Graduate School of Public Health
San Diego State University
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
Doctoral Seminar
Spring 2012, 2 Units
Class day/time: Wednesdays 10-11:50
Class location: Sky Park
Schedule number: 22225
Email: hmadanat@mail.sdsu.edu
Instructor: Hala Madanat, PhD
Instructor office hours: By appointment
Office location: Hepner Hall 114-D
Phone: 619-594-3754
San Diego State University is dedicated to a safe, supportive and nondiscriminatory
environment. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with
University policies regarding nondiscrimination, misconduct and academic honesty.
Nondiscrimination Policy
San Diego State University complies with the requirements of Title VI and Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other applicable federal and state laws prohibiting
discrimination. No person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to
discrimination in any program of the California State University
SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or
treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Students should direct inquiries
concerning San Diego State University’s compliance with all relevant disability laws to
the Director of Student Disability Services (SDS), Calpulli Center, Room 3101, San
Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92128 or call 619-594-6473 (TDD: 619-5942929).
SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation in the
educational programs or activities it conducts.
More detail on SDSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy can be found in the SDSU General
Catalog, University Policies.
Student Conduct and Grievances
SDSU is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy living and learning environment
for students, faculty and staff. Sections 41301, Standards for Student Conduct, and
Sections 41302-41304 of the University Policies regarding student conduct should be
reviewed.
If a student believes that a professor’s treatment is grossly unfair or that a professor’s
behavior is clearly unprofessional, the student may bring the complaint to the proper
university authorities and official reviewing bodies. See University policies on Student
Grievances.
Attention Students with Disabilities
If you have any disability which may impair your ability to successfully complete this
course, please let me know during the first two weeks of class. Accommodations are
coordinated through the Student Disability Services and require documentation. The
SDSU office is located at the Calpulli Center, Suite 3101, Phone: (619) 594-6473.
I. Learning Objectives: The content of the course and the method of evaluation have
been designed to achieve the following objectives:
1. Assist students with integration into the program and the field of public health.
2. Help students formulate a plan to get the most of their doctoral program, graduate
in a timely manner, and prepare for their professional careers.
3. Understand and discuss current pressing research or practice topics in health
behavioral science;
II. Assignments
Dissertation and Research (25% of grade)
There will be two days during the semester where we will discuss your dissertation and
research ideas. Please come prepared to present and discuss.
Guest Lecture (30% of grade)
You will be responsible for teaching a guest lecture. You will need to provide me with a
copy of your presentation and a page describing what you would do differently if you
were teach the lecture again.
Review of Body Image Manuscript (25% of grade)
I will send you a manuscript that I am reviewing for Body Image Journal with the journal
guidelines
Syllabus Development (20% of grade). The assignment details will be provided by Brock
Allen.
Grading Scale:
Total Points
96-100
90-95
87-89
84-86
80-83
77-79
Assigned Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
74-76
70-73
F
C
C<70
III. Course policies
1. Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory. However, successful completion of the course requires that
student attend class. Professional behavior will be expected including arriving to class on
time and not leaving early.
2. Religious holidays
According to the University Policy File, students should notify the instructors of affected
courses of planned absences for religious observances by the end of the second week of
classes.
3. Academic misconduct
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty is an affront to the integrity of scholarship at SDSU and a threat to
the quality of learning. Violations of academic integrity are noted in the SDSU Statement
of Student Rights and Responsibilities:
2.1 Cheating shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for
academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples of
cheating include, but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole, from another’s
test or other examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas relating to the answers on a test
or other examination without the permission of the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a
test, an examination, or other course material without the permission of the instructor; (d)
using notes, cheat sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed
testing condition; (e) collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without
the permission of the instructor; (f) falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course
data; (g) submitting work previously presented in another course, if contrary to the rules
of the course; (h) altering or interfering with the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as
defined; and (j) knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above.
2.2 Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific
substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and
submitting same to the University as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements
without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited
to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting
footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting
quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence,
or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e)
submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs,
paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers
purchased from research companies.
3.0 Academic and Punitive Sanctions: Cheating and plagiarism in connection with the
academic program at The University may warrant two separate and distinct courses of
disciplinary action that may be applied concurrently in response to a violation of this
policy: (a) academic sanctions, such as grade modifications; and (b) punitive sanctions,
such as probation, suspension, or expulsion.
4. Writing Style for Assignments
All assignments are to be typed and double-spaced. Use APA style for all title page,
headings, margins, spelling, grammar, references, figures, tables, and appendices.
5. Safe Assign
“Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to
submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism.
All submitted papers may be included as source documents in the Turnitin Database
solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your
papers in such a way that no identifying information about you is included. Another
option is that you may request, in writing, that your papers not be submitted to
SafeAssign.com. However, if you choose this option you will be required to provide
documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original work and do not include
any plagiarized material.”
DISCLAIMER: Every effort will be made to follow the syllabus content and schedule;
however, if circumstances dictate there may be modifications necessary during the
semester. If such is the case the professor will make every effort to notify students in a
timely manner.
Course Calendar
Date
Week 1
January 18
Week 2
January 25
Week 3
February 2
Week 4
February 8
Topics/ Readings
Assignments
Introduction to course and Self-assessment,
Committees, Dissertation
Manuscript Review- Following the trail
Meet with Global Health and Epi Students for
Syllabus Lecture- HH-128 Thursday from 4-5:40
Body Image
Body Image Review
Manuscript reviewTeaching a course lecture/ presentation skills/engaging
Conference room100
audience
A
Week 5
National and International Databases to use
Conference room 221
February 15
First half hour: John Pierce and Jacqueline Kerr
Week 6
(Practicum description and Q&A)
Conference room 221
February 22 Dissertation and Research Ideas, Grant Mechanisms for
Dissertation
Week 6
February 29
Week 7
March 7
Week 8
March 14
Week 9
March 22
Week 10
March 28
April 4
Week 12
April 11
Week 13
April 18
Week 14
April 25
Week 15
May 2
Conference room 221
Paul Sargent- Qualitative
Conference room 221
John: Times Series design
Conference room 221
Meet with Global Health and Epi Students for
Syllabus Lecture- HH-128 Thursday from 4-5:40
Conference room 221
No class Spring Break
Shu-Hong Zhu: Presentation on recruitment
Conference room 221
Conference room 221
Conference room 221
Michael Caliguiri- Ethics
Conference room 221
Dr. Kevin Patrick- Editorial perspectives
Conference room 221
Paul Sargent- Qualitative