Spring 2012 Form
NEW UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
PROPOSAL
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
The following information is required to approve a new program. When using this template, move the
cursor a little to the right of label, click to place the cursor there, and then type or paste in as much
information as needed. Typing or pasting in text will move subsequent labels farther down the page.
Each main section (General Information, Marketing Information, and Academic Information) begins a
new page.
College: Human Sciences
Department: Psychology
Approvals Required
(1) Academic Unit Head: Scott B. Morris, February 6, 2013.
(2) Dean:
(3) Other:
Date: 2/26/20137
GENERAL INFORMATION
Proposal Title: Behavioral Health and Wellness
Program Scheduling (Next to the appropriate semester, click on the blank and type in the year):
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Summer
Total Program Credit Hours: 126-128
Program Description: Provide a brief narrative of the program content (use as much space as needed).
The Behavioral Health and Wellness degree program will provide students with a broad
understanding of how lifestyle choices impact health, and how health professionals design
programs to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Students will develop an understanding of three
core areas: (i) intervention development and implementation, (ii) community care coordination,
and (iii) public health policy. Promoting skills in these interrelated areas will prepare graduates
for a wide range of health/wellness professions in private business and industry, community
organizations, and healthcare environments.
The Behavioral Health and Wellness degree is designed as an interdisciplinary program,
combining coursework in psychology, sociology, political science and nutritional science to
address health promotion at the individual, institutional and societal levels. The curriculum of
the Behavioral Health and Wellness major will provide students with a broad understanding of
the psychological, social and cultural context of health behavior, including related theories,
skills, and emerging technology.
The degree program will include a capstone project designed to integrate and apply the
concepts and skills learned throughout the curriculum. The capstone will be an individually
tailored project defined in collaboration with a faculty advisor, which will typically involve a field
placement and may include a research component.
Program Purpose: Provide details on the intent of the program and its relation to other programs.
In recent decades, the nature of health care has shifted toward an increased need for
investments in behavioral health and wellness. Lifestyle change is now widely considered an
integral and cost effective method for both the prevention and management of chronic illness
(e.g., obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and HIV/AIDS) and disability. Unhealthy
behavior is costly, not only in terms of direct health care, but also in terms of lost time and
suboptimal productivity in the workplace.
Students enrolled in this degree program will develop knowledge of three core areas related to
promoting behavioral health and wellness: (i) intervention development and implementation,
(ii) community care coordination, and (iii) public health policy analysis and advocacy.
By studying behavioral health and wellness, students will learn:
 Principles of designing and implementing behavior change programs for a variety of
health related behaviors, including tobacco and substance abuse, physical activity and
diet, and utilization of health care services.
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Theories of behavior change, counseling techniques, and the use of technology to
facilitate behavior change.
The value of cultural and community-specific tailoring of behavioral health
interventions.
The fundamentals of public health policy, both historical and contemporary, at the
local, state, national, and international levels. Students will be encouraged to evaluate
different policies critically, and will develop an understanding of how policy decisions
are influenced by advocates and elected officials.
In order to develop this rich and interrelated set of skills, the Behavioral Health and Wellness
degree will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, combining coursework in psychology,
sociology, political science, nutritional science, epidemiology, biology, public health, and
technical communication.
In addition to domain knowledge, the curriculum has been designed to develop broader
knowledge and skills that are essential for careers in health promotion. These areas have
been identified through a review of occupational information (O*Net, Occupational Outlook)
and interviews with professionals in the field. These competencies, which are directly
transferable to health-related positions, include:
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Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and
training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the
measurement of training effects.
Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for
providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment,
meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and
dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and
entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences
in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research
methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Behavior Change Principles and Techniques — Knowledge of principles, methods,
and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental
dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics,
societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history
and origins.
Research and Analytics – Ability to gather and analyze information regarding client
health needs, and to use this information to guide program development.
Teamwork – Working effectively with other health professionals as part of a
coordinated care team.
Further, the program will provide opportunities for students to develop a sense of
professionalism by participating in applied activities including scholarship, networking,
community service, and related disciplinary professional activities.
Program Benefits: State the impact of the program for students and for IIT.
The program will prepare students for behavioral health promotion careers in a variety of
settings, including employer sponsored wellness programs, public health agencies, medical
centers, colleges and commercial firms. The program will also prepare graduates to be
competitive for a wide range of graduate training programs at the masters and doctoral levels,
including: health psychology/behavioral medicine, clinical psychology, counseling,
rehabilitation psychology, social psychology, public health administration, public policy, social
work, nursing, nutrition, epidemiology and others.
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code
5
1
.
0
0
0
1
Required to make the program US Financial Aid Eligible - The CIP code takes the following structure: xx.xxxx
Where each x is a number between 0 and 9. This 6-digit code identifies, to the greatest specificity possible, an
entire instructional program. The classification scheme seeks to comprehensively address all areas of study.
Because of the dynamic nature of education, however, new CIP codes are frequently added to the list. The first 2digits are the first cut off of detail and describe the general discipline of the program. For example, any program
with a CIP that starts with 14 is within the Engineering discipline; anything with a 22 is within the legal discipline.
The next 2 digits increase the level of detail, and the final 2-digits provide the highest level of detail.
Find CIP codes at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode
MARKETING INFORMATION
Competitive Programs: Indicate other similar programs locally and nationally detail their success.
Northern Illinois University, BS in Public Health Promotion
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, BS in Health Psychology
Jefferson College of Health Sciences, BS in Health Psychology
Market Analysis: Detail the results of any market analysis performed; if none, provide justification for the program
including (potential) employment opportunities for graduates.
Changes to health care delivery under the Affordable Care Act are expected to create new
jobs focusing on prevention, management of chronic illness, and integration of health
services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in health education and health
promotion will grow by 37% over the next decade.
Employment opportunities with a B.S. in Behavioral Health and Wellness include jobs in
patient education, behavioral health coaching, or assisting psychologists and other health
professionals involved with direct patient care, policy analysis, or advocacy. Settings for
employment include medical clinics, community health centers, vocational rehabilitation
offices, employer sponsored wellness programs, research centers, and the growing number of
behavioral health technology companies.
Given that many jobs in the field require graduate level training, the Behavioral Health and
Wellness degree will prepare graduates for a wide range of graduate programs at both the
masters and doctoral levels, including: health psychology / behavioral medicine, clinical
psychology, counseling, rehabilitation psychology, social psychology, public health
administration, public policy, social work, nursing, nutrition, and epidemiology.
Marketing and Advertising: List the strategies to be employed for the program.
A high priority for the university is to build programs and majors in the Lewis College of
Human Sciences. Strategies for the program will be developed in consultation with the
Admissions office.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Enrollment Estimates: Provide estimates for initial enrollments (first three years) and for steady state including
justification.
The target enrollment for the first year is 20 students.
Retention Estimates: Provide estimates for retention including justification.
Current retention rates of > 90% between first and second year are anticipated for the
proposed program.
Course Requirements: Detail the courses needed for the program including courses currently offered, new
courses to be developed, and dependence on courses from other academic units with their commitments to
provide these courses on a long-range basis. Include descriptions of laboratories that will need to be developed
along with equipment and facilities requirements.
The interdisciplinary curriculum will draw from faculty in psychology, social science,
technical communication, and nutritional science. The majority of the proposed
courses are already offered or can be taught by current faculty. Some elective course
offerings (e.g., physiological psychology, exercise science, epidemiology) will require
hiring of adjunct faculty. No new equipment or facilities are required.
The proposal includes the development of many new courses. Because these are
elective courses, we will have the flexibility to introduce the new courses over a period
of time, which will reduce the burden of new course development. Initial offerings will
focus on courses that are already in development. Psychology has plans to offer some
of these courses in the near future (Human Motivation and Emotion and Health
Psychology). Similarly, Food Safety & Technology has plans to offer Nutrition
Throughout the Life Cycle and Food and Behavior. Initial efforts will be focused on
building the curriculum in these two specializations, with additional public health
courses to be developed as the enrollment in this specialization grows.
Contingent on enrollments, additional faculty may be needed to provide coverage of
all of the proposed courses on a regular basis. We have a commitment from the Dean
to provide additional faculty lines when this can be justified by enrollment in the
program.
New Courses to be Developed
PSYC3XX Human Motivation and Emotion (3 CR). This course will provide a broad
overview of major theories of human motivation, both historical and contemporary. After
learning about these theories, students will explore how researchers have applied these
principles in health care, sports, management, education, and virtual/gaming environments.
PSYC4XX Health Psychology (3 CR). This course will provide a broad overview of evidencebased health psychology and behavioral medicine. Students will examine how biological,
psychological, and social factors interact with and affect: (1) Efforts people make in promoting
good health and preventing illness, (2) Treatment people receive for medical problems, (3)
Coping styles employed by people in dealing with stress and pain, (4) Recovery, rehabilitation,
and psychosocial adjustment of patients with serious health problems. The courses will also
focus on the specific chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, and the effect of
stress and lifestyle factors (for example, smoking, lack of exercises, and poor dietary
behaviors) on health outcomes.
PSYC4XX Behavior Change Principles and Practices (3 CR). Students will learn about and
apply scientific principles used to promote behavior change. Major principles covered will
include assessing stages of change, motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral
techniques, and contingency management. Emphasis will be given to techniques appropriate
for promoting healthy lifestyle changes in the context of one-on-one or small group setting.
PSYC4XX Health Education (3 CR). This course will involve learning about and applying
scientific principles used to promote health literacy. Emphasis will be placed on learning and
applying evidence-based communication strategies at the local and population levels, and
using a variety of dissemination channels (including online social media).
PSYC4XX Occupational Safety & Health (3 CR). This cross-disciplinary course will cover
issues related to promoting safety, health, and welfare among people engaged in work or
employment. This course will cover the history of workplace hazards; current U.S. and
international laws designed to promote worker safety and health; and will include case-studies
of how employers currently address this important issue.
PSYC4XX Exercise Science. The course will cover the theoretical foundations, current
practices, and professional opportunities within the field of exercise science.
PSYC4XX Addictive Behavior. A review of theoretical models of addiction from sociological,
biological, and psychological perspectives. Emphasis on alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse.
PSYC4XX Behavioral Health and Wellness Capstone. The capstone project is an
independent study that typically consists of a field placement, and may include a research
component as discussed by the student and the project advisor. The project should
incorporate and expand upon the depth of knowledge gained from previous years of study and
include predetermined deliverables. The project should focus on an area of behavioral health
and wellness that is of interest, as a means to expand the student’s knowledge on the subject
and to solidify future goals.
PSXXX Epidemiology (3 CR). This course will provide a broad overview of epidemiology,
including: history, principles, applied statistics, and key findings, with an emphasis on
understanding how behaviors contribute to chronic and infectious diseases.
PSXXX Environmental Health (3 CR). This course will introduce students to the branch of
public health concerned with how the natural and built environments influence human health.
PSXXX Cultural Competence in Health (3 CR). There is now wide recognition among health
professionals that the maximizing the effectiveness of health promotion strategies often
requires consideration of the target population or community. This course is designed to
promote awareness of research on cultural differences and how differences may influence
health outcomes; and to help prepare students to work in and with communities different from
their own.
FST4XX Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle (3 CR). Optimal diet varies based on age and
sex. This advanced course will explore how nutritional requirements differ at critical life
stages, including: infancy, early childhood, during pregnancy, and late in life.
FST4XX Food and Behavior (3 CR). Nutrition is inextricably linked to behavior, directly in so
far as eating is behavior, but also indirectly in so far as nutrition can influence physical activity
in a broader sense. This course will explore the dynamic relation between food and behavior,
covering principles that include: appetite, cravings, habit formation, and controversy
concerning the concept of “food addiction.”
SAMPLE CURRICULUM /PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Provide below a sample curriculum and the program requirements, as they would appear in the IIT Undergraduate
Programs bulletin or Graduate Programs bulletin as appropriate.
Required Courses
PSYC100 Intro to Profession (2 CR)
PSYC 221 Human Behavior, Growth and Learning (3 CR)
PSYC 222 Brain, Mind and Behavior (3 CR)
PSYC 204 Research Methods for Behavioral Science (3 CR)
or SOC209/PS209 Research Methods for Social and Political Science
PSYC 310 Social Psychology (3 CR)
or SOC 208 Social Psychology and Society
PSYC 409 Psychological Testing (3 CR)
or SOC 480 Introduction to Survey Methods
SOC 200 Intro to Sociology (3 CR)
PS/SOC 221 Social Inequality (3 CR)
COM 421 Technical Communication (3 CR)
or COM 423 Communication in the Workplace
or COM 428 Visual and Verbal Communication
or COM 435 Intercultural Communication
26 CR
Behavioral Health and Wellness Electives
30 CR of Behavior Health and Wellness electives are required.
Students must take 15 CR from one area of specialization
(Health Psychology, Public Health or Nutrition) and at least
3 CR from each of the other two specializations. The remaining 9 credits
may be taken from any specialization or from the other Behavioral
Health and Wellness Electives.
30 CR
Health Psychology Specialization
PYSC303 Abnormal Psychology (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Human Motivation and Emotion (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Health Psychology (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Behavior Change Principles and Practices (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Addictive Behavior (3 CR)
PSYC 414 Physiological Psychology (3 CR)
PSYC 435 Early Development (3 CR)
PSYC 436 Adult Development (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Health Education (3 CR)
Public Health Specialization
PS319 Comparative Health Systems (3 CR)
PS385/SOC385 Topics in Political Science/Sociology (health-related topic) (3 CR)
NEW XXX Epidemiology (3 CR)
NEW PSXXX Environmental health (3 CR)
NEW PSXXX Cultural Competence in Health (3 CR)
Nutrition Specialization
FST201 Nutrition & Wellness (3 CR)
FST401 Nutrition, Metabolism & Health (3 CR)
NEW FST4XX Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle (3 CR)
NEW FST4XX Food and Behavior (3 CR)
BIOL430 Animal Physiology (3 CR)
Other Behavioral Health & Wellness Electives
PSYC301 Industrial Psychology (3 CR)
PSYC410 Vocational Rehabilitation (3 CR)
PSYC411 Medical Aspects of Disabling Condition (3 CR)
PSYC412 Multicultural and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability (3 CR)
PSYC455 Industrial Training (3 CR)
PSYC481 Leadership and Group Dynamics (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Occupational Safety & Health (3 CR)
NEW PSYC4XX Exercise Science (3 CR)
Capstone
NEW PSYCXXX Behavioral Health & Wellness Capstone (3 CR)
3 CR
Math Requirement
At least 5 credit hours of MATH119 or above (5-6 CR)
PSYC203 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3 CR)
8-9 CR
Computer Science
CS105 Intro to Programming (2 CR)
Or CS 110 - Computing Principles (2 CR)
2 CR
Natural Science
a. Two sequential natural science or engineering courses in a single field
b. At least one natural science or engineering course in a second area
Recommended:
BIOL105 Intro to Biology (3 CR)
BIOL114 Intro to Human Biology (3 CR)
BIOL117 Human Biology Lab (1 CR)
BIOL305 Human Anatomy (3 CR)
PHYS211 Basic Physics I (3 CR) OR CHEM 124 (4 CR)
11-13 CR
Humanities/Social Science
21 CR
IPRO
6 CR
Free Electives
16-19 CR
Total
126-128 CR
Sample Curriculum
Semester 1
PSYC100 Intro to Profession
PSYC221 Human Behavior
SOC 200 Intro to Sociology
BIOL 105 Intro to Biology
HUM10x
Math requirement
Total hours
Credits
2
3
3
3
3
3
17
Semester 2
PSYC 221 Brain, Mind & Beh
PS 221 Social Inequality
BIO 114 Intro to Human Biology
BIO 117 Human Biology Lab
Humanities Elective
Math Requirement
Total hours
Credits
3
3
3
1
3
3
16
Semester 3
PSYC 203 Statistics
Credits
3
Semester 4
PS 319 Comparative Health Sys
Credits
3
PSY 310 Social Psychology
PHYS 211 Basic Physics I
Social Science Elective
Humanities elective (300+)
Total hours
Semester 5
PSY 414 Physio Psycha
PSYC xxx Health Psycha
PSYC 409 Psych Testing
BIO 305 Human Anatomy
CS 105
FST210 Nutrition & Wellnssc
Total hours
Semester 7
IPRO
COM 421 Technical Comm
PSYC xxx Behavior Change
Principles and Practicesa
Free Elective
Free Elective
Total hours
Total credit hours
3
3
3
3
15
Credits
3
3
3
3
2
3
17
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
15
PSYC 303 Abnormal Psycha
PSYC 204 Research Methods
Social Science Elective
Social Science Elective
Total hours
Semester 6
PSY 435 Early Development or
PSYC 436 Adult Developmenta
FST401 Nutrition, Metabolism &
Healthc
Humanities or Social Sci Elective
IPRO
Free Elective
Free Elective
Total hours
Semester 8
PSY 485 Psych Capstone
PSYC xxx Health Educationa
Public Health Electiveb
Free Elective
Free Elective
Total hours
128
Notes: aHealth Psychology elective; bPublic Health elective; cNutritional Science elective.
3
3
3
3
15
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
3
18
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
15