Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
This course will provide students an overview of the basic concepts, issues, strategies, and specialty areas relevant to the public health field in the United States. This course is specifically designed for educators pursuing their Health Education Teaching Endorsement. The assignments and content are crafted to provide teachers with information and resources that can immediately be put to use in the Health Education classroom.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and MyCourses, a computer conferencing program. MyCourses requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
Prerequisites
none
Instructor
Susan Roberts-Dobie, Assistant Professor, Health Promotion and Education, Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services
Susan Roberts-Dobie is an Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where she teaches the courses ‘Introduction to Public Health’, ‘Epidemiology’, and ‘Implementing Health Promotion Programs’. She also heads UNI’s chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Honor Society for Health Education Students. Susan is the recipient of the 2006 UNI College of Education Excellence in Teaching Award, the award given each year to one faculty member exhibiting outstanding work with students in and out of the classroom and the 2007 Veridian Community Engagement Award in recognition of her (and her students’) work to improve the health of the local community.
Susan received her Ph.D. in Public Health, focused on Research Methodology, from Oregon State University. Prior to her work at Oregon State, Susan worked as a Planning Consultant for the Black Hawk County Health Department and as the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator for the YWCA of Black Hawk County. Her undergraduate degrees are from the University of Northern Iowa in Health Education (Teaching) and Spanish.
Currently, her lines of research are focused on health literacy and health disparities, as well as the prevention of unintended pregnancies. She is a member of the American Public Health Association, Iowa Public Health Association, the American Association for Health Education, and Eta Sigma Gamma.
Outside of her professional interests, Susan is an avid reader, aspiring chef, and the mother of two young boys.
Evaluation
11 assignments, 3 exams
Course goals
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Define and use terminology related to public health.
2. Describe the scope of public health activities and purposes.
3. Discuss key historical developments in public health that guide modern public health initiatives.
4. Describe the relationship between public health and the medical field.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of policy issues related to public health.
6. Demonstrate an ability to find quality classroom materials for the delivery of health education.
7. Demonstrate an ability to identify community resources related to public health.
8. Demonstrate an ability to critique school health services related to community and public health.
Course Organization
This course will be delivered over the World Wide Web, utilizing web pages, and a learning management system (MyCourses). The course is divided into 11 assignments and 3 exams.
Written Assignments:
The Written Assignments for most assignments involve on-line multiple choice questions. The Assessments tool is utilized for the completion of these written assignments. Each written assignment in the Assessments tool includes 5 questions (randomly selected from a bank of questions) over 2 chapters. You will have 60 minutes to complete each assessment. Once the allotted time has expired, you will not be able to save any more questions. Written assignments in the Assessments tool can only be completed one time. Questions are delivered all at once and can be answered in any order. You can revisit questions after you have answered them and change your answer before submission.
Written Assignments 4, 7 and 11 are typed using a word processing program and saved as files. If you are using a word processing program other than Microsoft Word, then please save your files as Rich Text Format. These written assignments are submitted to the Assignments tool. One assignment is due before each exam, however, Written Assignment 11, a Treasure Hunt, may worked on as you work through each chapter.
Exams:
The course includes 3 exams. Exams will be proctored. Complete and submit the Exam Request when you are ready to take an exam. Time limit for each test is one hour. Each exam covers 4-6 chapters of reading plus the information in the “Instructor Comments and Chapter Highlights” from the assignments. Exams include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
Course outline
Assignment 1 (05 points)
Assignment 2 (05 points)
Assignment 3 (05 points)
Assignment 4 (20 points)
Exam 1 (50 points)
Assignment 5 (05 points)
Assignment 6 (05 points)
Assignment 7 (30 points)
Exam 2 (50 points)
Assignment 8 (05 points)
Assignment 9 (05 points)
Assignment 10 (05 points)
Assignment 11 (50 points)
Exam 3 (not comprehensive) (50 points)
Total Possible: (300 points)
Grading
A total of 300 points are possible for the course. Please note that UNI Guided Independent Study requires that you complete all assignments, assessments, and exams to pass the course. Final grades are based on the following grading scale:
Final grades:
A = 279 - 300 points
A- = 270 - 278 points
B+ = 261 - 269 points
B = 249 - 260 points
B- = 240 - 248 points
C+ = 231 - 239 points
C = 219 - 230 points
C- = 210 - 218 points
D+ = 201 - 209 points
D = 189 - 200 points
D- = 180-188 points
F = < 180 points
Textbook(s)
Schneider, M. J. (2006). Introduction to Public Health (2th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Texts are available from www.bookfinder.com
University Book and Supply carries most books used in guided independent study.
To search for textbooks by course, click on "Select a Campus Term" and select Univ.Northern Iowa - Guided Independent Study
Visit the store at 1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing and Distance Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing and Distance Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu