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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PS 351"
COURSE NAME: "Health Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2017
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Nicola Petrocchi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PS 101
OFFICE HOURS:
Before or after class or by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine five broad areas: the foundations of health psychology including health research; stress, pain and coping; behavioral factors in cardiovascular disease and chronic disease; tobacco, alcohol, drugs, eating, and exercise; and challenges in health psychology.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The purpose of this course is to help students develop an understanding of how cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social and biological factors contribute to physical health and illness. Current research and examples across a number of health concerns will be examined and students will have opportunities to evaluate, synthesize and apply this information to case studies and to consider this information for management of their own health. One of the aims of the course is to prepare the student to read psychological literature with a critical eye, considering the difficulties involved in studying human psychological processes in an objective way.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course in Health Psychology, students should have an understanding and appreciation of common health concerns and current evidence relating the role of physiology, emotions, cognition, and behavior choices to the prevention and treatment of illness and to the promotion and maintenance of health.
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TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
Health Psychology: a textbook. 5th Edition, 2012 | Jane Ogden, Ph.D. | Open University Press | ISBN-10: 0335243835 ISBN-13: 978-0335243839 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
3 tests | | 20 % each |
Final examination | | 20% |
Individual assignment & participation in class activities | | 20% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
Attendance and participation, although not mandatory, are essential to earn a good grade for this course. Students are strongly invited to attend every class meeting, and to come to class prepared and ready to participate in discussions.
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
WEEK 1 | Introducing Health Psychology: background and aims. | CHAPTER 1 | | |
WEEK 1 | Health inequalities: variability in health and illness. | CHAPTER 2 | | |
WEEK 2 | Health believes and risk perception | CHAPTER 3 | | |
WEEK 2 | Motivation and self-determination theory:
the social cognition model | CHAPTER 3 | | |
WEEK 3 | Addicting behaviors: smoking and alcohol use | CHAPTER 4 | | |
WEEK 3 | Stages of substance use and cessation approaches | CHAPTER 4 | | |
WEEK 4 | Diet and health: models of eating behavior | CHAPTER 5 | | |
WEEK 4 | Body dissatisfaction and dieting /
Review for test
| CHAPTER 5 | | |
WEEK 5 | TEST I | CHAPTERS 1-5 | | |
WEEK 5 | Exercise: motivation and behavior | CHAPTER 6 | | |
WEEK 6 | Health risk behaviors: risk believes and decision making approaches | CHAPTER 7 | | |
WEEK 6 | Health promotion: cognitive and behavioral approaches | CHAPTER 8 | | |
WEEK 7 | Becoming ill: illness cognitions | CHAPTER 9 | | |
WEEK 7 | Accessing health care & psychological adjustments to physical illness | CHAPTER 9 & 10 | | |
WEEK 8 | Stress: psychological and physiological factors | CHAPTER 11 | | |
WEEK 8 | How does stress cause illness? The role of coping behaviors/ Review for test | CHAPTER 12 | | |
WEEK 9 | TEST II | CHAPTERS 9-12 | | |
WEEK 9 | Being ill: pain and the placebo effect
| CHAPTER 13 | | |
WEEK 10 | Chronic illness and psychology: HIV and cancer | CHAPTER 14 | | |
WEEK 10 | Obesity and heart disease: psychological factors | CHAPTER 15 & HANDOUTS | | |
WEEK 11 | Other psychological and behavioral factors in cardiovascular disease | CHAPTER 15 & HANDOUTS | | |
WEEK 11 | Women’s health issues | CHAPTER 16 | | |
WEEK 12 | Men’s health issues | CHAPTER 17 | | |
WEEK 12 | Measuring health status: from mortality rates to quality of life | CHAPTER 18 | | |
WEEK 13 | TEST III | CHAPTERS 14-18 & HANDOUTS | | |
WEEK 14 | Reflecting on Health Psychology: learning to be critical | CHAPTER 19 & HANDOUTS | | |
WEEK 14 | Frontiers in Health Psychology / Review for final examination
| CHAPTER 19 & HANDOUTS | | |
WEEK 13 | Quantitative and qualitative research methods in health psychology/
Review for test
| CHAPTER 18 & HANDOUTS | | |
Week 14 | | | | |
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