Division of Health Behavior Research

HCS CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS

U88-HCS 514 Health Behavior
Shacham; 3 units
1 night/week every even Fall semester, 5:30-8:00pm

This course focuses on the analysis and application of behavior theories to health education and health promotion. It examines personal, family, and sociocultural factors that influence health behavior. It also addresses lifestyle issues related to behavior change and adherence.

Course Outcomes:

1. Explore the development and conceptualization of major constructs in health psychology, including illness/wellness, models of health behaviors, primary and secondary illness prevention, stress and coping, public health, and medical/psychiatric co-morbidities.
2. Evaluate the empirical evidence linking these constructs, including biological and behavioral pathways, to health outcomes in the domains of infectious disease, asthma, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
3. Evaluate some of the clinical approaches used by health psychologists in the areas of assessment, development of health habits, prevention, and treatment; especially in the areas of nicotine abuse, health care utilization, patient-provider communication, and adherence to medical treatment.

U88-HCS 516 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics in Health Care
TBD; 3 units
1 night/week every odd Spring semester, 5:30-8:00pm

This course provides advanced study and practical application of communication principles to enhance professional communication in various health care settings. Emphasis is placed in increasing awareness of different styles of communication and developing more effective communication skills. Topics include basic communication skills, working with different groups, supervision and leadership in the workplace, and presentation skills.

Course Outcomes:

1. Recognize differences in communication patterns based on culture, gender, socioeconomic status, literacy, and age of receiver/sender.
2. Understand and adapt to different ways of communicating with different groups of patients and their families.
3. Adapt communication techniques to student’s own professional health care setting.

U88-HCS 524 Foundations of Health Care Research
Cavazos-Rehg; 3 units
1 night/week every Spring semester, 5:30-8:00pm

This course is designed to introduce students to basic research methods used in health policy research. The course will provide an overview of basic methodological concepts used in health care, social science, and behavioral science research. An overview of data analysis and presentation is included.

Prerequisite: introductory statistics (400-level or above)

Course Outcomes:

1. Accurately critique different kinds of practice-related research reports.
2. Enhance skills in accessing and critically reviewing practice-related research.
3. Demonstrate understanding of various approaches to data collection and analysis.
4. Identify and follow appropriate procedures and rules for obtaining informed consent, preserving confidentiality, and notifying participants of benefits and risks related to research.

U88-HCS 532 Principles of Management Health Care Services
Rickert; 3 units
1 night/week every odd Fall semester, 5:30-8:00pm

This course enables students to explore the theoretical framework and practical application of classic management principles so that they can function effectively in a variety of organizational settings in the provision of health care services. Topics include the management process; managerial decision making and planning; negotiation skills; organizational design; and leadership.

Course Outcomes:

1. Practice effective negotiation skills in a management environment.
2. Apply principles of job design to establish a more effective work environment.
3. Demonstrate effective strategic planning skills.

U88-HCS 536 Health Education: Methods, Planning and Evaluation
Kelly; 3 units
1 night/week every even Spring semester, 5:30-8:00pm

Basic concepts of learning theory as they relate to health behavior. Students become familiar with the teaching/learning process, teaching methods, and selection of appropriate evaluation strategies.

Course Outcomes:

1. Apply theories of education to specific health education settings.
2. Utilize methods of assessing health needs of a community or other health setting.
3. Plan and design a health education program and proposal for program evaluation.

U88-HCS 582 Evaluation of Health Service Programs
Tenkku; 3 units
1 night/week every Fall semester, 5:30-8:00pm

Emphasizes practical and scientific application of evaluation theory to health service programs. Includes evaluation design, interpretation, and utilization of findings.

Prerequisite: introductory statistics (400-level or above) and HCS 524 Foundations of Health Care Research.

Course Outcomes:

1. Have an understanding of basic evaluation methodology.
2. Be able to critique evaluation designs in relationship to internal and external validity.
3. Apply evaluation methodology to construct an evaluation research design.

---

In addition to the core courses, students must select 12 units of elective course work from the HCS curriculum and/or from other departments and divisions of the University. A list of approved electives from other departments and divisions is made available each semester. Courses not on the approved list must be presented to the student's advisor or Associate Director in order to be evaluated for approval. Courses taken without consent are in jeopardy of being disallowed as counting towards graduation from the HCS program.