Undergraduate Courses
Health Promotion in Diverse Populations (50:830:460/50:499:457) – designated as a general education Engaged Civic Learning course
This course focuses on biopsychosociocultural determinants of health behaviors, disparities in health (with a focus on South Jersey), and models of health education, health promotion, and disease prevention. The importance of cultural competence in addressing health challenges that affect diverse communities will be highlighted. In addition, the course will focus on community assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating health education and health promotion programs and campaigns. Syllabus
Health Psychology (50:830:348)
This course is designed to give students a broad overview of the field of health psychology. Health psychology applies a wide range of psychological principles and research methods to the understanding of health and illness. Health psychology approaches health and illness from a multidisciplinary perspective in which the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors are examined. In this course, we consider such questions as: How can stress affect your health? Are individuals with certain personality types more likely to get certain illnesses? Why do people behave in unhealthy ways? What helps people cope with illness? How do our friends and family members affect our health? Syllabus
Introduction to Health Sciences (50:499:101)
Health Science is an interdisciplinary applied science field focused on health. This introductory course provides students with an overview of issues central to the health sciences and careers in the field of health. Issues addressed include research in the health sciences, individual and social determinants of health, current issues in public health, health policy, and health care systems in the U.S. and globally. Syllabus
Method and Theory in Psychology/Research Methods in Psychology (50:830:255/256)
This course is designed to give students a broad overview of research methods in the field of psychology. Research methods allow psychologists to describe, predict, explain, and determine causes of behavior and experiences. In addition, an understanding of research methods is essential for becoming a more critical and efficient consumer of research (scientific or otherwise). In this course, we cover such topics as the use of the scientific approach in psychology, reviewing the relevant literature, the strengths and limitations of different research designs, measurement issues such as reliability and validity, how to interpret results and generate conclusions, and ethics in research and writing. [For 255]: This is a writing intensive course in which students develop their own research proposal for an empirical study. Syllabus
Psychology of Aging (50:830:328)*
This course is designed to give students a broad overview of the field of psychology of aging/gerontology. The focus on later life will be examined from a multidisciplinary perspective, using a life-span developmental framework. We cover fundamental theories, major topics, and characteristic methods in the psychology of aging. Topics include changes in physical, cognitive, social, and personality functions; mental health issues; retirement; long term care; successful aging; and death and dying. Syllabus
Social Relationships and Health (56:830:674)**
In this seminar, we will draw upon theory and research in psychology and other fields to understand how social relationships influence health (and vice versa). The focus of the course will be on the structure and function of social relationships, different types of relationships throughout the lifespan, and gender and cultural differences in relationship dynamics. Both physical and mental health outcomes will be examined, and implications for future research, practice, and policy will be considered. Syllabus
*Also taught as a cross-listed psychology special topics graduate course.
**Also taught as a graduate seminar and honors course.
Graduate Courses
Research Methods (56:830:580)
Social scientists use research methods to describe, predict, explain, and determine causes of events, experiences, and behaviors. This course is designed to provide you with a basic foundation of conceptual and practical skills in research methods. These skills will allow you to creatively and systematically develop ideas about social science phenomena and pursue well-articulated, testable questions by using appropriate scientific methods. These skills also are essential for becoming a more critical and efficient consumer of research (scientific or otherwise). In this course, we will cover topics related to reviewing the relevant literature, designing and executing a study, interpreting and reporting results, and generating conclusions. This course is designed to prepare you to develop your own proposal for an empirical study. Syllabus
Health Psychology (56:830:648)
In this seminar, we identify major themes and research directions in health psychology. Health psychology uses a multidisciplinary perspective to examine the complex interplay of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors on health and illness. We use a socioecological approach to covering course topics. Syllabus