Course Syllabus

---Note: This course code has changed from HS 472 to PUBH 472. You may occasionally see references to the old course code or title.

We are excited to have you here and hope you enjoy your time as you expand and apply new knowledge! In scheduling your time, reserve 9–12 hours each week to be successful in this 3-credit course.

Course Description

This course is designed to give students an exposure to different areas of communication and instructs them on how to most effectively distribute health information. Programs will be administered according to what an individual will most likely encounter while working in the field of Health Promotion or Worksite Wellness. There will be specific assignments that will be completed in the course of the semester. This course will cover other areas as time permits.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course students will able to:

  • Determine factors that affect communication with the target audiences
  • Determine communication objectives for audiences
  • Develop health messages using communication theories and/or models
  • Select methods and technologies used to deliver health messages
  • Present effective health messages using identified media and strategies
  • Design a health communication evaluation plan

Learning Model Architecture

Prepare

As you study the course materials, you will prime your mind to learn and to teach others.

Teach One Another

Teaching your classmates gives you, a prepared student, the opportunity to act for yourself and to develop a deeper understanding of the course materials. Along with teaching your classmates in formal arenas such as discussion boards and peer reviews, look for informal means of teaching one another as you interact with your classmates.

Ponder/Prove

You will extend and help solidify your learning by pondering and proving new knowledge. You will do this through the Health Communication Campaign (H.C.C.) final draft assignments. Ultimately you will compile your H.C.C. plan and all H.C.C. artifacts (poster, podcast, infographic, etc.) into a website. You will start the website early in the semester, and upload artifacts to it as the semester progresses. In the end, you will have a portfolio-type website highlighting your skills in creating H.C.C. artifacts that you can share with potential future employers.

Prerequisites

HS 390 is highly recommended.

Course Materials

There is no physical textbook for this course; all content is contained in the online modules.

Technology Requirements

You will use Microsoft Word in this course. If you do not yet have the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) on your computer, you may use this free download to obtain the software. Note: The free download is only for BYU-I students. 

You will need a Google account, in order to create your Health Communication Campaign website. You will also be asked to create accounts at various websites (free of charge) throughout the semester in order to access important health communication information and to complete certain assignments. 

How to Navigate this Course

Begin each week by reading the Introduction and the announcement from your instructor to learn important information about the week. Next, take notes as you study the course material. You should begin studying the materials early in the week, so that you have the information necessary to do the other assignments that are due. In the beginning weeks you will have a discussion board that is due, while in later weeks you will peer review someone else's work. Notice that in Weeks 06–13 you create a draft of a Health Communication Campaign artifact (poster, podcast, infographic, etc.) but that the final draft isn't due until the end of the following week.

Assignments

In Weeks 1–14, you will encounter the following types of assignments:

  • Study: In each module, there is a study page which contains the bulk of the study material for that week. In addition to articles and documents to read, the material is also presented through videos and websites. Take notes as you learn the material and then review your notes to help you solidify your learning.
  • Study Content Quizzes: These quizzes are open-note and meant to check your understanding of the assigned course materials. Make sure that you study prior to taking the quiz.
  • Discussions: You will find discussions in Weeks 01–05, and in Week 14. In Week 01, you get to introduce yourself to the class and get to know your classmates, while in Week 14 you post and critique each other's websites. In the other discussions, Week 02–05, you are discussing various case studies having to do with the topic for those weeks. You should take an active role in these online discussions.
  • H.C.C. Plan Assignments: In the first weeks of the course you complete different sections of your H.C.C. plan. Within that plan you choose a topic, and various other specifics, on which you base your health campaign for the rest of the semester.
  • H.C.C. Drafts & Peer Review Assignments: In these assignments, you create a H.C.C. artifact (poster, podcast, infographic, etc.). After you submit your draft, your classmates review the artifact and give you feedback so that you can revise the artifact and submit your final draft (see below) in the week that follows. Students peer review each other, based on a rubric, and provide feedback to two other students.
  • Peer Review Accountability Quizzes: In these quizzes you self-report your activity in the peer review.
  • H.C.C. Final Draft Assignments: After your H.C.C. artifact has been peer reviewed, you revise it and submit the final product to your instructor. After your instructor has graded your artifact, and provided feedback, you are encouraged to revise and upload it to your H.C.C. website.
  • H.C.C. Website Assignments: In Week 07 you build the framework for your H.C.C. website, and are encouraged to upload H.C.C. artifacts to it throughout the semester. See "H.C.C Final Draft Assignments" above for more information. In Week 13, you complete your website and submit it to your instructor for grading. You also share your website with your classmates in the Week 14 Discussion, where they will offer you some final critiques.

Grading

Assignment categories are as follows:

Category Points Percentage
Quizzes  210 21%
Assignments 670 67%
Discussion Boards 120 12%
Totals 1000 100%

Don’t expect your final grade to be rounded up. You have all semester to earn your grade; therefore, do not email your instructor at the end of the semester asking to round up your grade. Your grade will be determined by dividing the number of points you earn out of the total possible points for the course and multiplying by 100. That percentage will determine your final letter grade using the grading scale listed below.

Letter Grade Percentage Range
A 100 - 93
A- 92.99 - 90
B+ 89.99 – 87
B 86.99 – 83
B- 82.99 – 80
C+ 79.99 – 77
C 76.99 – 73
C- 72.99 – 70
D+ 69.99 – 67
D 66.99 – 63
D- 62.99 - 60
F >60

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to this help guide article (Links to an external site.).

Additional Information

Honor Code

Following the Honor Code is of great importance as you strive to be a disciple of Christ. Academic honesty and integrity is expected of all BYU-I students. To copy another’s work from the Internet, a book, or from any other source and claiming it to be your own work is plagiarism. Read the official definitions of plagiarism and cheating from the Academic Honesty portion of the Honor Code. Each case of plagiarism or cheating will be dealt with by the instructor. When working on a group project, you have the responsibility to assure that others in the group do not plagiarize. Any academic dishonesty issue will be referred to the BYU-I Dean of Students, if necessary. Even though you are taking this course online, BYU-Idaho’s Dress and Grooming standards still apply. By adhering to the Honor Code you will create a learning environment, “consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.

Tutoring

Tutoring options for online students are available through the Academic Support Centers. There are tutors available to help you with your writing questions and there might be course-specific tutoring available. Check their webpage for more details.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

  • Student Honor
    • Academic Honesty
    • Student Conduct
      • Sexual Harassment
  • Student with Disabilities
  • Complaints and Grievances
  • Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Disclaimer

This syllabus and the course schedule may be changed at any time prior to or during the semester as the need arises based upon circumstances. Any changes will be available to view in the course documents.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due