Health is a multidimensional concept with both a concrete and a social definition. In this course concepts of health and illness are explored to examine the ways in which the environmental surroundings, as well as the conditions under which we are born, grow, work, play, and age, shape our personal, community and population health. The course also investigates the structural and intermediary determinants of health such as social environment, social capital, behavior, and biology.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

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

1. Explain the basic underpinnings of public health promotion and education.
2. Examine key environmental and social determinants of health.
3. Distinguish patterns and linkages between the social determinants of health and specific health behaviors associated with risk factors related to morbidity and mortality profiles.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

• Week 1: Unit 1 – What is Health?
• Week 2: Unit 2 – Community & Public Health: An Introduction
• Week 3: Unit 3 – The Social Determinants of Health: An Overview
• Week 4: Unit 4 – The Built & Social Environment
• Week 5: Unit 5 – Public & Social Policy & Population Health
• Week 6: Unit 6 – Biology & Behaviors: Risk Factors for Mortality & Morbidity
• Week 7: Unit 7 – Health Psychology and Behavior
• Week 8: Unit 8 – Global Best Practices & Case Studies
• Week 9: Unit 9 – Course Review and Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: What is Health?

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Community & Public Health: An Introduction

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: The Social Determinants of Health: An Overview

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: The Built & Social Environment

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: Public & Social Policy & Population Health

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Biology & Behaviors: Risk Factors for Mortality & Morbidity

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

 Unit 7: Health Psychology and Behavior

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Global Best Practices & Case Studies

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation
• Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
• Take the Review Quiz

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
• Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
• The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor