Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Syllabus
LBST 2214 Issues of Health and Quality of Life
Section 645
Spring 2011

Course Number: LBST 2214-645

Course Title: Issues of Health and Quality of Life
Course Credit: 3 credit hours
Class Times: T/R 12:30-1:45pm

Location: CHHS 155 (Large group classes)

Small group seminar classrooms (to be assigned)
Resource Rm CHHS 386 Fridays 10am-2pm
Pre-requisites and/or Co requisites: None

Faculty: Pilar d. Zuber, MSPH, CHES, CPH

Instructor, College of Health and Human Services
Office: CHHS 485
Hours: Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 pm or by appointment
Email: pdelcast@uncc.edu

Catalog Description: A study of individual and social aspects of health. Analysis of individual health
and illness behavior and theory; the social, political, and economic contexts of health and illness; and
the broad cultural, ethical, and religious understanding of health and illness.

Course Objectives:
1. Discuss the major health issues and national health priorities facing the US in the 21 st century.
2. Critique gender, race/ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic differences that contribute to health
and health disparities.
3. Assess the organization and delivery of health care and its role in our nation's health.
4. Describe various measurement models for health and quality of life.
5. Analyze the role of individual and social beliefs in influencing ethical understandings on issues
of health and quality of life.

Required Text
1. There is NO textbook required for this course. Readings for the course will be made available
on Moodle for each module/seminar. Reading the assigned material is required before class.

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 2

2. In addition, it is recommended that you read the New York Times Health section every
Tuesday. It can be found at http://health.nytimes.com/pages/health/index.html.

University Policies

Code of Student Responsibility

“The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Responsibility (the Code) sets forth certain rights and
responsibilities in matters of student discipline. The Code defines these responsibilities and
guarantees you certain rights that ensure your protection from unjust imposition of disciplinary
penalties. You should familiarize yourself with the provisions and procedures of the Code”
(Introductory statement from the UNC Charlotte brochure about the Code of Student
Responsibility). The entire document may be found at this internet address:
http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html.

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity refers to cheating and plagiarism.

Plagiarism is borrowing or using another person’s words or ideas without giving them credit (i.e.
stealing). Regardless of where these words or ideas are seen or heard (e.g. lecture, book, Internet,
website, BLOG, chat room, letter, diary, newspaper, journal article, on TV or radio) students must
reference any material and the person who spoke or wrote these words or ideas. Unless the
information is common knowledge, the work of an author must be properly cited under the
following circumstances: use of their idea, opinion, or theory, quotation of their exact words, use of
facts, statistics or diagrams (e.g. the President of the United States).

It is your job to ask your TA if you have any questions about how to cite a source. Plagiarism is
against the ethical code of the faculty, the researchers in this college, and UNC Charlotte. Plagiarism
shows a serious lack of honesty and truthfulness and it will be dealt with harshly. The University has
a process led by the Dean of Students to investigate any report and can result in penalties ranging
from failing an assignment to being expelled from the university.

Students have the responsibility to know and observe the requirements of The UNC Charlotte Code
of Student Academic Integrity. Copies of the code can be obtained from the office of the Dean of
Students or http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html Students are expected to report cases
of academic dishonesty to the course’s instructor.

Special Needs
If you have a documented disability and require accommodation in this course, contact Disability
Services, Fretwell 230, phone: 687 4355 voice/TDD) the first week of the semester. Information
about available services may be found at www.ds.uncc.edu. Accommodations for learning will be
arranged by that office and communicated to the Instructor.

Diversity Statement
UNC Charlotte strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is
respected and maintained. Therefore, we celebrate diversity that includes, but is not limited to

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 3

ability/disability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, and
socio-economic status.
If English is not your native or primary language and you have concerns that it will affect your
performance in this course, you are encouraged to discuss it with the instructor.

Sexual Harassment and Electronic Communication

All students are required to abide by the UNC Charlotte Sexual Harassment Policy
(http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-61.html ) and the policy on Responsible Use of University
Computing and Electronic Communication Resources
(http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-66.html ). Sexual harassment, as defined in the UNC
Charlotte Sexual Harassment Policy, is prohibited, even when carried out through computers or
other electronic communications systems, including course-based chat rooms or message boards.

College Policy

Grades
90-100 A, 80-89 B, 70-79 C, 60-69 D, Below 60 F

Course Policies

Teaching Strategies
This course is delivered using a Large Lecture and Discussion Group Format. Each Large Lecture
section will be divided into five Discussion Groups led by a Teaching Assistant (TA). The Large Lecture
will initiate course instruction and each Module. The Large Lecture will always meet in CHHS 155.
The Discussion Group meetings will further investigate and apply the principles outlined in the Large
Lecture. Additionally, the Discussion Group meetings will be used to increase opportunities to
describe assignments and communicate. The Discussion Groups will meet in independent classrooms
students will be assigned to separately. The course is heavily supported using Moodle – an online
UNCC web application available through your 49er account.

Computer and Technical Difficulties

This LBST 2214 course will be using Moodle to enhance our class activities. Class materials such as the
syllabus, Powerpoints, readings, and assignments will be available on Moodle. Class announcements
will be made through the Class Announcements Forum on Moodle or email. If you experience any
technical problems with Moodle, you will need to contact the Help Desk at 704.687.6400 for
assistance. If you have difficulty logging into, uploading assignments, completing the quizzed in
Moodle it is your responsibility to first contact the Help Desk for assistance. They will assign you a
ticket number that will be necessary for you instructor to follow-up with the issue.

Student Professionalism
Learning depends on the efforts of everyone in the class. Everyone has something to share from their
knowledge and experiences. Your attendance and participation is vital to the discussion and the
classroom activities. Professionalism includes excellent class attendance, participation in whole and
small groups interactions, being prepared, being attentive and not causing disruptions of other

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 4

students, arriving on time, remaining the entire class period, being respectful of others, following
instructions, and demonstrating a positive attitude toward learning. Students cannot learn if you are
engaging in other activities (e.g. texting, studying for another class, talking, arriving late, leaving early,
using electronics etc.). Infractions against this and subsequent policies can result in the student
being asked to leave the class and the loss of ten (10) points from your overall grade.

Student Responsibility
Students earn their grade in this course based on their performance. Reading notes prior to class,
attending class, participating appropriately in class discussions, and completing assignments are
expected. If there are any questions or concerns about assignments, grades, or anything concerning
your performance, please discuss it with the TA as soon as possible. If you know you must miss a class,
please discuss it with me and your TA before the occurrence, not the day of. Please do not wait until
the end of the semester to discuss any issues that you may have, by then it may be too late!

Email Communication
Students are required to use their 49er Express University email and TAs should be contacted first.
During the week (Monday-Thursday) every attempt will be made to return your email within 24-48
hours. Please be sure to include the course and section number in the subject line so you can be
easily identified. Emails should be written clearly, with proper spelling and grammar. Emails with a
blank subject line, lack of course/section identification, or extensive spelling and grammatical errors
will not be returned. Following proper email etiquette is an extension of conducting yourselves in a
professional manner at all times.

Grades
University policy prohibits any discussion of student grades via email. Grades for each assignment will
be posted on Moodle in a timely and orderly fashion. Additionally, information will be provided to
students at the middle and end of the semester. It is your responsibility as a student to keep track of
grades throughout the semester and discuss any discrepancies with your TA when they occur.

Attendance and Participation

Class attendance and participation are expected! If you know of regular conflicts with the
class schedule such as work, other classes, or family commitments then you should register
for a different section of this class or another class. Students are expected to be prepared to
discuss materials in an informed and critical manner. All content included in the materials
will not be repeated in class, but the student is held responsible for the content assigned.
Students who miss classes will be responsible for the work of those periods. Absences are
neither excused nor unexcused (regardless of documentation or reason) and should be
discussed with the instructor; if you are not in class, regardless of the reason, you are
considered absent.

There are 2 parts to attendance in this course:

1. Overall attendance- Attendance will be taken in every class, both large lectures and group
discussions. Attendance may take the form of a quiz, short answer question, or other
Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 5

response to a prompt. Students must answer this question/quiz in order to be counted as

present for the day. If you are not in class at the time the question/quiz is presented or leave
early you will be marked absent for the day.

2. Group Discussion Participation- During the Group Discussion sessions, attendance will be
taken in the form of a quiz pertaining to the readings assigned for that day’s meeting. These
quizzes serve to both see who is in class each day, as well as test student preparedness for
class.
Each quiz is worth 5 points. 2 points will be awarded for taking the quiz, the remaining 3
points will be awarded based on correctly answering the questions on the quiz. Students who
come to class after the quiz has been administered, will be counted as absent and will not
receive attendance/preparation points for that day. There are a total of 80 possible
attendance/preparation points for the semester.

Attendance will be officially recorded starting with Tuesday January 25, 2011. Only the Group
Discussion Quizzes will count as points (Attendance/Preparation) towards your grade. However,
missing large lectures will count against you. Missing ten (10) classes or more over the course of the
semester (25% of the semester) will lower your final grade one letter. All absences, regardless of
documentation, count towards those ten (10).

Cell Phones and other Portable Electronic Devices (see Professionalism)

The use of cell phones and other portable electronic/audio/communication devices (Blackberry, Palm
Pilot,iPod, MP3 player, computer) is disruptive and prohibited in this classroom unless otherwise
directed. During class time, cell phones and other electronic devices should be turned off or on silent
or vibrate modes and be put away (not on your desk) . iPods and MP3 players should be off,
earbuds/earphones should not be worn during class. Any use of these devices (cell phones,
computers or other electronics) during class time can result in dismissal from the classroom and a
deduction of 10 points from your final grade for each incident.

Classroom Conduct (see Professionalism)

This class will be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Your active participation in the
classroom is encouraged, however please remember there may be differing personal beliefs, values,
and opinions related to class topics. Respectful and open-minded conflict is encouraged and
welcomed. However, I will exercise my responsibility to manage the discussions so that ideas,
comments, and arguments can proceed in an orderly, productive, and professional manner. Students
and the instructor may, at times, choose to share personal information. Any information shared in the
classroom is treated as confidential and should not be discussed outside of the classroom. If your
conduct in the class seriously disrupts the atmosphere of mutual respect, you will be asked to leave
the class and not be permitted to participate in further discussions on that topic or issue. 10 points
will be deducted from your final grade for each occurrence.

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 6

Grading
Evaluation Methods:

Requirements Grading Points % Total Grade

8 Module Quizzes 30 pts each 240 48% A = 450-500 pts
Presentation 30 pts 30 6% B = 400-449 pts
Debate 50 pts 50 10% C = 350-399 pts
6 Module Assignments 15 pts each 90 18% D = 300-349 pts
Preparation Quizzes 5 pts each 80 16% F = less than 300 pts
Moodle Profile Assignment 10 pts 10 2%
Total 500 100%

Extra Credit
Extra credit will be offered according to the discretion of the instructor. Extra credit must be offered
to the entire class to maintain order and fairness. Individual extra credit will not be considered.
Assignments
More information regarding the assignments can be found on Moodle. All course activities and
assignments will be submitted electronically through Moodle. All assignment due dates are published
at the beginning of the semester. Please note due dates and times (11:55pm). Moodle is set up to
not allow late submission of assignments. Plan accordingly to submit your assignments on time.

Quizzes: These will be available through Moodle and will cover the information from the large lecture
as outlined in the schedule below. All quizzes will be available on Thursday 2:00 pm – Friday 11:55pm.
The first quiz will be on the syllabus to ensure students are aware of the policies and practices within
class. This, and only this, quiz will be a multiple attempt quiz that will remain open through the 3rd
week of class. Meaning, you will have multiple attempts to get the correct answer. All other quizzes
will accept one and only one attempt.

Presentation : Students will form groups of 3-4 during Week 5 (Module 1) of the semester. Each
group will research, organize and present a health topic the week before Spring Break. Each group
should practice and plan on a ten minute presentation. Evidence of practice and research should be
significant. The purpose of this assignment is for your group to develop an intricate knowledge of
your health topic. This assignment will then progress into a Debate (see below). Periodic updates on
this project will be due in the Discussion Groups. These topics will be chosen from a list during the
Discussion Group meeting.

Debate: Debates will use the Presentation (see above) to develop an argument for and against the
topic from the presentation assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage critical
thinking skills and awareness of issues surrounding these health topics. Further details of the
assignment will be available on Moodle. The in-class debates will take place during the scheduled
Final Exam time.

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 7

Moodle Profile Assignment: This assignment is a basic introduction to Moodle. You will edit or update
your Profile in Moodle. You will need a current picture of your face; this should include no more than
your head, neck and shoulders. Additionally, you will need to describe yourself within your profile-
including a statement about why you are taking the LBST 2214 course. This assignment will remain
open for the entire semester, however only those students completing the Profile Assignment by
January 27th will receive credit.

Module Assignments: These activities are used to scaffold your learning for each Module and will be
due at the end of each Module in your Discussion group. Each activity will be outlined and described
in your Discussion group. Each assignment has specific guidelines for content and formatting. A
substantial part of your grade is based on adhering to these guidelines. Written assignments are to be
submitted as MS Word (.doc, .docx) or compatible file type (.rtf) and formatted using the following
guidelines: 1” margins, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and a short header on the
top of each page.

You are responsible to submit assignments in a format that can be read by your instructor. Points
will be deducted for not using the formatting guidelines given. Assignments MUST BE submitted in
using one of the file documents listed; .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) or .rtf (generic format available
in all word processors). Other formats will not be accepted (see Professionalism). If you do not have
access to MS Word on a home or personal computer, it is available on all campus computers.
Point deductions will be made for missing/incorrect components. Each assignment includes a
specific grading rubric. Please reference the rubric when putting together your assignment to
ensure that your submission reflects the given Instructions at a level expected from College-level
students. Points may be deducted from the assignment for the following:
Not using template/formatting Grammatical/Spelling Errors
Inadequate length Plagiarism Citation Errors
Missing superficial content

Important Information
Deadline to add/drop classes January 20, 2011
Last day to Withdraw from a course- grade of “W” March 21, 2011
Last day to Withdraw from all courses- grade of “W” April 11, 2011

Student Computer Help Desk 704-687-6400

Disability Services 704-547-4355
Computer Lab CHHS 370

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 8

Class Schedule Overview

COURSE INTRODUCTION
Week 1
T 1/11 Welcome/Overview
R 1/13 Measures & Health Disparities

Week 2
T 1/18 MLK HOLIDAY- No classes
R 1/20 Healthcare System

Week 3
T 1/25 Social Determinants of Health & Health Policy
R 1/27 Health Ethics

Module Activities:
1/13 Syllabus Quiz Opens (Available until 2/10, 11:55pm)
1/27 Passport Assignment Due
1/27 Module Quiz Available (Opens Thur. 1/27 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 1/28 11:55pm)

Module 1: Nutrition/Physical Activity

Week 4
T 2/1 Large Lecture: Nutrition/Physical Activity
R 2/3 Discussion Group – Intro / Physical Activity Myths

Week 5
T 2/8 Discussion Group – Weight Bias
R 2/10 Discussion Group – Supplemental Nutrition Programs

Module Activities:
2/10 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
2/10 Module Quiz Available (Opens Thur. 2/10 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 2/11 11:55pm)

Module 2: Mental Health

Week 6
T 2/15 Large Lecture: Mental Health
R 2/17 Discussion Group – Mental Health History

Week 7
T 2/22 Discussion Group – Eating Disorders
R 2/24 Discussion Group – Mental Health in College

Module Activities:
2/24 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
2/24 Quiz Available online (Opens Thur. 2/24 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 2/25 11:55pm)

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 9

Midterm Assignment
Week 8
T 3/1 In-class Presentations
R 3/3 In-class Presentations

Week 9
T 3/8 Spring Break – NO CLASSES
R 3/10 Spring Break – NO CLASSES

Module 3: Substance Use

Week 10
T 3/15 Large Lecture: Substance Abuse and Addiction
R 3/17 Discussion Group – Tobacco Use

Week 11
T 3/22 Discussion Group –Prescription Drug Use
R 3/24 Discussion Group – College Alcohol Use

Module Activities:
3/24 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
3/24 Quiz Available online (Opens Thur. 3/24 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 3/25 11:55pm)

Module 4: Reproductive Health

Week 12
T 3/29 Large Lecture: Reproductive Health
R 3/31 Discussion Group – Sex Education Programs

Week 13
T 4/5 Discussion Group – Sexually Transmitted Infections
R 4/7 Discussion Group – Debate Workday

Module Activities:
4/7 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
4/7 Quiz Available online (Opens Thur. 4/7 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 4/8 11:55pm)

Module 5: Intentional and Unintentional Injuries

Week 14
T 4/12 Large Lecture: Intentional and Unintentional Injuries
R 4/14 Discussion Group - Reducing Unintentional Injuries
Week 15
T 4/19 Discussion Group – Debate Workday
R 4/21 Elder Abuse

Module Activities:
4/21 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
4/21 Quiz Available online (Opens Thur. 4/21 2:00pm, Closes Fri. 4/22 11:55pm)

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.
 Zuber | LBST 2214 645 | Spr 2011 | p. 10

Module 6: Chronic/Major Diseases

Week 16
T 4/26 Large Lecture: Chronic/Major Diseases
R 4/28 Discussion Group – Genetics vs Lifestyle

Week 17
T 5/3 Discussion Group – Rationing of Care

Module Activities:
5/3 Module Assignment Due 11:55pm
5/2 Quiz Available online (Opens Mon. 5/2 2:00pm, Closes Tues. 5/3 11:55pm)

FINAL EXAM- Debate Assignment

Week 18
R 5/12 Debates During Final Exam Time: 11:00-1:30pm

Note: Any and all information contained in this syllabus may be changed or amended as needed by the instructor at any time.