PSYCHOLOGY 2323 W01 Health Psychology COURSE SYLLABUS Fall 2010 Instructor: Ruth Kirson Contact: During the course please get in touch with me via the course mail tool accessed on the course homepage or on the course menu. I will be checking this frequently, however please expect a reasonable response time (approx 48 hrs although likely sooner). I will try to respond to urgent messages as quickly as possible. Your first task in this course is to read the "start here" documents that you will find on the homepage for this course (if you are reading this you may have already completed this first task). Next -- >send me a mail message using the mail tool in the course to let me know you have successfully found your way into the course and discovered at least this syllabus and the course mail. External E-mail: rkirson@langara.bc.ca but expect that you will contact me within the course for course related communication (unless you have some difficulty with access). Note: I will not be on campus this term so there will be no opportunity to meet in person in my office and I will not receive phone messages in a timely manner. Course Description This course examines many aspects related to the topic of health psychology. We will look at the ways in which people adjust to daily life including the nature and responses to stress. Topics such as stress and coping, psychoneuroimmunology, health promotion, health and physical activity, health-compromising behaviours, and pain will be discussed.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1115 and 1215 Required Text: Poole, G., Matheson, D. H., Cox, D. H. (2008). The Psychology of Health and Health Care: A Canadian Perspective (3rd Ed.). Toronto, Ont: Pearson Prentice Hall. Learning Outcomes: To become a sceptical inquirer by using analytical skills and critical think Understand basics about the growing discipline of health psychology Become familiar with a variety of health-related topics and some of the research Become familiar with some of the current Canadian research. Develop research, discussion and presentation skills. Learn and practice a new stress/coping technique Continue to develop skills in assessing quality of Web resources. Course Procedures and Evaluation: Important: Although there are no scheduled "class times" for this course it is NOT self-paced. You may do your work at whatever time is convenient however you will need to proceed through the course material according to the posted syllabus dates (see below and course calendar). There will be activities and discussions that centre on the current chapter reading so it is important to keep up with text readings. It is expected that you will log into the course regularly (at least few times a week) to keep up with important messages from me (and your classmates), complete exercises and assignments and to contribute to the ongoing discussions. Success in the course depends on your regular "attendance". Note: If you intend to drop the course (especially in the first week) please extend the courtesy of notifying me ASAP since there is usually a wait list of eager students. If I do not hear from you in the first week of classes (via course email or otherwise) I may assume your intention is to drop and start those proceedings.
Note: It is important that you communicate with me about your progress in the class. If you are floundering for any reason --let me know about it! If you are unsure about procedure or how to access information in the course you can send me mail or use the discussion board. Remember there may be others who are unsure too and you would be helping them out byy asking. You'll find this out elsewheree but remember that the discussion postings are public (all class members can read them) whereas the mail function is private (only I will see it) so adjust your messages accordingly. In this course you will be expected to: 1. complete textbook and other reading assignments. This involves: reading all assigned chapters completing exercises or surveyss associated with specific chapters reading any other 'linked' articles as indicated 2. participate in an on-going structured discussion topics. This involves: initiating discussions on proposed and related topics responding to musingss posted byy your classmates and instructor. 3. choose a coping technique new to you and practice it for a period of one week keep a daily journal and submit journal and evaluation of the expe 4. research a complementary or alternative medicine and find WWWW and published information on the chosen treatmentt critically evaluate research information post brief public overview of your work in the discussion section 5. submit all written assignments by the due dates. 6. complete a mid-term and a final exam--online. Assignments: There is one major assignment to be completed individually throughout the term. See the assignments section on the course homepage for details on assignments. Assignments are due on the posted due date. Late assignments will bee penalized 10% per day; assignments more than 5 days late will not be accepted.
Assignments are to be typed, double spaced, and follow A.P.A guidelines where applicable. Please use a regular word processing program such as "Word". No external e-mail submissions are accepted. Use your name in the document name that you submit. Discussions: You are required to contribute to various discussion topics throughout the term. Your contributions will be monitored and assessed resulting in a participation mark. Please treat your attendance and participation as you would in a professional setting where regular attendance and enthusiastic, quality participation in discussions are expected and deemed essential. You may be asked to do little activities (such as search out a website, read a module in the text and comment) before you make a posting. Only postings made within 7 days of the original posting will be counted toward your participation mark. Try to respond to your classmates postings just as you would want your comments acknowledged. Read the discussion guidelines (access link from course information page) for more details on expectations, protocol and acceptable conduct in the discussion section of the course. Exams: There will be one midterm and one final exam written online. The midterm is to be taken on-line at specific times --for the midterm you will have a choice of two times in the day, one in the morning and one in the early evening; exams will be time limited. You MUST let me know well in advance if you have a conflict that you cannot rearrange (such as playing for a Langara sports team). The instructor will decide whether or not the conflict can be accommodated. The final exam will be on a date during the final exam period and is set by the college (official date posted as soon as possible) and will be time limited. Students must make themselves available to write this final. The exams will be mixture of multiple choice/short answer format. You will be tested on material from the textbook and other readings assigned as indicated. Evaluation Date % Final
Grade Assignment Nov 12 25 Participation/Discussions Throughout Term 10 Midterm Exam (Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5) Final Exam (Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11) Oct 20 32.5 During Regular Final Exam Period at 6:30 p.m. 32.5 Please Note: There are NO MAKE UP EXAMS. If you are going to miss an exam, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor PRIOR to the exam and provide suitable documentation (i.e. medical note). Permission will be granted only for excuses deemed legitimate by the instructor. IF YOU DO NOT CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR PRIOR TO THE EXAM, YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO ( 0 ) FOR THAT EXAM. Note: Academic misconduct. Cheating and plagiarism are both unacceptable and either activity may lead to serious disciplinary measures. Grading: Your total for all evaluated components will be turned into a final letter grade for the course: Date Sept 7 12 Sept 13 19 Sept 20 26 Sept 27 Oct 3 Oct 4 10 Psyc 2323 Course Schedule* Topic/Chapter/Readings Introduction; Orientation, Course Syllabus etc. Chapter 1: The Development of the Field Continue Chapter 1: The Development of the Field Module A: Read for interest and discussion Chapter 3: Stress and Coping Continue Chapter 3: Stress and Coping; Start Chapter 4: Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) Continue Chapter 4: PNI;
Oct 11 17 Oct 18 24 Oct 25 31 Nov 1 7 Nov 8 14 Nov 15 21 Nov 22 28 Nov 29 Dec 6 Dec 7, 8 Dec 9 17 Start Chapter 5: Communication in Medical Settings Oct 11 Thanksgiving Holiday College Closed Continue Chapter 5: Communication in Medical Settings Catch up/ Midterm Oct 20 (Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5); 9:30 a.m. OR 6:30 p.m. Chapter 8: Health Promotion Continue Chapter 8: Health Promotion Start Chapter 9: Health and Physical Activity Continue Chapter 9: Health and Physical Activity Nov 11 Remembrance Day College Closed Assignment Due: Nov 12 Chapter 10: Health Compromising Behaviours Continue Chapter 10: Health Compromising Behaviours Start Chapter 11: Pain Continue Chapter 11: Pain Study Days Exam Period; Final (Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11): 6:30 p.m. Date TBA please check Langara exam schedule when posted. *Please Note: This is tentative time schedule and will be followed as closely as possible however it is subject to change as the course progresses. You will be notified of any changes.