Description:

This class is designed to provide a critical analysis of factors which affect personal and community health.  Primary emphasis is placed upon self-empowerment and disease prevention in a culturally diverse community.  General topics include communicable and non-communicable disease; phyusical fitness, weight management, and nutrition; human reproduction and sexuality; stress management and mental health; drug use and abuse; and environmental health. Course satisfies Section A, Area 5 of the associate degrees' requirements.

Student Learning Outcome: Students will assess their risk factors for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, and identify ways to reduce their risk.

Class section and times:  4574 - Three hours each week need to be arranged for Online Participation.  Study and assignment hours are additional. Participation can be done at any time during the week and students are strongly encouraged to schedule regular time each week to do the class.

Instructor Office and Office hours:

Office: PE 214;  Office hours: Fridays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Look for instructor in PE 209 if you don't find her in her office. Special meetings can be arranged by request. Instructor is available via email and phone for virtual office hours. Daytime phone: 213-763-3733.

Virtual Office hour: Sundays from 9:00 to 10:00 pm inside virtual classroom using Chat feature. Students are encouraged to drop in as needed but no one is required to attend these chats.

Students with disabilities who need any assistance or accommodations should contact the instructor. The DSPS office is available to assist in accommodating a disabled student.

Textbooks and Instructional Supplements:

• ECC Custom Edition of Health the Basics and comes packaged with MyHealth Lab access code. You do not need the MyHealth Lab.

  This is the same content as Donatelle, Health, The Basics 10th edition ISBN: 0321774345, which is available as an electronic textbook if that option appeals to you.

• Website: http://youth.net/ecc/ch1-fa12.html

Required Materials for class:

Textbook, email, and connection to the Internet are required.  You need your own personal email id.  You can not share an email with a friend.

Important Dates:

• Last day to Add: Sept. 7
• Last day to Drop without notation: Sept. 7
• Last day to Drop with notation: Oct. 16
• Holidays: Sept. 3, Oct. 2 and Nov. 22-25
• Class ends Dec. 14

Course Objectives:

1. Compare and contrast the dimensions of health and wellness.
2. Analyze the causes, prevention, and current treatments for chronic and infectious disease.
3. Analyze the effect of lifestyle influences on each of the major causes of death in the United States.
4. Examine the components of fitness and benefits of physical activity as they relate to overall health and wellness.
5. Assess total caloric intake and expenditure as they relate to total energy balance and body composition.
6. Examine human sexuality and reproduction; analyze environmental and cultural influences on behavior and reproductive choices.
7. Compare and contrast birth control methods and childbirth options.
   
8. Analyze the effects of stress on the body and evaluate various stress management techniques.
   
9. Compare and contrast drug use, misuse, and abuse and major drug classifications and their effects on the body.
   
10. Assess the major threats to environmental health.
    
11. Examine and explain the major factors involved in consumer protection.
    
12. Compare and contrast alternative therapies with traditional medical treatment in the prevention and treatment of health issues.

Topics Covered by the week: (This is subject to change as needed due to technical difficulties that might arise with the multimedia in the course.)

Current Events: You will be required to locate articles on health and topics covered in this class. They can be collected from a reliable news or health agency site on the Internet. Each current event will be posted to the Internet using the form provided for submissions in the Virtual Classroom.  Each current event assignment will include the following: 

1. URL to the complete article
2. Summary of the article
3. Did the article come from a reliable source?
4. Your opinion of the article (i.e. accurate, sales hype, poorly done research, surprise)
5. How this information relates to you or some member of your family (or future family) or what was new to you.

Grades are awarded on total points obtained during the semester. Points are given for completed assignments, term project, and exams and optional extra credit opportunities. If you need to travel during the semester, you can work ahead and/or submit assignments slightly late. You are responsible for getting all of your work completed by the final day of the term. 

Point Break-down for Grades - this will change if there are more or less assignments than anticipated. 

Late Policy:

Assignments submitted on time and up to one week late will be awarded full points. Assignments submitted between one and two weeks late will receive a maximum of half credit. No points will be given to assignments submitted later than two weeks past the due date. Tests are not accepted late. When the test closes, it is not reopened and no make-up tests are given in the class. Tests are DUE with the unit but the tests are set to close later. This permits students maximum time to get their textbooks and use them for the tests. All tests are untimed and open book, open note.

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