This course provides an overview of existing psychological and epidemiological findings on the relationship between behavior and disease. The course explores how behavior, emotion and cognition can influence disease processes and examines the impact of stress and perceived control of one’s destiny on coronary, immune and infectious diseases and symptoms. The biological processes of several relevant chronic illnesses are covered as well as related racial and social economic health disparities. Templates for understanding and treating chronic illness including social support, referral and interventions for optimal physical and mental health are discussed. The interdisciplinary theme of this course will provide an overview of extant literature on theories of health psychology within the context of critical race theory, epidemiology, research methods, philosophy of science, biological anthropology, sociology, as well as applied health/medical fields for an enriched understanding of the biopsychosocial approach to health and illness. Lectures and in-class activities as well as films, guest lecturers, and interactive computer programs make up this textbook-free course with required readings made available through CityTech’s OpenLab and Open Educational Resources (OER).
This course will allow us to thoroughly examine the literature that shaped America during the nineteenth century. As a class, we will read some of the greatest literary classics ever written and, as we dissect the writers’ stories and messages, determine how, exactly, the writing shaped the developing society and vice versa. We will read essays, short stories, and novels, along with films, that address the relevant issues of the day. The purpose of this course is to not only read and discuss great works, but, moreover, to figure out the pragmatic scope of the American character.
This course is both reading and writing intensive. As such, to make sure we are processing the classroom discussions, we will have several exams on the short stories, novels, and films we scrutinize together. Each of us will be responsible for multiple short essay papers that will require online and/or library research, and there will also be a major research paper assigned that will require each of us to review and outline lessons learned throughout the entire semester; as such, constant note taking is not only strongly encouraged but required.
Keep in mind that this class requires the ability to engage in mature conversations, as we will talk openly about racism, religion, sexism, sex, Class, culture, poverty, and politics.
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