Course Syllabus

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The syllabus is an essential tool for learning about the course and instructor, course goals/expectations, required readings and instructional materials, assignment and activity due dates, and other important information. Read it thoroughly. If you have questions regarding the syllabus, please contact your instructor.

HPS 102: Community and Public Health

Spring 2025

3 Credits

January 15, 2025-May 11, 2025

Course Syllabus

Instructor Information

Instructor Name: Michael J.F. Iannessa, M.D.

Office Hours: by appointment

Phone: 617-784-2855

Instructor Email: michael.iannessa@quincycollege.edu

Dean’s Office Phone: Natural Health Sciences: 617-405-5960

Course Description

Community and Public Health will provide students with an overview of the knowledge and skills needed for a career in the evolving field of health education and health promotion. This course will provide an overview of the concepts of epidemiology, community organizations, program planning, health of underserved populations, mental and environmental health and more. There are indications that evidence-based health education taught in the community setting can influence health outcomes, helping to support clinical efforts to involve patients in their overall health and well-being.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
  2. Understand the new landscape of health promotion.
  3. Develop relationships with community partners.
  4. Learn about which organizations help to shape community and public health.
  5. Explore the field of epidemiology and the study of disease injury and death in the community.
  6. Analyze the importance of prevention and control of diseases and health conditions.
  7. Design wellness programming and education for community participants of all ages.
  8. Understand the need for mental and environmental health along with physical health.
  9. Explore the role environment plays in the community and public health.
  10. Analyze specifics on maternal, infant, child health and adolescents, young and old adults.
  11. Study the effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco on the community.
  12. Discuss how racial and ethnic disparities and how the underserved affect health in the community

(CLO = Course Learning Outcome)

Prerequisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Materials and Resources

Course Delivery Format

Traditional Online (OT): This is an online course. All aspects of the class will take place in the Canvas Learning Management System rather than in a classroom each week. Instructional features include instructor-made video lectures, discussion questions, assignments, assessments, other activities, and opportunities for questions and answers. There are no on campus meetings scheduled for this course, however, we will have at least 3 voluntary, virtual meetings to support your learning and create class community.

Communication and Feedback

There will be weekly announcements, Zoom sessions and QC email. Students must use their QC email as stated in the Student Handbook. I will reply to emails within 48 hours, and feedback for assignments will be posted within a week after the due date.  All assignments are automatically graded.

Please refer to the Student Handbook for information about using your QC email.

Attendance/Participation

QC Attendance Guidelines for Online Classes: Reporting student attendance in online courses must follow federal regulations. According to these regulations, using Canvas LMS data showing that a student has only logged into the online course and not participated is not sufficient to demonstrate attendance.

Students must establish their “attendance” or “participation” by engaging in online course learning activities such as, but not limited to:

  • Submitting assignments via Canvas
  • Engaging in online discussion boards
  • Completing assessments such as quizzes/exams
  • Engaging in course group work via Google Collaborate, Canvas Groups
  • Interacting with instructor via Canvas messaging and/or email or 1:1 Zoom
  • Participating in third-party publisher activities
  • Viewing and completing video quizzes
  • Attending scheduled mandatory or optional virtual class sessions

Please note that these learning activities can easily be tracked by Canvas, email, and third-party publisher sites.

Grading Policy

  • Assignments: 40%
  • Discussions: 40%
  • Quizzes: 20%

Letter Grade

Percentage (%)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A

93 and above

4.0

A-

90-92

3.7

B+

87-89

3.3

B

83-86

3.0

B-

80-82

2.7

C+

77-79

2.3

C

73-76

2.0

C-

70-72

1.7

D

60-69

1.0

F

59 and below

0.0

I

Incomplete

0.0

W

Withdrawal

0.0

AUD

Audit

0.0

Make-Up Policy

Please refer to the QC Policy Manual for make-up work information.

Additional Information

Canvas Learning Management System (LMS):

If you have any questions about Canvas, please email the IT Help Desk at itsupport@quincycollege.edu or submit a Help Ticket.

Quincy College strongly recommends you use the Firefox or Google Chrome web browser to access and participate in its online and hybrid courses. Internet Explorer is NOT recommended.

 

 

Academic Integrity:

Quincy College fosters a high standard of academic honesty for students, faculty, and staff, and expects all to adhere to the basic values of mutual respect and responsibility as well as individual and institutional integrity.

To promote the best environment for learning, courses utilize test proctoring and Turnitin, similarity/plagiarism software to maintain integrity of tests and coursework. Please contact your instructors for specific information about the academic integrity software used in your courses.

Our test proctoring software, Respondus Lockdown Browser, does require a working microphone and webcam. A student guide to Respondus Monitor will be made available during the course.

Please refer to the Student Handbook for more information on our Academic Integrity Policy, Policy 5.15.

Turnitin:

Written assignments in the course may be submitted to Turnitin for a similarity/plagiarism review. This can be done by you or your instructor.

Turnitin generates a similarity report of your writing by comparing it with a database of journals, books, websites, student papers and other work. This report can help determine when the sources are used fairly, cited properly, and paraphrased effectively. Detection of similarities does not necessarily mean plagiarism has occurred, as the copied text might be properly referenced.

Turnitin helps to foster academic integrity and encourages you to produce original academic work.

The Use of AI Tools:

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, via website, app, or any other access, is not permitted in this class. Representing work created by AI as your own is plagiarism and will be prosecuted as such.

Course Accessibility Statement:

Quincy College is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need access to course content due to course design limitations should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) sas@quincycollege.edu or by phone (617) 984-1682.

Please refer to our Student Handbook for more information about Student Accessibility Services.

Title IX Policy:

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and retaliation. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, click here for more information about QC’s Title IX Policies and Procedures.

 

Course Schedule

 

Week/Module

Read/Watch

Assignment(s)

Due Date

Module 1: The Best Health for Populations and Communities?

Chapters 1, 2, & 4 – Various sections

Videos

·       Discussion: What Does Health Mean to You?

·       Discussion:

·       Our Essential Question: What is explicit and implicit bias in healthcare and how do they impact public health?

1/22/25

Module 2: Issues and Challenges of Public Health regarding Demographics?

 

Chapters 5 & 6 – Various sections

Videos

·       Discussion: The Affordable Care Act

·       Assignment: Identifying Strategies to Advance Cost-Effective Health Solutions Using Healthy People 2030

1/29/25

Module 3: Issues and Challenges of Public Health regarding Policy and Regulations?

Chapter 7: Various sections

Videos

·       Discussion: Life Expectancy & Chronic Disease

·       Assignment: Reflection on Health as a Human Right

2/5/25

Module 4: Social Determinants

Chapters 8 & 9 – Various sections

Videos

Discussion: Care Deserts and What is Our Essential Question

·       Module 4 :QUIZ A

·       Module 4: QUIZ B

2/12/25

 

 

 

 

Week/Module

Read/Watch

Assignment(s)

Due Date

Module 5: Population-Based Practice & The Tenants of Public Health

Chapters 11

Various sections

Videos

·       Discussion: Analyzing a Public Health Study on the Quality and Reliability of Public Health Research

·       Assignment:

Quiz: Public Health Informatics

Quiz: Public Health Surveillance

2/19/25

Module 6: Epidemiology

 

Chapter 12

Various sections

Videos

Discussion: John Snow’s Approach to Disease Transmission

Using John Snow’s Cholera Map

Quiz: Epidemiology

2/26/25

Module 7: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Strategies

Chapter 15:

Various sections

Videos

Assignment: Reflection Essay:

Uncovering How Bias Can Influence Health Interventions, Prevention Strategies, and the Development of Public Health Models.

·        

3/5/25

Module 8: Culturally Congruent Care: Cultural Influences on Health Beliefs and Practices

 

Chapter 21

Various sections

Videos

Discussion Board: (Part One) Exploring Diversity, Culture, and Health - Your Perspective

Assignment: (Part Two) ESSAY: Exploring Diversity, Culture, and Health - Case Study Analysis

 

3/19/25

 

 

Week/Module

Read/Watch

Assignment(s)

Due Date

Module 9: Health Promotion and Maintenance Across the Lifespan

 

Chapter 26

Various sections

Videos

Assignment:

Quiz #5 – Children

Quiz #6 – Adolescents

Quiz #7 - Older Populations

 

3/26/25

Module 10: Caring for Vulnerable Populations and Communities

 

 

Chapters 27

Various sections

Videos

Assignment: Discussion: Pick one of the vulnerable populations discussed in this module and discuss the role public health plays in this group.

4/2/25

Module 11: Caring for Families & Caring for Populations and Communities in Crisis

 

Chapters 28 and 31: Various sections

Videos

Assignment:

Quiz #14: Crisis Quiz

4/9/25

Module 12:

 Principles of Disaster Management

 

Chapter 32

Various sections

Videos

Assignment: Reflection ESSAY: Reflection: How can we decrease mass violence?

Quiz: Disaster Quiz

4/16/25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week/Module

Read/Watch

Assignment(s)

Due Date

Module 13:

Environmental Health

 

Chapter 14

Various sections

Videos

Assignment:

Discussion: Climate Change and Health

Quiz: Quiz 12: Environmental Quiz

 

4/23/25

Module 14:

Career Paths in Public Health

Review Topics in the textbook

Various sections

Videos

Assignment: Discussion: Discussion: Navigating Public Health Careers in a Changing World

 

4/30/25

Module 15:

Public Health in the 21st Century

Readings

How has the ACA allowed the underserved to receive care? 

 

Assignment:

Learn where we are and where we are going. No discussion or quiz.

 

5/7/25

 

 

 

 

 

This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due