HNSC 2100 (Wolf) : Course Overview

The Brooklyn College Library's electronic resources (e.g. journals, ebooks, databases, etc.) are available to registered students, faculty, and staff when off-campus, including while abroad.

IMPORTANT:

• To authenticate for remote access to Library databases you will be prompted to use your CUNYfirst Username and Password to log in (same credentials for logging into Blackboard). You may see a redirection screen to the new login screen.
• Using Firefox as your browser is recommended.
• For further assistance go to the library's Ask a Librarian or read more on Library Remote Access.

All CUNY members have free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Use CUNY.edu email to sign up.
• Faculty & staff renew every year.
• Students have access until graduation.
  • renewal requires working CUNY.edu address.  

NY Times: Anyone who initiates an account will have an active subscription for one year from the date she/he creates the account. If you already have an annual subscription to the NYTimes, you can cancel it and will receive a refund. However, if you only have a monthly subscription, the New York Times will not issue a refund for that month.

Newspaper Icons

Items located on the NYTimes site, access with free CUNY account.

Items located on Wall Street Journal site, access with free CUNY account.

In this course students will:

• Explain what public health is and what the fields of public health contribute to the health of the US population
• List major advances of public health due to interventions such as food safety, immunization, and automobile safety.
• Explain how public health and medicine overlap and complement each other in the pursuit of public health.
• Present evidence on social, behavioral, societal and environmental factors which contribute to select health concerns in New York City and the United States.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply scientific knowledge to assess critically health data/information and indicators of health status at individual, societal, and structural levels.
2. Demonstrate analytical and communication skills for diverse audiences.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of scientific research and evidence-based practice for use in the field.
4. Demonstrate the importance of professional behavior, ethics and human rights.

• This is an Open Educational Resources (OER) course.  This means that no-cost learning materials in the form of online textbooks, academic or news articles, government and public interest web pages and online videos are provided.
• The OER course site for HNSC 2100: Introduction to Public Health  URL is https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/hnsc2100/
• Doing readings in advance of class are required for this course.
• Required readings, are provided in the syllabus. These readings are required to productively participate in class discussions and complete the assignments.
• Instructor may add a reading up to the day before each class.

ACADEMIC ARTICLES

For academic articles, students should read through each article, focusing on the conclusions and the evidence underlying the conclusions, but avoid getting bogged down in technical details.

WEB SITES/WEB PAGES:

For web pages/sites, students should browse the resources to be familiar with what is available, and explore how the information provided contrasts with other information we cover. Sites from governmental sources such as the CDC are designed to provide information on many topics at varying levels of detail. I don’t expect students to spend more than 5-15 minutes on each web resource page unless they are particularly curious.

VIDEOS:

For the most part, videos are brief (less than 15 minutes each). These videos complement other sources of information and should be viewed before the class meetings in order for students to understand the topic and contribute to discussions.

• If you do not have access to a computer, Brooklyn College can loan you a Chromebook.
• The library also has laptops on loan.
• Students may also get help obtaining internet access from the Student Affairs Student Resources page.
• Campus Computer Labs: Computer labs are available in the library, the Library Café, and the West End Building

Attendance is required.  I will be taking attendance. It is important to attend and take notes, or obtain notes from a student who attended if you miss class.

It is important to read the material for the week before the Tuesday class meeting begins so that you are prepared to actively participate in class. To encourage good note taking, you will be required to post images of your notes. This is also an opportunity to improve your note-taking skills by seeing how your classmates take notes.

• Short essay to me, your instructor, introducing yourself as a person and as a student, and discussing your interests in and goals for this course.
• 1-2pg  max.

Student Learning Outcome:

• Demonstrate analytical and communication skills for diverse audiences;
• Demonstrate the importance of professional behavior, ethics and human rights.
• Due Monday, Jan 30, 10PM

Three to four short homework assignments throughout the semester from 2-3 points each.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate analytical and communication skills for diverse audiences;
• Apply scientific knowledge to assess critically health data/information and indicators of health status at individual, societal, and structural levels.

Starting in week 4, we will begin classes with 1 student presenting on a public health topic of interest in the news (NYT, Guardian, Washington Post , or a scientific journal). Presentations will be up to 10 minutes long along with up to 5 minutes for discussion (up to 15 minutes total).

Due throughout the semester

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate analytical and communication skills for diverse audiences;
• Demonstrate the importance of professional behavior, ethics and human rights.

FYI: All CUNY members have free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Use CUNY.edu email to sign up.
• Faculty & staff renew every year.
• Students have access until graduation.
  • renewal requires working CUNY.edu address.  

NY Times: Anyone who initiates an account will have an active subscription for one year from the date she/he creates the account. If you already have an annual subscription to the NYTimes, you can cancel it and will receive a refund. However, if you only have a monthly subscription, the New York Times will not issue a refund for that month.

There will be two short surveys, an assignment to create an exam question for both the midterm and the final exams, and a TBD non-evaluative assignment. Each of these will receive a participation grade of 1, meaning you will receive full credit for completing the assignment

To encourage and support reading the material AND note taking, submitting reading and lecture notes to an online shared folder will be required.  Starting in week 2, submit lecture notes from the previous week and reading notes for the coming week by 10PM Monday. What counts as notes? Written notes, screenshots of annotated text, typed notes, even oral notes if that’s what helps you learn, may be submitted. 

Each lecture note submitted is 1 point and each reading note submitted is 1 point. You are required to make 5 submissions of reading notes and 5 submissions of lecture notes.

• Weekly Lecture notes (for previous week): Due Monday, 10PM
• Weekly Reading Notes (for coming week): Due Monday 10PM

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate analytical and communication skills for diverse audiences;
• Demonstrate the importance of professional behavior, ethics and human rights.

There will be 4 announced quizzes throughout the semester, each worth 2.5 points. Quizzes will cover the assigned readings/viewings for the week.

The Semester Assignment will address a public health topic of relevance to you and your community or a community of interest to you in NYC.  You will focus on a public health issue and its determinants, from a socio-ecological perspective. 

Topics will be timely. Ideas for topics may include gun violence, maternal and infant health outcomes, climate change and heat injuries, green space and mental health, Monkeypox, COVID-19, asthma, chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, diabetes), pedestrian and bicyclist injury and death. You will formulate a research question which you would like to answer and will undertake over three assignments to help answer that question.  See general information below; more details to come.

Semester Project Part 1: Population, topic and research question (10%) Due Monday, 3/27 10PM

You will identify and describe a relevant population or community, will describe basic health and demographic indicators, identify a particular health outcome of interest/relevance, and present a hypothesis, or research question, as to the causes of that health outcome, using a socioeconomic determinants perspective.

Semester Project Part 2: Class presentation (10%) Starting week of 4/18

You will present for 3-5 minutes to your peers on the health issue you selected, the research you have conducted, and the intervention you are proposing..

Semester Project Part 3: Final paper (10%) Due Monday, 5/15, 10PM

The final paper will synthesize the work done to date on your project, creating a cohesive paper, incorporating feedback received for previous assignments and fleshing out your proposed intervention. Further, you will present a proposal for improving the health issue addressed. Length: 4-6 pages.

Student Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4

The Midterm Exam will be based on assigned readings, lectures, and class activities from the first half of the semester and may consist of short-essay and multiple-choice questions.

Exam Date:  Monday, 3/14

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Apply scientific knowledge to assess critically health data/information and indicators of health status at individual, societal, and structural levels;
• Demonstrate knowledge of scientific research and evidence-based practice for use in the field.

The Final Exam will be based on assigned readings, lectures, and class activities from the second half of the semester and may consist of short-essay and multiple-choice questions.

Exam Date: Tuesday, 5/23, 10:30AM-12:30PM

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Apply scientific knowledge to assess critically health data/information and indicators of health status at individual, societal, and structural levels;
• Demonstrate knowledge of scientific research and evidence-based practice for use in the field.

We build knowledge collectively and everyone has something to contribute. Most of class-time will be composed of discussions and in-class individual and group activities. All are expected to attend and be on time to all classes. Please notify me in advance if you will be late, absent, or need to leave class early.

• Unless instructed otherwise, only MS Word documents are accepted.
  • The MS Office program suite is available as a free download for PC and Mac from CUNY. Check with ITS.
• Files should be named using the following format:
  • First Name_Last Name_HNSC2100_AssignmentTitle_Spring 23
  • Document should include class name, your name, date, a title, on the first page, and page numbers
  • Use double-spaced text (no triple/quadruple spaces between paragraphs)
  • Use standard 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins
• Cite all sources following the American Psychological Association (APA) format
  • Include citations in the text for ANY information that is not considered common knowledge
  • Include full references at the end of your assignment
  • APA format references:
    • American Psychological Association (2022, March) Style and Grammar Guidelines APA Style. URL: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines
    • American Psychological Association (2020)  Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style APA URL: https://extras.apa.org/apastyle/basics-7e/

All assignments should be submitted via Blackboard.  Complete assignments on time. Due dates are noted in the syllabus and on Blackboard.

Email is a professional means of communication in the context of school or work, and this is a good time to practice. In preparation for entry into, or continuation in, the professional world, please practice making emails polite, clear, and concise. This includes using greetings, and salutations, polite language, proper grammar, and punctuation, and signing messages by name.

I will do my best to answer all emails within 48 hours of receipt, if not sooner. To help me answer your emails promptly, please avoid abbreviations and text-messaging shorthand and use the following subject line format:

• “2100: Topic of email”

Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards.

Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the “…test, examination, term paper or other assignment on which cheating occurred” (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954).

In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991).

NOTE: If you have a question about how to cite correctly ask your teacher BEFORE submitting your work.

• 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.
• View complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation.
• 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 must report the violation.
• Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

Bereavement Policy:

• Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
• Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
•  As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
• Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
• Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure:

• Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
• Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
• The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
• Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
• Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
• Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:

• Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
• The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
• Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
• Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
• Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
• Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
•  Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.

• The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs.
• Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements.
• Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration.
• If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical.
• The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students availing themselves of this regulation.
• If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County