PUBHLTH-310-samantha.gizerian-2024-09-30-04-50-15

Title of Course Foundations of Health Behavior

Prefix and Number PUBHLTH 310

Semester and Year Fall 2025

Number of Credit Hours 3

Prerequisites none

Course Details

Day and Time: [T/Th]

Meeting Location: [tbd]

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: [tbd]

Instructor Contact Information:  [tbd]

Instructor Office Hours: [tbd]

 

TA Name: [tbd]

TA Contact Information: [tbd]

TA Office Hours: [tbd]

 

Course Description

Human health behavior is complex and influenced by multiple factors. Behavioral modification and behavioral change efforts are most effective when they are theory-based and supported by scientific evidence. This course will provide students with an introduction to the behavioral change theories that are most commonly applied in public health practice. The course will cover individual, interpersonal, and community-level theories.

Course Materials 

Books: Required Textbook: Health Behavior Theory for Public Health: Principles, Foundations, and Applications, 2^nd Edition. (2015). Ralph DiClemente, Laura Salazar, & Richard Crosby. ISBN: 1284246701

Other Materials: Supplementary reading materials will be posted on Canvas

Fees: n/a

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:)	Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes	Assessment of the Learning Outcomes
Describe factors that influence human health behavior	[class discussion; professional presentation; critical  reflection]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]
Distinguish between individual, interpersonal, and community-level behavioral change theories	[class discussion, critical reflection; professional presentation]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]
Explain how theory drives public health practice	[class discussion, Professional presentation]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]
Evaluate the utility of specific theories for predicting/explaining specific behaviors and or populations	[class discussion; critical reflection; professional presentation]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]
Describe ethical concerns associated with behavioral change interventions	[class discussion; critical reflection; professional presentation]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]
Critically evaluate and effectively use textbooks, current research, literature, and online information	[critical reflection; professional presentation]	[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]

 

Course Schedule [Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]
Dates	Lesson Topic	Assignment	Assessment
Week 1 [dates]	Introduction to Health Behavior Theory and the Ecological Model	Download and Read Syllabus	n/a
Week 2 [dates]	Ethics of Behavioral Change	Complete Online Quiz #1	Quiz #1
Week 3 [dates]	Behavioral Influences	Complete Online Quiz #2, Reflection 1 Due	Quiz #2, reflection 1
Week 4 [dates]	Health Belief Model	Complete Online Quiz #3	Quiz #3
Week 5 [dates]	Theory of Reason Action and Planned Behavior	Complete Online Quiz #4, Reflection 2 Due	Quiz #4, reflection 2
Week 6 [dates]	Transtheoretical Model	Presentation Topic Due	n/a
Week 7 [dates]	Attribution Theory	Complete Online Quiz #5	Quiz #5
Week 8 [dates]	Social Cognitive Theory	References and Outline for Presentation Due	n/a
Week 9 [dates]	FIRST EXAMINATION		Exam 1
Week 10 [dates]	PRECEDE-PROCEDE	Complete Online Quiz #6	Quiz #6
Week 11 [dates]	Value Expectancy Theories	Complete Online Quiz #7 Reflection 3 Due	Quiz #7, reflection 3
Week 12 [dates]	Social Marketing	Complete Online Quiz #8 Presentations Due Reflection 4 Due	Quiz #8, reflection 4
Week 13 [dates]	Diffusion of Innovation	Complete Online Quiz #9 Presentations	Quiz #9, presentations
Week 14 [dates]	Applying Theory to Interventions	Complete Online Quiz #10 Presentations Reflection 5 Due	Quiz #10, presentations, reflection 5
Week 15 [dates]	Emerging Theories in Public Health	Presentations	Presentations

  

Expectations for Student Effort 

For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class.  Some weeks will have a higher workload due to the nature of assignments.  Please consult the course schedule and ask your instructor if you have questions.

 

Grading 

Assignment Breakdown
Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc)	Points	Percent of Overall Grade
[online quizzes]	[10 x 10]	[25]
[Exams]	[2 x100	[50]
[Behavioral Change Professional Presentation]	[50]	[12.5]
[Critical Reflection Written Assignments]	[5 x 10]	[12.5]

 

Grading Schema
Grade	Percent
A	[>90]
B	[80 – 89]
C	[70 – 79]
D	[60 – 69]
F	[0 – 59]

[Scores will be rounded to the nearest whole percent to assign a letter grade]

 

Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.

 

 

Academic Integrity Statement

You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

-Receive an F in the class

-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards

-Have the right to appeal my decision

-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.