Course Syllabus
PLEASE READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY!!!
Health Psychology (Selected Topics) PSYC3565 01V Online CRN 84996
Instructor: Dr. H. Richman Room/Times TBA Fall 2012
Course homepage:
Places you need to be able to get to: (subject to change)
1. Course "Webpage": http//psyc.columbusstate.edu/richman/PSYC3565VHealth.htm (detailed course information, syllabus, study guides, etc.)
2. CougarNET “My Courses” Selected Topics Health Psychology (day to day information,“NEWS,” files, test information and dates, copies of emails I will be sending out, etc.
3. CougarVIEW (Vista/Blackboard) login page
https://colstate.view.usg.edu/webct/logonDisplay.dowebct?insId=21194011&glcid=URN:X-WEBCT-VISTA-V1:03128e43-a818-5d85-016b-ced828b6330a&insName=Columbus%20State%20University
Don't go there yet. “CougarVIEW” will be used ONLY for Online Testing.
email: fastest, most reliable response
Phone: 565-3576, Office: Faculty Office Building (FOB) 124
Office Hours: T & Th 12:45 - 1:15 pm M & W 5:15 - 5:45 pm
Required Text: Health Psychology by Brannon and Feist, 6th ed. is the OFFICIAL COURSE TEXT. The new 7th ed. is also acceptable. However, there is some minor chapter reorganization and content deletion (I'll provide that deleted content), see the course schedule below).
IMPORTANT!!!!: For an online class to run smoothly, and for students to do well, both faculty and students must communicate well and be clear about what to expect and what needs to be done and when. To avoid potential problems, the following guidelines are being CLEARLY stated and NO exceptions will be made.
If YOU ENROLL IN THIS COURSE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT FREQUENTLY. ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO QUIZ AND TEST DATES AND TIMES WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU. ***CAREFULLY FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS IN MY EMAILS, POSTED ON THE COURSE WEBPAGE, AND IN THIS SYLLABUS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING TESTING***. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND I WILL RESPOND PROMPTLY. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY ANSWERED ON THE WEBPAGE OR IN THE SYLLABUS. Emails will be sent to your CSU email address. Forwarding to another email address, if desired, will be the STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
Course Description:
This course will provide the student with an in depth understanding of the growing field of health psychology, including history, theory, health related behaviors and diseases, prevention strategies, and interventions. Students will be responsible for reading the text on their own. Support will be provided in the form of online study guides which you can download and print. I will also be available to respond to your questions via email.
Tehcnicological Requirements: You will need access to a computer with reliable and fast (NOT a telephone modem) internet access for taking online Quizzes and Exams (if you choose online Exams). You will need access to Cougarnet to receive my emails, access discussion and chat features, and download files if I place any there. Your computer will need a web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer), and Microsoft Word.
Course Grade and Testing: Testing will be objective (i.e., multiple choice) and closely follow the text and study guides.
Testing Format: Testing will be objective (i.e., multiple choice) and closely follow the study guides and text. You can take the Major Exams online (times TBA) or on campus (paper and pencil. arrangements TBA). If you do not arrange an on campus (paper and pencil exam) I will assume that you have chosen to test “online.” If you do neither, makeup exam "point penalties," my "syllabus policy," OR the CSU "missed test" policy may be applied. The instructor reserves the right to change testing procedures if "technology" problems make it necessary. The QUIZZES will be available ONLINE ONLY.
Major Exams: 84% of your grade will be based on four "Major Exams" (21% each). You will NOT routinely receive detailed results on the "Major Exams" other than your score. You are welcome to come to my office to go over your exam in detail. You can take the major exams online (times TBA) or on campus (traditional paper and pencil). Depending on how many students request on campus testing, we may meet as a group (day and time TBA) or take the exams individually by appointment. If you do not contact me regarding “on-campus” testing, I will assume that you have chosen to test “online”. If you do neither, the "Makeup Exams" policy below applies. The instructor reserves the right to change testing procedures if necessary.
Quizzes 16% of your course grade will be based on four practice "Quizzes," one per exam (4% each). The primary purpose of the quizzes is to let you know how well prepared you are for the exam. Each quiz, will, of course, cover only a small amount of the material that will be on the exam. You can take each Quiz two times. On these Quizzes, you will receive immediate feedback which you can use to study and improve your score on your second try. The higher of the two scores is the one that will count towards your grade. Doing well on these quizzes will, of course, help your overall grade. Quizzes will be available online only and there are NO makeup quizzes. All quizzes and exams are based on a 100 point scale.
Makeup exams: will be given ONLY in the two following situations: (1) If ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, you can schedule an alternate time (paper and pencil only) in advance of the on-campus/online test time or (2) without prior notice (“no show”)a makeup test will only be given if the student provides written documentation that a situation “beyond the student’s control” was at cause (e.g., illness for which you were treated, traffic accident, etc.). This is especially true for the final exam. Time, location, and format for makeup tests will be at the convenience of the instructor and/or department support staff. If you miss a test without just cause (e.g. I forgot, I didn’t feel well, my car wouldn’t start, my hamster had an anxiety attack) you will NOT be given a makeup test. Normally, the grade for the missed test will be computed as the average of your other two test grades (before addition of any extra credit points if any have been offered) minus 30 percent. However, CSU policy states that if you miss a “previously announced” test you can be given a grade of 0 for that test.
Attendance:
There is, of course, no attendance policy. However, it is the student’s responsibility to keep up with reading and regularly check YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT AND COUGARNET My Courses "News" for quiz and test dates, changes, etc.
Deportment:
The same standards that apply to a traditional class apply here. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to a college classroom as specified in the student handbook. Behavior which is inappropriate to a college classroom, interferes with class, and/or infringes on the rights of other students is unacceptable and will quickly result in contact with the appropriate university authorities and appropriate action taken.
Additionally, it is important for us all (student and faculty) to be particularly careful about what we say and how we say it when we communicate online. Whatever the message, it tends to come across as less courteous, more extreme, and more impersonal on a computer screen.
Overall Average is computed as follows:
Average = .84*(average of 4 major exams) + .16*(average of 4 quizzes).
Example Assume your four Exam grades were 80, 80, 90, and, 78; and your three Quiz grades were 90, 85, 80, and 95
Overall Average = .84*[(80+80+90+78)/4] + .16*[(90+85+80+95)/4]
= .84*[328/4] + .16*[350/4]
= .84*[82] + .16*[87.5]
= 70.52 + 13.13 = 83.65 = "B"
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
Overall Average Grade
_______________________________________________________________
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
Below 60 __ F_
(Note: on all grade computations .5 or larger fractions round up, .4 and smaller round down) Example 79.4 = a "C", 79.5 = a "B"
Tentative Course Outline:
Week of Topic(s) 6th Ed. 7th Ed.
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1. 8/13 Introducing Health Psychology ch. 1 1
2. 8/20 Conducting Health Research ch. 2 2
3. 8/27 Seeking Health care ch. 3 3
4. 9/3 Adhering to Medical Advice ch. 4 4
5. 9/10 Defining and Measuring Stress ch. 5 5
6. 9/17 Understanding Stress and Disease ch. 6 6
7. 9/24 Understanding Pain ch. 7 7-8
8. 10/1 Managing Stress and Pain ch. 8 7-8
9. 10/8 Behavioral Factors in Cardio / Cancer ch.9/10 9/10
10. 10/15 Living with Chronic Illness ch. 11 11
11 10/22 Preventing Injuries ch. 12 Handout
12. 10/29 Smoking Tobacco ch. 13 12
13. 11/5 Using Alcohol and Other Drugs ch. 14 13
14. 11/12 Eating and Weight ch. 15 14
15. 11/19 Exercising ch. 16 15
16. 11/26 Future Challenges ch. 17 16
17. 12/3 Future Challenges ch. 17 16
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Dates for Exams 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be announced (see emails). We have about 16 weeks so Exam 1 will likely be about 5 weeks into the semester, exam 2 about 10 weeks in, and so on. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of exact dates and times.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify, analyze, and communicate the major schools of thought and historical development of the field of health psychology.
2. Identify, analyze and communicate the methods and techniques utilized in research related to identification of biological, environmental, and behavioral factors that impact health.
3. Ability to identify and describe interventions used by health psychologists to promote better health and prevent disease.
Official Withdrawal Policy:
To drop a course after schedule change (Aug. 17):
You may drop a course by submitting the Request for Withdrawal from Courses form in ISIS. Any course dropped after Aug 17 2012 becomes part of your academic record. A grade of "W" will be assigned for withdrawal requests submitted by the "withdrawal Deadline" of the term or part term (see the Dates of Terms section) unless a grade of "WF" has been assigned already by the registrar for excessive absence. A grade of "WF" will be assigned for courses on withdrawal requests submitted after the "withdrawal Deadline" of the term or part term. Contact the Instructor, for procedures to appeal the assignment of a "WF" grade.
*Note: The "withdrawal Deadline" for this course is Sep. 7, 2012.
Official ADA Policy:
If you have a documented disability, as described by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 933-112 Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and would like to request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact Joy Norman at the Office of Disability Services in the Schuster Student Success Center - Room 221 or call 706-507-8755 as soon as possible. Course requirements will not be waived but reasonable accommodations may be provided as appropriate.