San Diego State University
Public Health
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Course Syllabus
Fall 2011
PH 402
Public Health Communication
3
Virginia Kreisworth, Ph.D.
Hardy Tower, 109
Tue: 11:30am to 3:00pm
Thurs: 11:30am to 1:00pm
and by appointment
(619) 594-1623
vkreiswo@mail.sdsu.edu
(best way to contact me)
Purpose of the Course
Effective communication techniques used in public health campaigns, social marketing
and risk communication. Use of technology to design and conduct public health
campaigns that focus on recognizing and overcoming communication barriers, including
cross-cultural issues.
Course Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Define health communication.
2. Identify the factors that contribute to effective health communication.
3. Identify the phases in the Health Communication model.
4. Discuss what occurs in each phase of the Health Communication model.
5. Identify and describe the different behavior change theories that pertain to health
communication.
6. Discuss various health communication strategies.
7. Identify the various types of visual aids involved in the development of health
communication strategies.
8. List the advantages and disadvantages of using various types of visual aids.
9. Discuss the role that media plays in the portrayal of health messages and campaigns.
10. Evaluate the effectiveness of health communication campaigns.
11. Create health communication messages.
12. Develop and implement a public health communication presentation.
Required Textbook
Bensley, Robert J. and Brookins-Fisher, Jodi. Community Health Education Methods, 3rd
ed., Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2009.
Evaluation Procedures
1. Exam 1 - October 4, 2011
Chapters 1-5 and class notes
2. Exam 2 - November 3, 2011
Chapters 6-9 and class notes
3. Exam 3 - December 13, 2011 (8:00am to 10:00am)
Chapters 10-14 and class notes
4. Homework Assignments
- Will be announced in class and posted in the Assignment
section
5. Volunteering Your Time
- Information is posted in the Assignment section
Grading
Exam 1 = 50 points
Exam 2 = 50 points
Exam 3 = 50 points
Homework Assignments = 30 points
Volunteering = 25 points
Total = 205 points
Attendance
Attendance and class participation are important. More than four unexcused absences
lower the final grade as follows:
 5-6 absences by one letter grade
 7-8 absences by two letter grades
 9 or more absences will result in an “F”
Final Grading System
A = 94% - 100%
A- = 90% - 93%
B+ = 87% - 89%
B = 84% - 86%
B- = 80% - 83%
C+ = 77% - 79%
C = 74% - 76%
C- = 70% - 73%
D+ = 67% - 69%
D = 64% - 66%
D- = 60% - 63%
F = Below 60%
Important Class Information
1. Please turn off your cell phone, Blackberry, or other electronic device
before class begins, and put it in your backpack, purse, pocket, etc.
2. Please refrain from talking with your neighbor(s) when the instructor is lecturing or
your fellow students are asking questions. It is difficult for others around you to hear
what is being said.
3. Make-up exams will be given only with documentation of an illness or emergency. If
given, it will be in a different format than the one taken by the class.
4. Homework assignments must be submitted in class on the announced due date, at the
beginning of the class period.
5. If a person is absent on the day that an assignment is due, it can be emailed to Dr.
Kreisworth, no later than 9:30am.
6. There are no make-up assignments.
7. All assignments must be typed.
8. There is no extra credit work.
9. It is your responsibility to get missed class notes from a fellow class member.
10. Announcements will be posted on Blackboard. Check daily for announcements.
11. Lecture notes or outlines are usually posted on Blackboard. When posted, copy
and bring them to class. It is your responsibility to check Blackboard, especially on
Monday and Wednesday evenings. Notes are posted by 10:00pm or an
Announcement on Blackboard will state if notes will be posted at a later time.
12. Cheating or plagiarism not only violates SDSU academic standards, but makes the
offender liable to penalties. Refer to the SDSU Academic Senate Policy regarding,
“Handling Cases of Suspected Plagiarism.”
13. If a class must be cancelled without prior notification, it will be posted on
Blackboard the day of the class, no later than 7:00am.