WARNING: This syllabus may be from a previous semester and may not reflect current or future instructors for the course.
The purpose of this syllabus is to provide a sample of course content and objectives.
1
SYLLABUS
B365: Stress and Health
Fall 2012
Monday & Wednesday 12:00-1:15pm (LD30)
Instructor:
Office Hours:
TA:
Required Text:
Ally Dir, M.S. - LD120J allydir@gmail.com
T/F 1:00 – 3:00 PM or by appointment
Samantha Meints meints.s@gmail.com
Health Psychology 7th Edition (2010) by Brannon & Feist. Thomson
Wadsworth.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will familiarize students with the study of health within the
field of psychology. In spite of the title of the course, we will study all areas of health psychology to
include the relationship between stress and health but also clinical health psychology, health
promotion, health behaviors, and the patient-physician relationship. This course will not teach you
how to control your stress, deal with stress, etc.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Develop an understanding for the field of health psychology, in addition to behavioral
medicine and behavioral health.
2. Gain knowledge on specific areas within health psychology, and understand how
psychological factors are involved in health.
3. Experiment with various psychological and behavioral based interventions targeted for
specific diseases and health issues.
4. Become familiar with individual and cultural differences with respect to stress, health, and
behavior.
COURSE FORMAT: This class will be in lecture format with an emphasis on class discussion. You
are expected to read the material before the class session and to ask questions as there will be class
discussion mixed in with lecture. Lectures will draw from the book and other original sources
(research reports). I will post lecture slides online on Oncourse prior to each class.
During the class session students will participate in classroom activities designed to enhance the
learning of the material as well as keep students interested and engaged. Therefore, I encourage
everyone in the class to go beyond material presented in the book and explore individual interests
related to health psychology throughout the semester. This class is designed to foster the
development of each student’s individual interests within health psychology or related fields.
GRADES & COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Your course grade will be based on the following:
20% Class assignments/homework
40% Exams
40% Paper (2 papers)
Classroom Participation and Assignments (20% of Final Grade)
Classroom participation, in-class activities, and homework assignments will be assigned
throughout the semester.
WARNING: This syllabus may be from a previous semester and may not reflect current or future instructors for the course.
The purpose of this syllabus is to provide a sample of course content and objectives.
2
 Scheduled homework participation questions (as seen on the class schedule) for each
chapter of the book are assigned in order to ensure students are coming to class prepared.
These assignments can be found under the Resources section in the Homework folder on
Oncourse and are labeled with a HW# and/or chapter # corresponding to the syllabus
(i.e., HW1, HW2, Ch. 1 questions, etc). There are 5-6 participation questions per chapter
and you will be required to choose 2 questions to answer. On the days these are due,
typed assignments will be turned in at the end of class. You cannot turn in assignments at
any other point in time except for in class on the due date. However, if you know you will
be absent, please do the assignment and turn it in to me in advance (i.e., before
class on the due date).
 Other homework or class assignments will be scheduled throughout the semester and will
be announced in class and posted on Oncourse 1 week prior to class. So, please check
Oncourse consistently for any announcements or assignment postings.
 Your HW/class participation grade will be calculated based on you 8 highest grades
(total) across HW and class assignments.
Exams (40% of Final Grade)
 There will be 5 multiple choice/true false exams covering the readings, lecture, and
classroom activities (4 exams and a final cumulative exam). Each exam will be a take-home
exam that should be completed independently. I expect students to use the book and other
class material as a guide in completing the exams. Anything and everything that is covered
during the class sessions has the potential to show up as an exam question.
* The idea of the take-home exams is to emphasize that while information from the
book is important, I encourage everyone to focus their efforts on exploring their
individual areas of interest. Additionally, since these are take-home exams (and you
do not have to “cram” for tests or show up to class for the exam), all exams must be
turned in hard-copy only (i.e., no e-mail), and by the beginning of class on the
due date (i.e., if you come in late to class, you cannot turn it in at the end of class).
Topic of Interest Papers (40% of Final Grade)
More specific information and guidelines for individual papers on your choice of topic will be
discussed in class later. These will require research on a topic of your choice in health
psychology (i.e., reading of scholarly articles).
Policy on Incompletes. If for any circumstance you find that you need to stop participating in the
class and you meet School of Science guidelines for an Incomplete, I will be happy to assign you an
incomplete for the class. If you simply stop coming to class and do not complete all of your
coursework, your final grade will be calculated based on "0" grades for the assignments/exams that
are missing.
Policy on Academic Misconduct: Students are expected to be above reproach in scholastic activities.
Students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties,
including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. Please be
advised that random checks for plagiarism will be conducted using the Turnitin.com program
WARNING: This syllabus may be from a previous semester and may not reflect current or future instructors for the course.
The purpose of this syllabus is to provide a sample of course content and objectives.
3
Week Date
8.20
1
8.22
8.27
2
8.29
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10.24
10.29
10.31
11.5
11.7
11.12
Topic
Reading
Syllabus & Intro
What is Health Psych (HP)?
Ch. 1
Research in HP
Ch. 2
Theories of Health-related
Ch. 3
Behaviors
Labor Day – No class
Seeking & Adhering to Health
Ch. 3 & 4
Care
Stress
Ch. 5
Stress & Disease
Ch. 6
Pain
Ch. 7
Pain Management
Alternative Interventions
Ch. 8
Mindfulness
***
Health Psychology & Chronic Illness
TBA
TBA
Cardiovascular Disease
Ch. 9
Cancer
Ch. 10
Chronic Illness
Ch. 11
Fall Break – No class
Chronic Illness Intervention &
***
Coping
Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Intro &
Ch. 15
Exercise
Eating & Weight
Ch. 14
Obesity in US
Substance Use: Smoking Tobacco Ch. 12
Substance Use: Alcohol
Ch. 13
Alcohol & Drug use
Alcohol & Sexual Behavior
***
11.14
11.19
11.21
11.26
Other Health Psych Topics
Personality
***
Personality
Thanksgiving Break – No class
Environmental & Social Factors
***
11.28
12.3
12.5
12.10
12.14
Health Disparities
TBA
TBA
TBA
Final Exam Due (Friday)
9.3
9.5
9.10
9.12
9.17
9.19
9.24
9.26
10.1
10.3
10.8
10.10
10.15
10.17
10.22
10
11
12
13
13
14
Assignment Due
HW1
HW2
HW3 – stages of chance
assignment
HW4
HW5
HW6
EXAM 1
Paper 1 (Health & Stress)
HW7
HW8
HW9
EXAM 2
HW10
Paper 2 (Chronic Illness)
HW11
HW12
EXAM 3
HW13
Paper 3 (Beh. Health)
15
16
17
***
HW14
EXAM 4
This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Please see Oncourse for announcements!