For further information on any aspect of Library resources and access please call or write the Benedictine Library Reference Desk at 630-829-6057 or libref@ben.edu. Please take note of Library hours and staff directory located on the Library Website under About the Library and feel free to contact us about any concern or need you might have.

Course Requirements
Discussion Forums: This course is designed to be a collaborative learning experience using Discussion Forums. Each week, two Discussion assignments on topics related to the course topic will be assigned. To receive a minimum passing grade, you must make a posting by midweek and a respond to at least one otherposting by the end of the week which must be on two separate days. However, I hope each of you make more than three postings and really get into the heart of the discussions. NOTE: Only discussions threads posted by 11:00pm CST on Sunday of the week they are due will count for grading purposes. Course Polices: You are encouraged to access this course three to five times per week, including weekends. If you do so, you will be able to fully participate in the Discussion Forums, complete your assignments and access the course announcements in a timely manner. Please note that all assignments are to be submitted by the due date listed in the course schedule. Late assignments will be penalized.

Grading Criteria

All course assignments must use APA citation and formatting. This is a mandatory requirement for all assignments, including discussions, if a publication or other work is being referenced. For more information on APA, please see the APA Style section at the website of the American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org/). All course assignments must use APA citation and formatting. This is a mandatory requirement for all assignments, including discussions, if a publication or other work is being referenced. For more information on APA, please see the APA Style section at the website of the American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org/). Grades will be based on a total of 230 points. Discussion Assignments (90 points) Written Assignments (60 points) Team Project (80 points) Discussion Assignments Week 01 Discussion - Major Health Problems in the United States Week 02 Discussion - What Influences Health Behavior? Week 02 Discussion - Prevention and Cessation of Tobacco Use by Youth Week 03 Discussion - How Can We Help Turn the Tide? Week 04 Discussion - HIV/AIDS in the U.S. - Lessons Learned and Future Directions Week 05 Discussion - Social Media and Participatory Health Week 06 Discussion - Preventing Cancer, CVD and Diabetes - A Common Agenda Week 07 Discussion - International Impact of Obesity, Tobacco and AIDS Week 08 Discussion - Review of Team Projects and New Ideas Total Points

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

90

Individual Written Assignments Week 03 Written Assignment - Obesity in the United States Week 06 Written Assignment - Media and Health Behavior Total

Points 30 30 60

Team Assignments Week 02 Team Assignment - Topic Selection and Literature Review Week 05 Team Assignment - Create an Outline of Team Paper Week 07 Team Discussion - Team Presentation Q&A Week 08 Team Assignment - Final Team Paper Total

Points

10

10

20 40 80

Grade A B C D F

% Of Total Points 90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% Below 60%

Points

Grading Rubric for Discussion Posts For five points, a posting will thoughtfully consider and respond to the question (or classmate's message), using sound argumentation and clear prose. A stellar posting that will contain virtually no grammatical errors or typos. Not only will such a post engage with the ongoing conversation in a rhetorically suitable

fashion, it will foster further discussion on the topic, perhaps exploring new lines of argument or different perspectives. The five-point grade isn't just a response; it's proof that you are facilitating learning both for yourself and your fellow students. This posting should be approximately 200 words in length and corresponds to an A. The four-point posting is a competent response to the subject: it's 100 words long, more or less, it addresses the question, without going into much detail, and it contributes to the overall conversation as another voice on the subject. A four-point posting amounts to a B. This posting reflects a less-than-adequate engagement with the subject, or is noticeably under the required word count. It does little to advance the discussion underway, and may even detract from it. The three-point posting amounts to a D. No posting, late posting, or a post that is but the briefest nod toward a response - zero percent.

Grading Scale
The University uses the following grade point system to evaluate student performance: A B C D 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 Excellent Good Satisfactory Passing F I W X 0.00 Failure Incomplete Withdrawal Deferred

The University uses the following grade point system to evaluate student performance: A = 4.00 90-100% B = 3.00 80-89% C = 2.00 70-79% D = 1.00 60-69% F = 0.0 0-59%

I = Incomplete W = Withdrawal

Late Assignments
Per University policy, assignments cannot be accepted by an instructor after the last day of the course. In the event of extenuating circumstances, please see the information regarding the Incomplete Policies and Procedures.

Incompletes: Policy and Procedures

Under extraordinary circumstances, when a student is unable to complete all course assignments by the final date of the session, a grade of 'I'(Incomplete) may be requested by the student and issued with the permission of the instructor. In order to be eligible for an Incomplete, a student must be performing satisfactorily in the course, have completed a substantial portion of the course and be in good academic standing. Online students may have as many as 28 days in which to complete their work and submit for a final grade from the instructor. Incomplete grades not addressed by students will become an F unless the student has removed it. It is the students responsibility to complete all course requirements.

University Academic Honesty Policy

The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central missions of a university. Benedictine University pursues these missions in an environment guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine Heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all University students. Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery, falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation are violations of these expectations and constitute unacceptable behavior in the University community. To access the complete Academic Honesty Policy, which includes student responsibility, responsibility and authority of faculty, violations, reporting and communicating, responsibilities of the provost, appeals, composition of the academic appeals board, procedures of the academic appeals board, and records, please select the following link: Academic Honesty Policy

Services for Students with Disabilities

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities by standing provision of reasonable accommodations to make programs and activities accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, please contact the Student Success Center, Krasa Center - 012A, 630-829-6340. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The University will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

updated September 2011

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