THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

 

FACULTY SENATE

 

 Senate Document Number    8810S

 

 Date of Senate Approval      05/06/10

 

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

 

APC Document 73:                                          Add new elective courses to the HWP curriculum:

HWP 315, 316, 317, 320, 343, 365 and 401

 

Effective Date: Fall 2010

 

1.        Add:         On page 156, new course, HWP 315:

 

    315     Stress Management and Optimal Performance (3)

Covers the physiological and psychological reactions that make up the response to acute and chronic stress, and more generally explores the integration of our cognitive, behavioral and physiologic systems and the consequences of their lack of integration. The course focuses on critical thought regarding personal and organizational readiness for change, cultural norms, and cognitive-behavioral variables that facilitate health. It addresses optimal performance strategies for choice and change applicable to individuals as well as health care facilitators. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement. Fall.

 

Impact:

This course is an elective choice among three options for our majors and will be offered once a year. Several faculty members have expertise in this content and, by offering this once per year, the impact will be minimal.

 

Rationale:

This course was developed to meet the needs of those students struggling with stress management and also for Health and Wellness Promotion majors needing information and skills to strengthen their ability to work with stress issues in the workplace. This course identifies the physiological, psychological, emotional and behavioral aspects of stress. The course will include a discussion of the body’s hormonal and neurological response in times of extreme emotion. The class focus is to have a deep understanding of the dangers of stress and how it can cause serious health problems. A variety of stress-reduction techniques and biofeedback methods will be taught.

 

 

 

2.        Add:         On page 156, new course, HWP 316:

 

316         Maternal and Infant Health (3)

Addresses the importance of pre-, peri- and post-natal health on fetal development and maternal health. The course includes the biological aspects of maternal and infant health in addition to the social, cultural, historical, emotional, and ethical aspects of maternal and infant health, up to the age of one year. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement; HWP 253. See department chair.

 

Impact:

This new course will provide majors with the knowledge they need to be successful in their career and life endeavors. This course may also be of interest to Women’s Studies majors. With the current number of faculty and faculty expertise, the Department of Health and Wellness anticipates offering this course every other year.

 

Rationale:

Strong contemporary programs in Health Promotion and Wellness offer students opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of health promotion throughout the life cycle. We currently offer courses that cover personal health, health promotion for healthy adults and those with chronic conditions, and for people in the 4th quarter of life. The addition of Maternal and Infant Health will fill an important gap in our current offerings.

 

 

3.        Add:         On page 156, new course, HWP 317:

 

317         Child and Adolescent Health (3)

An overview of child and adolescent health issues, programs, and trends. The course addresses the development of the individual through childhood and adolescence while focusing on health issues. At the completion of this class, students will demonstrate the role of behavioral, physical, cultural, social, emotional, and psychological factors in determining methods for disease prevention and health promotion among children and adolescents. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement. See department chair.

        Impact:

This course has not been offered previously, but is important to provide majors with health knowledge addressing childhood and adolescent portions of the life cycle. With the current number of faculty and faculty expertise, the Department of Health & Wellness anticipates offering this course every other year.

 

Rationale:

The Department of Health and Wellness Promotion wants to address health issues throughout the lifecycle of the individual, so our course offerings need to match. Maternal and Infant Health (HWP 316) begins by looking at the newborn and infant stage, Child and Adolescent Health (HWP 317) covers the next developmental stage in life. This course will allow students to study contemporary issues affecting children’s health. There is no other course on campus that provides this content. Many HWP courses address adulthood, while Aging, Health and Active Living (HWP 360) addresses the aging years.

 

 

 

 

4.        Add:         On page 156, new course, HWP 320:

 

320         Nutrition for Performance (3)

Designed to help students understand the function of the nutrients in the body and how these nutrients affect health and athletic performance. Utilizing the latest research and practices in the field, students will understand why proper counter-nutritional measures help athletes prepare for competitions, prevent injury, enhance recovery, improve daily workouts, and maintain optimal health and body weight. Students can expect to complete this course with a sound knowledge in proper macronutrient intake and utilization for various endeavors, ergogenic aids and supplementation, hydration strategies, and how to design an individualized, periodized dietary program that is congruent with training and competitive demands. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement; HWP 225. See department chair.

 

 

Impact:

The Department of Health & Wellness anticipates offering this new course every year and can offer it with the expertise of current faculty. 

 

Rationale:

Preparation for high performance is built upon a multi-faceted approach that not only involves understanding physical training but also necessitates a properly devised dietary regimen. This course will focus on the relationship that food plays on regeneration, performance enhancement, and exercise continuation.  As exercise and athletic programming becomes more comprehensive, it is important for students to understand how to implement proper nutritional strategies that are consistent with the themes outlined in a training program.

 

 

 

 

 

5.        Add:         On page 157, new course, HWP 343:

 

343         Brain, Health, and Aging

Explores the ever-evolving concepts, theory, and research on the science of keeping the mind and brain healthy. This course will cover perception, mental wellness, gender differences, memory/learning, happiness, stress-management, meditation/spirituality, and movement/balance, with an emphasis on the effects of aging, neurological diseases, trauma, addiction, and exercise. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. See department chair.

 

Impact:

This new course will be covered by current faculty. It would become an elective option (among three possible choices) as part of the core curriculum for HWP majors.

 

Rationale: 

HWP majors were previously required to take PSYC 320, Biopsychology or PSYC 215, Mind and Brain. However, PSYC 215 is no longer offered by the PSYC department, and PSYC 320 is a higher level PSYC course geared ideally for PSYC majors. At the same time, it is necessary that HWP majors have the opportunity to study the brain from a health promotion perspective, and HWP has faculty with expertise in neuroscience and health.

 

 

 

6.        Add:         On page 158, new course, HWP 365:

 

365         Addiction, Drugs, and Health (3)

Addresses fundamentals of the nature, scope, and complexity of addiction to alcohol, tobacco, medicines, and other chemicals. This course examines other addictive behaviors, current approaches to treatment, and prevention of addiction. It explores models of addiction, society’s attitudes, and services for persons and families. Basic pharmacology of commonly used drugs of abuse, medications for chronic conditions and illnesses, herbal preparations and drug interactions will also be discussed. Prerequisite: completion of the ILS Health and Wellness requirement. See department chair.

 

 

 

Impact:

This new course will be a responsibility of the replacement position (hired for Fall 2010). In addition, there are several other faculty members in the department that are able to teach this course.

       

Rationale:

The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have a profound effect on many important aspects of an individual’s life, including mental, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual health and success in school and/or work. Yet very few people have any direct education about factors related to addiction and resources available to individuals and families. Due to the prevalence of addiction in our society, it is important for students to understand the complexity of addiction related to alcohol, legal and illegal drugs and other issues such as gambling and gaming. HWP majors also have requested additional education on basic pharmacology of commonly used medicines and herbal preparations for chronic conditions and/or the promotion of health.

 

 

 

7.        Add:         On page 158, new course, HWP 401:

 

401         Nutrition and Metabolism (3)

An advanced course covering nutrition at the cellular level. Students are introduced to nutritional biochemistry and provided with a mechanistic look at nutritional strategies for health promotion. Topics include energy transformation, the role of nutrients in chronic disease promotion and prevention, homeostatic balances, body composition and energy expenditure, and research methodologies in nutrition. Prerequisites: HWP 225; BIOL 338 or HWP 294; STAT 185. See department chair.

 

 

Impact:  

This new course will be taught by our current faculty. We expect to offer it once every other year so it will not significantly impact the overall departmental teaching load.

 

Rationale:

HWP and pre-health professional students have been asking for a more advanced course in nutritional science. It is impossible to do justice to the field of nutrition in one 3-hour course (HWP 225). A significant proportion of HWP students plan to go on to graduate school in nutrition. Most programs require at least 1 year of nutrition coursework. We want to provide that option for students and to provide more in-depth content in nutrition for those who hope to work in this and other areas of health promotion.