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University of Maryland College Park
School of Public Health
HLTH 285 – Controlling Stress and Tension
Fall 2015 – SPH 1312 – T/Th 8-9:15am
Instructor: Erin K. Tagai, MPH
Office Hours: Tues 11am-12pm, Thurs 10-11am, and
by appointment
Office: SPH 1101G
Phone: 301.405.2521
Email: ekelly7@umd.edu
Teaching Assistant: Neha Trivedi, MPH
Office Hours: Monday 3-4pm
Office: SPH 1224D
Email: nehatriv@umd.edu
Required texts and other readings:
Required:
Olpin, M. & Hesson, M. (2013). Stress management for
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life: A research-based, experiential approach (4 ed.).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 1rd
111-98725-4 – 3 edition is suitable for class
Other readings:
Other assigned readings will be included in the course
calendar and available on ELMS.
Course description: This course will examine the
biological, physiological, behavioral, psychological, and
environmental causes of stress as well as techniques to
effectively manage and prevent stress. Students will be
expected to examine their own stress management
techniques and work to improve them while documenting
their experience in journal entries. Students will be
asked to identify cultural and gender differences in
stressors and stress management methods employed.
Course requirements: This course is taught through
lecture, readings, and interactive classroom activities.
Students are expected to attend class, as this will
enhance the learning experience for themselves and
their peers. In-class assignments are reflected in the
student’s grade and make up of in-class assignments
will be prohibited. Slide presentations will typically be
posted on ELMS (elms.umd.edu).
Attendance policy: Attendance at every class is
expected. In accordance with university policy, if you are
absent for a single lecture due to illness or some form of
personal or family emergency, this absence will be
considered “excused” and the instructor will accept a
note from you, attesting to the date of the
illness/incident, along with an acknowledgement that the
information is true. Whenever feasible, you should
contact the instructor in advance. Students with excused
absences may contact the instructor/TA after the missed
class(s) for handouts and in-class assignments.
Multiple or prolonged absences, and absences that
prevent attendance at a major scheduled grading event
like an exam or test, will require written documentation
from an appropriate health care provider/organization.
Major grading events for this class includes four exams.
See www.president.umd.edu/policies/v100g.html for the
university’s absence policy.
Arriving late to class: Lateness is disruptive and highly
unprofessional. Please inform the instructor ahead of
time if you know you will be late.
Email – The Official University Correspondence:
Verify your email address: www.my.umd.edu.
All enrolled students are provided access to the
University’s email system and an email account. All
official University email communication will be sent to
this email address (or an alternate address if provided by
the student. Email has been adopted as the primary
means for sending official communications to students,
so email must be checked on a regular basis. Academic
advisors, faculty, and campus administrative offices use
email to communicate important and time-sensitive
notices.
Students are responsible for keeping their email address
up-to-date or for redirecting or forwarding email to
another address. Failure to check email, errors in
forwarding email, and returned email (from “full mailbox”
or “unknown user” errors, for example), will not excuse a
student from missing University announcements,
messages, deadlines, etc.
HLTH 285 email: Feel free to email questions and
concerns to the instructor. Please use a courteous and
professional manner in your communication and do not
abbreviate messages or words. Please use the
instructor/TA’s email address; do not use ELMS as this
will cause a delayed response. Please write “HLTH 285”
in the email subject line. The instructor and TA will
respond to emails within 2 business days (9am-5pm, MF). The instructor/TA may respond outside of these
hours, but it is to the discretion of the instructor/TA and
not to be expected for all emails.
Late work and missed exams/assignments: All
readings and assignments are due at the beginning of
class (8:00am). After this time assignments will not be
accepted. Assignments must be submitted according to
instructions provided. Assignments and quizzes may not
be made up. Exams may be made up with an approved
written excuse in advance. No extra credit will be
awarded.
HLTH 285, Fall 2015
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Course evaluation: Your participation in the evaluation
of courses through CourseEvalUM is much appreciated
as a member of our academic community. Your
feedback is confidential and important to the
improvement of teaching and learning at the University
as well as to the tenure and promotion process. Please
complete course evaluations at
www.courseevalum.umd.edu at the end of the semester.
Religious observances: The University System of
Maryland policy provides that students should not be
penalized because of observances of their religious
beliefs; students shall be given an opportunity, whenever
feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any
academic assignment that is missed due to individual
participation in religious observances. It is the student’s
responsibility to inform the instructor in advance of
any intended absences for religious observance.
Accommodations for students with disabilities: If
you have a documented disability and wish to discuss
academic accommodations for test taking or other
needs, please talk to the instructor as soon as possible.
You will need documentation from Disability Support
Services (301.314.7682). If you intend to take any or all
quizzes/exams at DSS it is your responsibility to notify
the instructor before the end of schedule adjustment and
provide your TAF form one week prior to the exam date.
Inclement weather/University closings: In the event
that the University is closed for an emergency or
extended period of time, the instructor will communicate
to students regarding schedule adjustments, including
rescheduling of examinations and assignments due to
inclement weather and campus emergencies. Official
closures and delays are announced on the campus
website (www.umd.edu) and snow phone line
(301.405.SNOW), as well as local radio and TV stations.
Copyright notice: Class lectures and other materials
are copyrighted. This includes all tangible course
materials, including but not limited to written or recorded
lecture, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, tests, and
other assignments. These materials may not be
reproduced (e.g., students may not copy and/or
redistribute these materials) for anything other than
personal use without explicit written permission.
Personal technology use: Laptops and tablets may be
used to assist with note taking. Use must be conducive
to the learning environment. If your usage is a distraction
to other students or the instructor, you will be asked to
turn it off and put it away. All sounds and Wi-Fi should
be disabled. Cell phones must be turned off before
class begins. Audio and video recording (including cell
phone pictures) of lectures is prohibited. However,
individuals who require video or audio recording for DSS
accommodations should consult with the instructor to
make arrangements. Individuals who are aware they
may receive notice of an emergency during class must
notify the instructor before class begins.
HLTH 285, Fall 2015
Academic integrity: The Department of Behavioral and
Community Health has a zero tolerance policy on
academic dishonesty of any kind. If a Departmental
instructor believes that a student has been involved in
academically dishonest activity, he or she will report it to
the University’s Office of Student Conduct and is not
obligated to disclose the report to the student in
question. Once referred, the Office of Student Conduct
will contact the student in writing to inform them of the
charges.
The University’s code of academic integrity is designed
to ensure that the principle of academic honesty is
upheld. Any of the following acts, when committed by a
student, constitutes academic dishonesty:
CHEATING: intentionally using or attempting to use
unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in
an academic exercise.
FABRICATION: intentional and unauthorized
falsification or invention of any information or citation
in an academic exercise.
FACILITATING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help
another to violate any provision of this code.
PLAGIARISM: intentionally or knowingly representing
the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any
academic exercise.
For more information see: www.sch.umd.edu/code.html
The Honor Pledge is a statement undergraduate and
graduate students must follow, and may be asked to
write by hand and sign on examination, papers, or other
academic assignments. The Pledge reads:
I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received
any unauthorized assistance on this
assignment/examination.
The University of Maryland, College Park has a
nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity,
administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code
sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all
undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you
are responsible for upholding these standards for this
course. It is very important for you to be aware of the
consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and
plagiarism. For more information on the Code of
Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please
visit www.sch.umd.edu.
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Assignments and Grading
Stress management journals (40 possible points):
Students will submit 4 journal entries on ELMS (10
points each). Handouts to help you complete each
journal entry will be posted on ELMS. Each entry should
provide an in-depth description of how you used
techniques presented in class. Entries must demonstrate
that the student (1) understands the technique, (2)
applied it appropriately, and (3) provided an in-depth
analysis answering all questions provided fully. All
academic writing should feature paragraph format; no
lists, headings, or bullet points should be used. You do
not need to be successful in applying the technique; this
is a learning process. Journals should be at least 500
words, 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins,
and double-spaced. These assignments must be
submitted on ELMS by 8am on the due date.
Journal 1 – Stress Self-Assessment
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Due Thursday, September 17 by 8:00am
The purpose of this journal is to try out the stress selfassessments and reflect on the stressors in your life
(both anticipated and current). Conduct at least one of
the assessments in Chapter 2 from the Olpin text and
discuss the results in your journal entry—you can
complete any of the assessments—and answer the
following questions in your journal entry:
• What is your overall perceived stress level on a scale
of 1 – 10 (1 = low stress – 10 = high stress)?
• What stressors did you identify?
• Were you surprised by your results?
• Was there a stressor that affected your score more
than you anticipated? Any surprises? Challenges?
Journal 2 – Time Management
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Due Thursday, October 15 by 8:00am
The purpose of this journal is to identify strengths and
weaknesses to your current time management and to
practice time management techniques. Identify one
technique (does not have to be a technique presented in
class) and practice this technique for 3 days. Answer the
following questions in your journal entry:
• Identify your current strengths and weaknesses with
your current time management.
• What is your overall perceived stress from your current
time management on a scale of 1 – 10 (1 = low stress
– 10 = high stress)?
• Identify which time management technique you used
and why you chose that technique.
• How did this time management technique help you
manage your stress?
o How does your perceived stress after using the time
management technique for 3 days compare to your
perceived stress before using the technique?
o What did you like or not like about the technique?
o Would you keep using this time management
technique or use another technique? Why or why
not?
HLTH 285, Fall 2015
Journal 3 – Mindfulness Walk
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Due Thursday, November 12 by 8:00am
The purpose of this journal is to complete a 30 minute
mindfulness walk and reflect on your experience.
Answer the following questions in your journal entry:
• Where did you complete the mindfulness walk? Why?
• What were some of the main things that you observed,
especially those things you wouldn’t normally notice?
• What did you notice about your thoughts?
• How can mindfulness be applied in your day-to-day
life? In what ways do you need to be more mindful and
how can this change your stress levels?
Journal 4 – Meditation Practice
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Due Thursday, December 10 by 8:00am
The purpose of this journal is to practice meditation at
least three times and reflect on your experience. Use the
following questions to guide your reflection:
• Did you find meditation difficult or easy?
• Were you able to quiet your thoughts?
• Did practicing meditation reduce your stress level?
• How long did you meditate and where?
• Discuss your stress levels and physical/emotional
feelings before and after the experience.
Online reading quizzes (10 possible points): 10
online reading quizzes at 1 point each. Quizzes cover
the reading assigned for that day (i.e., 9/8 quiz covers
chapter 3). Students must complete the reading prior to
answering questions. Quizzes are short answer and
graded for completeness. All quizzes are on ELMS, are
due by 8am on the due date, and cannot be made up.
In-class assignments (10 possible points): 6 in-class
assignments at 2 points each. The lowest score on one
in-class assignment will be dropped at the end of the
semester. Therefore, only 5 will count toward the final
grade. These assignments will be unannounced,
conducted in class, and cannot be made up.
Exams (140 possible points): Exams 1-3 are 40 points
each; final exam is 60 points and cumulative. Lowest
score on Exam 1 – 3 dropped. Bring Student ID and
pencil for each exam.
Breakdown of
final grade
Online reading quizzes
In-class assignments
Journals
Exam 1 Lowest
Exam 2 score
Exam 3 dropped
Final Exam
Total possible points
Possible points
10 (1 pt each)
10 (2 pts each)
40 (10 pts each)
% of
final grade
5%
5%
20%
40
40
20%
20%
60
200
30%
A+ = 96-100%, A = 93%-95.99%, A- = 90%-92.99%,
B+ = 86%-89.99%, B = 83%-85.99%, B- = 80%-82.99%,
C+ = 76%-79.99%, C = 73%-75.99%, C- = 70%-72.99%,
D+ = 66%-69.99%, D = 63%-65.99%, D- = 60%-62.99%,
F = less than 60%
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Course Outline/Calendar:
Students are required to read the assigned materials prior to class. Schedule changes throughout the semester are likely,
and any resulting updates to the syllabus will be announced in class and uploaded to the course website (elms.umd.edu).
It is the student’s responsibility to check the course website regularly for scheduling updates.
*All readings from the Olpin textbook unless otherwise noted.
Session
1
Date
9/1
2
9/3
3
9/8
4
9/10
5
9/15
6
9/17
7
8
9/22
9/24
9
9/29
10
10/1
11
10/6
Topic
Introduction and overview of assignments
What is stress?
Science of stress
Online reading quiz
Science of stress
Stress and chronic disease
Online reading quiz
Stress and chronic disease
Due Online:
Journal 1
Exam 1 – Bring #2 pencil & Student ID
Thoughts and perceptions
Managing emotions
Online reading quiz
Importance of values
Time and money management
Online reading quiz
12
10/8
Social support and communication
13
10/13
14
10/15
15
16
10/20
10/22
17
10/27
18
10/29
19
11/3
Online reading quiz
Meditation
Meditation Practice (Guest lecturer – Edie Anderson)
TENTATIVE – WILL KEEP CLASS UPDATED
11/5
(Erin out-of-town)
Unhealthy coping
Healthy lifestyles
Online reading quiz
Stress and mental health
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HLTH 285, Fall 2015
Due Online:
Journal 2
Exam 2 – Bring #2 pencil & Student ID
Relaxation and breathing
Mindfulness
Reading Due
Chapters 1, 2
Other readings:
Syllabus
Howard et al. (2006)
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapters 5, 6
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapters 11, 12
Chapter 13
Other readings:
Taylor et al. (2004)
Chapter 15
Other readings:
Cook (2007)
McGuiness et al. (2012)
Chapters 16, 17
Chapter 7
Chapter 21
Chapter 15
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Session
Date
21
11/10
22
11/12
23
24
11/17
11/19
25
11/24
26
11/26
27
12/1
28
12/3
Topic
Progressive relaxation and guided imagery
Online reading quiz
Autogenics and Yoga
Due Online:
Journal 3
Exam 3 – Bring #2 pencil & Student ID
Spirituality and other stress-reduction strategies
Understanding PTSD
Online reading quiz
Reading Due
Chapters 19, 20
Chapters 18, 22
Chapters 10, 24
Other readings:
Andreasen (2011)
Regal & Joseph (2010)
Thanksgiving Break – no class
Online reading quiz
Other readings:
Cerdá (2014)
Zayfert (2008)
Complementary and alternative medicine (Guest
lecturer: Neha)
Chapter 23
Posttraumatic growth
(Erin out-of-town)
Creating a healthy environment (Guest lecturer?)
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12/8
Online reading quiz
Chapter 14
(Erin out-of-town)
Review
30
12/10
FINAL
Friday,
12/18
HLTH 285, Fall 2015
Due Online:
Journal 4
Final Exam (10:30am – 12:30pm) – CUMULATIVE
Bring #2 Pencil & Student ID
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