THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

 

FACULTY SENATE

 

Senate Document Number    8110S

 

Date of Senate Approval      05/06/10

 

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

 

APC Document 66:                                          Add new courses to the HWP curriculum:

HWP 190, HWP 250, HWP 294

 

Effective Date: Fall 2010

 

1.       Add:     On page 155, new course, HWP 190:

 

190         Introduction to Health Promotion (3)  

An introduction to the discipline of health promotion. Topics include history, theories, wellness coaching, career opportunities and certifications, professional organizations and journals, current issues, and future trends. Through in-class learning, on-site visits and practical experiences, students become familiar with the profession, the Health and Wellness Promotion program, and develop personal goals to work toward while completing the major or minor. Students will demonstrate computer competency in this course. A grade of C or better is required to graduate. Fall and Spring.

Impact:

This is a new class in the major core. It serves as the introductory course for majors and compliments the HWP 459 capstone course. It is not expected to impact time to graduation or total credit hours as we removed several courses from the major requirements when we added these three. Several instructors have the ability and expertise to teach the course and, therefore, it can be delivered by the department without additional resources.

 

Rationale: 

The course is designed to give students an overview of the history, major theories and skills necessary to become successful health promotion specialists. In addition, information related to professional organizations, career and internship opportunities will be shared. This course will provide students with training in developing an e-portfolio which will be used for program/major assessment, serve as demonstration of the university required computer competency, as well as assist students in keeping materials organized for application to graduate school or for job openings.

 

 

2.        Add:         On page 155, new course, HWP 250:

 

      250           Health Parity: Domestic and Global Contexts (3)

Social inequalities and health disparities at the local, national and international levels will be addressed. Students will explore the social factors that contribute to racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender disparities in health and healthcare. This course will strengthen students’ knowledge of the history and causes of health disparities and inequalities and will provide a theoretical grounding that will be applied in the study of practical solutions to eliminate health disparities and achieve health parity around the world. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement. Spring.

 

 

Impact:

A course similar to this one has been offered as a special topics class every year since 2005. The course has been delivered by an adjunct instructor in the past; however, the search for a replacement position has been designed to include this course in the teaching responsibilities of the new faculty member. Therefore, we anticipate only minimal impact on the department as a result of adding this course. It should not impact time to graduation for HWP majors as it is replacing one of two options in our core requirements of courses currently offered by the sociology department (i.e. no change in credit hours).

 

Rationale:

In 1970, people in racial and ethnic minority groups accounted for 16% of the U.S. population. By 1998, that proportion was 27%.  By 2050, racial and ethnic minorities will account for nearly half of the U.S. population. Racial and ethnic minorities bear a greater proportion of poor health as compared to the general population of the United States. Interventions to eliminate health inequalities are essential. In addition, health disparities are a major issue globally. Students must understand how the interweaving of individual behaviors and larger social forces (social determinants of health) contribute to the health status of people locally, nationally and globally. Making the course an HWP requirement allows our faculty to help students understand how poverty, race, ethnicity, class and other factors specifically impact health, health promotion and access to health care.

 

 

 

3.        Add:         On page 156, new course, HWP 294:

 

294         Human Physiology (4)

An introductory study of human physiology. Topics include an introduction to cells, tissues, systems organization, osteology, circulatory system, body defense systems, muscular system, renal system, respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system and endocrine system. Laboratory involves experimentation and demonstration of physiological principles. Fall and Spring.

 

 

Impact:

This class has not yet been offered in HWP, but can be taught by current faculty. It will be a part of the health sciences core for HWP majors and a prerequisite for currently offered, higher-level physiology and nutrition courses. This course will also be of interest to students completing the pre-health professions requirements. A number of HWP alums have suggested this as an important addition to the HWP curriculum. Adding this course to the core should not significantly impact time to graduation and will increase the total credit hours required by 1 as this 4 hour courses replaces a 3 hour HWP 420 Exercise Physiology course that will no longer be required.

 

Rationale:

Human physiology includes basic scientific concepts that are critical to understanding health and wellness. All HWP majors will be required to take either this course or BIOL 338. Currently, there is no course in HWP that introduces students to human physiology. Instead, basic physiology concepts are currently covered in HWP 325 Pathophysiology of Chronic Conditions & Illnesses and HWP 420 Exercise Physiology at the expense of more advanced topics that should be covered in those higher level classes. HWP 294 Human Physiology will provide the requisite knowledge framework for the more advanced physiology courses currently offered within the HWP major.