UPC-3 REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PLAN A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM TRACK IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE October 8, 1984 1A. Description and Objectives This program will be an undergraduate, liberal arts major degree program track in Health Psychology, within the framework of the current Psychology major program, Hegis Code 42.9999. The program will include most of the currently required psychology major program courses. These include an Introductory course, four 200 level area courses, two Research Methodology Courses, and a Senior Seminar. In addition, Health Psychology students will take the courses in Health Promotion, Biofeed- back and Self-Regulation, Behavioral Medicine, Behavior Modification, and a new capstone seminar in Health Psychology. Capable students will be strongly encouraged but not required to undertake a supervised Fieldwork Experience in a health psychology setting. Correlate required courses will include Biology 223 (Human Anatomy) and choice of Sociology 362 (Soc of Health & Illness) or Management 320 (Structure & Function of Health Care Institutions). A course in Health and Fitness Assess- ment currently under development as Interdisciplinary Special Topics 272 is expected to become a part of the program as required or elective correlate. SUMMARY: Required major hours, 39: required correlates, 6, could increase to 8. OBJECTIVES: We aim to offer an integrated set of courses leading to a basic knowledge of health psychology. This program will be studied by some solely for its inherent interest. Others may use it to prepare for further graduate study in a variety of areas -- psychology, other social science or service fields, medicine or other health professions. The program will meet educa- tional needs expressed by an increasing number of students. 1B. Relationship to Institutional Mission As a liberal arts degree with links to the purposes of major community insti- tutions, Health Psychology is in the center of the institutional mission and its current directions. 1C. Special Conditions which make UNC-Asheville and the Department of Psychology uniquely suitable for this Program Conditions of advantage include (1) considerable faculty expertise in the relevant areas, including recent recruitment of a senior level faculty person with health psychology interests; (2) close and unique ties between UNC-Asheville and the Mountain Area Health Education Center and other health institutions afford excellent community interest and potential fieldwork placements; (3) the W.K. Kellogg grant to UNC-Asheville/MAHEC for developing, implementing and evaluating a novel, national-model course in Health Promotion, which will be a cornerstone of the program; (4) recent staffing of the UNC-Asheville Health Service with well- qualified, board-certified family physicians who express strong interests in health psychology and health promotion; (5) recently enhanced library resources, instructional materials, equipment and availability of consultation on curriculum development through Kellogg grant resources. The UNC-Asheville Psychology Department has a strong focus of activity and expertise in this area. The program proposed can go hand in hand with a future Human Assessment Laboratory, now under discussion, for assessment, consulta- tion, and demonstration teaching dealing with psychological, physiological and family sides of human health and well-being. 1D. Relationship to Existing Programs The program will be a new degree track within the current psychology major, with links to biology and sociology through correlate course requirements. 2. Other North Carolina Institutions Operating Similar Programs No other institution in North Carolina operates an undergraduate program in health psychology or health promotion. Some elements of health promotion are taught within the Department of Health Education in the School of Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill. Peripherally related programs in sports psychology have been established at Mars Hill College and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Nationally, some half-dozen leading universities have established doctoral programs in health psychology, and other graduate programs are emerging rapidly. No university in the 16 county area of Western North Carolina offers a program of study in health psychology. 3. Equipment Opportunity Consistent with the liberal arts mission of UNC-Asheville and the recommenda- tions of the 1983 National Working Conference on Education and Training in Health Psychology, this track will be offered as a liberal arts degree rather than a vocational training program. It is recognized that an advanced degree is the entry level for the profession of psychologist, as reflected by state licensing laws and the position of the American Psychological Association. The program will serve as a foundation for future graduate study leading to careers in several areas--psychology, other social sciences, social service, and health professions. For individuals not pursuing graduate study, the program will provide a broad education in the relationship between psycholo- gical/behavioral factors and health. Employment opportunity for those ter- minating their education after graduation may be enhanced as noted below. The health industry is one of the very largest in Asheville. Health Promotion appears to be a rapidly growing area, within health care institutions and also in private industry. The Health Psychology students may benefit from their degree program in seeking employment, in ways and proportions which are not completely predictable at this time. This may be an appropriate place to note some of the social trends and signs of growth which suggest future employment possibilities. Examples: (1) a current student is taking the Health Promotion course because she has been assigned responsibility for developing "wellness" programs at a nearby county hospital, and offering these to the community; (2) a recent psychology gradu- ate is a nurse employed in the Education department at Mission Hospital, responsible for offering health promotion activity to employees; (3) another student, an executive at Champion Paper, is designing employee wellness programs which may become a model for adoption throughout the corporation. Health psychology, including health promotion, is an area of considerable national growth -- in research, in government action, in corporate exploration. A number of national corporations have established employee "wellness" programs and are evaluating whether these programs can reduce the costs of time lost to illness and the expense of health care (Control Data Corporation, Sentry Life, Johnson & Johnson, the Kaiser Medical Plan, perhaps some 20 others). Asheville companies are expressing interest in workshop or other activity in wellness or health promotion for employees. The Asheville area is recruiting "high technology" industries, which tend to adapt innovative management practices. Over the past two years St. Joseph's Hospital, Memorial Mission Hospital, and Haywood County Hospital have planned or implemented programs in health promotion and wellness for employees and/or the public. The surge in American society towards individual fitness has been reflected in the emergence of spas, recreation centers and health clubs across the country. Quintessentially, these centers are involved in the aspirations for behavior change of many average, previously non-athletic Americans. In our opinion, misinformation or ignorance about fitness, human health, health promotion and behavior change is probably the norm among many staff. An undergraduate background such as we propose will benefit those UNC- Asheville graduates who seek such work. Whatever the special opportunities and advantages to emerge for bachelor's level Health Psychology students, this will remain in emphasis a liberal arts degree. Thus, we will encourage students to study these subjects for their inherent interest and importance; to increase their "pre-professional" skills for research, analysis and interpretation of data, written expression, etc. We will not offer this to students as a vocational training degree program. The program will be a foundation for further graduate study leading to careers in several areas--psychology, other social sciences, social service and health professions. 4. Procedures which will be used to plan the Program Informal discussion and planning has been underway for some time. The Fall 1982 Long Range Plan of UNC-Asheville stated the intention of this institu- tion to explore degree program possibilities in health promotion. In 1983-1984, Dr. Allan Combs of the UNC-Asheville Psychology department was appointed chair of an interdisciplinary committee to study degree program possibilities related to health promotion. This document reflects considerable of his counsel and thought. Now, the Psychology Department Chair will appoint Dr. William Bruce to chair planning for the degree program track, with Dr. Combs as Associate Chairperson of a committee to include one other psychology department faculty member. This group will consult with colleagues in the departments of Biology, Sociology and Management, and prepare whatever revisions are needed to the current document. This group will submit a document in time for review by the Planning Council and the Chancellor during the balance of 1984. The group hereby requests prompt information as to any deadlines of either, and of other reviewing officials, bodies or heads. 5. Financing This program entails only a single new course, the Health Psychology capstone seminar. Other courses are regularly offered. The program could generate substantial enrollment, based on current numbers of students in the Health Promotion Course (100+ per year) and expressed student interest. The program is financially advantaged in that a key and novel element--the Health Promotion course--is financial for development and evaluation as a national model through 1985-1986 by the Kellogg Foundation.