HP 400: Culture, Lifestyle, and Health



HP 400: Culture, Lifestyle, and Health

Spring 2013 Syllabus

Tuesday-Thursday 12:30-1:50 p.m.

Faculty:

Parvin Shahlapour, PhD.

Tell: 310-462-0306

E-mail: shahlapo@usc.edu

Office hours: By appointment

TA:

Jie Ren

Tell: (213)- 300- 3094

E-mail: jieren@usc.edu

Program Office:

Angela Almer Turk

3375 South Hoover

University Village, Suite E210

Tell: 213-821-1601

Text Book:

“Critical Issues in Global Health”

By: C. Everett Koop, Clarence E. Pearson, M. Roy Schwarz

Published by Jossey-Bass

Additional readings

Course Description

This course will examine the effects of cultural and lifestyle differences on national and international health status indicators. We will discuss cultural, social, economic, ethnic, and religious perspectives on healthy behaviors, disease, coping, and healing, as well as their effects on rates of infectious and chronic diseases. Using this information as background, we will focus on the prevention of behavioral risk factors for disease. We will examine how inequalities and conflicts stemming from differences influence health outcomes for various populations.

The course covers topics in national and international health problems and health behavior, cultural approaches to health promotion, cultural perspectives on conception and contraception, diseases such as CVD, HIV/AIDS, and a wide range of cultural perspectives in relation to health.

Diversity Course Criteria

This course fulfills the Diversity Course Requirement by focusing on how social, economic, racial, religious, and cultural background, gender, and sexual orientation can affect individual health and well-being. It also examines the health impacts of conflict and oppression that can arise from human diversity.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to do the following:

• Understand the ways in which cultural differences influence health behaviors and health outcomes

• Think critically about the complex interactions between culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and other group identifiers as they relate to health and health behaviors

• Apply your knowledge of the major health issues facing different populations in order to design programs that meet the needs of those populations

• Practice health promotion with cultural sensitivity

• Approach health research with a critical eye toward how subjects’ culture or group identities may affect study results

Learning Methods

• Lectures

• Reading assignments

• Class discussion

• Class project and presentations

Blackboard

USC’s electronic blackboard system will be used throughout the semester. Lectures, reminders, and messages will be posted. In addition, documents such as the course syllabus and helpful information about the class project will be posted. Please check the Blackboard system accordingly to ensure that you are kept updated. The Website address for Blackboard is .

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation will be based on daily activities, class participation, class project and presentation, midterm and final exam.

Attendance, Class Participation and Class Activities: You are expected to attend lectures, arrive on time, remain for the entire class period, and to engage in active, thoughtful, and respectful class participation. There will be activities during most class sessions that will refer to the material and accompanying readings covered during the session. Each activity is worth a certain amount of points. Class attendance and participation is worth 50 points you will lose 2 points for each absentee. If you participate in all classes and appear on time, you will receive an extra 5 points.

You are responsible for making sure you sign your name on the attendance sheet for the day regardless of your arrival time. Plagiarism in attendance and signing for some one else on the sign-in sheet will result in an “F” grade in the course.

*There are no make-ups of the daily activities, even for pre-planned or emergency absences.

Reading: You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned reading for that day. During class, you are expected to be prepared to discuss important points from the readings, and to ask questions if there is something you do not understand from the readings or class discussions. It is your choice how much you contribute to active class discussion, but we have found that, students who excel in their classes take the time to both read and think about the reading material assigned.

Class Project and Presentation: You will work on a project investigating the effect of life style and culture on promotion and prevention elements of selected health issues in selected countries and compare them with the US. All topics must be approved in advance by the professor. The project has two components: a short report and the delivery of a 15 minutes presentation to the class about your topic.

Further information and detail about the class project will be distributed and discussed in class.

Course Evaluation and Grades: Grades will be assigned based on the following formula:

EXAMS: Midterm Exam: will covers Classes 1- 15.

Final Exam: The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15 2-4 pm

The University requires that all instructors adhere to the final examination schedule. The exam will cover the material addressed during the entire course. Questions will be scored according to a grading rubric in the syllabus and will be discussed in class.

All challenges to any exam grades or final grades must be submitted in a written format within ONE WEEK after posting of grades. I will make ZERO exception to this rule as the exams need to be filed and stored in a timely manner.

Grades: Grades for the course will be calculated according to the following formula:

1. Class Attendance & participation…….… 10%..........................50 points possible

2. Class Project & presentation…………… 30% ……………...150points possible

3. Midterm …..………………………….... 30%........................150 points possible

4. Final Exam …………………………… . 30% …………….. 150 points possible.

Total ……………………………………...100%…………….. 500 points possible

Grade percentage of 60% or greater considered as passing for each of these components. Final grades for course are assigned according to the following:

98-100% = A+ 485-500 points 77-79% = C+ 385-399 points

94-96% = A 465-484 points 73-76% = C 365-384 points

90-93% = A- 450-464 points 70-72% = C- 350-364 points

87-89% = B+ 435-449 points 67-69% = D+ 335-349 points

83-86% = B 415-434 points 63-66% = D 315-334 points

80-82% = B- 400-414 points 60-62% = D- 300-314 points

Policy on late work and absences: Make-up exams will not be offered, except in the case of documented personal/family emergencies. In these exceptional cases, appropriate documentation (for example, a note from a doctor) is required for a student to make-up a missed exam.

All work is expected to be turned in on time, so please plan accordingly.

Controversy and Respect: This course covers a wide range of cultural issues, some of which may be controversial. You are expected to be courteous and respectful to fellow students, professors, and guest speakers. If you anticipate ethical or religious objections to any of the material covered in this course, please consult me within the first two weeks of the semester.

Distractions: Please do not take your class time to peruse the student newspaper or do homework from other classes. Cell phones/pagers/loud electronic devices must be turned off during class time. You may choose to take notes on a laptop computer; however, you are expected to refrain from playing computer games, surfing the Web, or working on homework from other classes. All of these activities can impede the learning process for yourself and for your fellow students.

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. You are held to the University’s Code of Academic Integrity. All USC students are responsible for reading and following the Student Conduct Code, which can be found at . The USC student code prohibits plagiarism. Students who violate University standards for academic integrity are subject to disciplinary sanctions.

Statement for students with disabilities: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations should be obtained from DSP and delivered to me as early in the semester as possible, preferably within the first two weeks. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776 and Email: ability@usc.edu .

Statement for students In USC sport teams: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a playing in any USC teams is required to bring an official letter from Athletic department with the schedule date for all activities which required excuse absentees within the first two weeks. Verbal notice is not acceptable.

Communication Policy: I encourage you to talk to me if you feel you are having problems and need assistance, or even if you simply want to talk about your progress in class. I will be happy to assist you with study tips and guidance on how to improve your performance to earn the grade you desire. You are responsible for keeping all your work until final grades have been assigned. In case of a discrepancy between my calculations and your own, you will want to have them to show your earned points. I take great time and effort to assign grades in a fair, impartial manner. If you wish to discuss your grades with me, you should submit your request within ONE WEEK after posting of grades. (I will make ZERO exception to this rule), I will review and if I made an error in calculating your score, I will correct it immediately. If, however, you wish to offer an extenuating circumstance as a reason for less-than-ideal results on an exam, paper, or presentation, I will offer sympathy and, if appropriate, referral to student academic or support services. I will not change a grade because of these circumstances.

The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May, 15 2-4 pm

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