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HNSC 4152 Program Planning and Community Health Education: Syllabus

Course Description HNS 4152

Introduction to concepts of program planning for health education in the community.  Program development, implementation, and evaluation of currently functioning community health education programs.

Pre-requisite:  HNSC 2130, 2109, 2120 and six credits from HNSC's 2000's and 3000's.

Print Syllabus - HNS 4152

Course Objectives

At the end of the semester, students will be able to:

  • Identify health problems of our community/nation/world
  • Identify health disparities and strategies to achieve health equity
  • Identify issues related to culturally diverse population, when planning for health promotion programs
  • Identify the practice of health education and explain the need for health education/promotion programs
  • Identify the roles of health education and health educators
  • Identify and explain selected health education theories and models
  • Describe and analyze different techniques and strategies enhancing health education effectiveness
  • Understand the process of conducting health promotion programs

Course Schedule

List of Topics associated with each day of the course
Dates Topics
1/30 Course Introduction
2/1 & 2/6 Health Education & Promotion Programs
2/8 How healthy is our nation/community?
2/13 Health Disparities and Other Basic Issues
2/15, 2/22 & 2/27 Current Health Issues in the U.S
2/20 No Class Monday Conversion Day
3/1 Community Needs Assessment Methods
3/6 Choose team members for "Health Fair" semester project
3/8, 3/13, 3/15 & 3/20 Learning Theories and Program Planning Models
3/22 Obtaining Accurate Health Information from Secondary Sources
3/27 Midterm Exam
3/29 Writing Goals and Objectives
4/3 & 4/5 Spring Break
4/10 Implementing Health Programs
4/12 Effective Health Communication
4/17, 4/19 & 4/24 Evaluation Design and Methods
4/26 & 5/1 Future
5/3 Getting ready for health fair - your own group meeting
5/8 Semester Project #2: Health Fair
5/10 Reflecting Health Fair efforts
5/15 Semester Project #1: In-class sharing
5/17 Reading Day
  Final Exam

Details of Semester Project #1: Health Promotion Project (10pts/10%)

Exploring community Health organizations

For this project, you could work alone or with another person.

For this project, I would like you to identify, in your neighborhood, a community health agency that is involved in health promotion activities. 

Visit the organization, interview an individual who can explain to you the overall programs, including health education/promotion activities.  

Your group report (one for the group) needs to include the following.:

  • Name, location, phone of the organization and the contact person;
  • Mission and goals of the organization and its organizational structure;
  • Health education/promotion activities; your critique. 

Examples of the health organizations: CAMBA, APICHA, Charles Wang Health Center, Mixteca, Planned Parenthood, American Cancer Society, WIC, Community health promotion office of any local hospitals and many others. 

Your group will prepare #1-2 page summary report of your work (typed), make enough copies for our entire class, and be ready to present in class on May 15th. (3pts oral, 7pts written.).  *If you need an access to a copy machine, let me know by the previous class session (5/11).

Details of Semester Project #2: Health Fair (30pts/30%)

This is a group project to be implemented.
On 3/6: you need to choose your group members and choose a preliminary health topic.


We are planning to participate in the BC campus Health Fair in May.  Choose a health topic you would like to investigate, forming a group with 3-4 members.  Do research on your topic, preparing educational material for the health fair on your chosen health topic, and be a health educator at the health fair at your own booth/table.

On 3/6, you need to choose your group members and choose a preliminary health topic.

The grading system:

  1. Flyer (5 pts):  Make a flyer to advertise our health fair and your booth;
    • Post it at three different locations on campus, one week before the health fair.
    • Bring a hard copy to professor in class, one week before the health fair.
    • Please let the instructor know where on campus they are located.
  2. Educational material for the Fair (5 pts):  Each group needs to prepare at least five different educational materials of your topic, at least 40 copies each for the health fair.
    • Your group has to submit one copy of each material to me at least one week before the fair.
  3. Evaluate your OWN group members (5 pts) 
  4. Evaluate OTHER group's booths (10 pts): Evaluate quality of educational material displayed and quality of the educational interaction

  5. Summary Report (5 pts): Summarize your over all experience in 1-2 page report. This is an individual report.  i.e. each person has to submit his/her own report.)


 

Extra Credit Project (up to 6pts)

Extra Credit Student Health Club Project:
Join the Student Health Club of the Dept. of Health and Nutrition Sciences, actively participate in their membership activities such as proposing and implementing a health program on campus, and submit a 2-page report (typed, double spaced).  The report should include your suggestion to the improvement of the club.  If interested, please indicate your interest and discuss with the instructor during the first two weeks of the semester..

Course Information

Academic Integrity:

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. Here is the complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member is required to report the violation.


Center for Student Disability Services:

To receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability should contact the Center and set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with the professor.


Non-Attendance Because of Religious Beliefs:

Brooklyn College complies with the New York State Education Law regarding non-attendance because of religious beliefs. For details see the Undergraduate Bulletin (pg. 66) or the Graduate Bulletin (pg. 42).

Other Important Notes to Remember

  1. It is expected that students participate in class and attend all classes.  The policy of excused and unexcused absences is outlined in the college catalog. No other absences will be excused beyond this policy. For details to the state law regarding non-attendance because of religious beliefs see the Undergraduate Bulletin (pg. 66) or the Graduate Bulletin
  2. Students are expected to follow strict professional conducts. (especially for the exam taking and written paper work, i.e. no cheating, no plagiarism of any kind, including your old work ) (See Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy)
  3. Students are responsible for obtaining materials covered on the day of an absence.
  4. Missed mid-term exam can be made up at the end of the semester on a designated day (To be announced).
  5. Students who are late to class and who leave class early may not receive full credit for class participation.
  6. “Inc” grade is given only when the assigned works were not completed due to  unavoidable circumstances and only when it is requested by the student.
  7. Missing an assignment “Due Date” may results in reduced points.

Course Grading Breakdown

Course grading broken down
Course Item Percentage Towards Grade
Exam 1 25%
Final Exam 25%
Health Promotion Projects 40%  (10% + 30%)
Participation/Attendance 10%

Letter Grading information

Letter grades will be given following the Brooklyn College recommended criteria.

Letter Grade Number Grade Equivalent
A+ 98-
A 91-97
A- 90
B+ 88-89
B 81-87
B- 80
C+ 78-79
C 71-77
C- 70
D+ 68-69
D 61-67
D- 60

**Letter grades will be given following the Brooklyn College recommended criteria.   “Curving” may take place depending upon the outcome of the entire class.

All your assignments need to be typed, double spaced, following the APA format. Use the Purdue OWL (online writing lab) for help with your citations.