Course Syllabus

Jump to Today
Penn State, College of Health and Human Development

BBH 101

Introduction to Biobehavioral Health

Contents

Instructor

  • Instructor: To Be Determined
  • Email: To Be Determined
  • Phone: (814) XXX-XXXX

⬑ Back to Top

Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change. Instructors will notify students of any changes and students will be responsible for abiding them. Even if you print this syllabus, please check the online version, especially the course summary (schedule), often.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to basic principles related to health, with an emphasis on the conceptualization of health as being influenced by a variety of factors including biology, environment, psychology, and social influences. We will discuss health as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and not just as the absence of disease.

  • Number of credits: 3

⬑ Back to Top

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the importance of integrating biological, behavioral, and sociocultural approaches to health
  2. Define current and historical concepts of health
  3. Explain basic biological processes
  4. Gather and evaluate health information from credible sources
  5. Identify behavioral factors that contribute to individual differences in health risk
  6. Recognize reasons for variability in health among diverse populations

⬑ Back to Top

Materials

There is no required text for this course.

Additional course readings and supplemental materials are available through the PSU Canvas Course site and the PSU Library Course E-reserves.

⬑ Back to Top

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries offers you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library. The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

⬑ Back to Top

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided in this section. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information in the Modules tab. Additionally, this section will include information related to due dates and late work policies.

Assignment and Grading Overview
Type of Assignment How Many % of Final Grade
Academic Integrity Quiz 1 0%; required to complete
Lesson Quizzes 6; lowest quiz score dropped 10%
Assignments and Discussions 9 25%
Exams 3 45%
Final Exam 1 20%
Course Total 19  100% 

Quizzes

Academic Integrity Quiz

A brief quiz will require you to answer some key questions about academic integrity. Although this quiz will NOT be graded, it is a REQUIRED part of the course. To access material after the first lesson in this course, you must complete this academic integrity quiz and score at least 11 out of 12 points. You have 3 opportunities to do so. Refer to the Course Calendar for due dates.

Lesson Quizzes

Throughout the semester there will be six quizzes. The quizzes will be available for the entire lesson in which they are due and must be submitted by the end of the lesson. You must take the quiz within this time frame as there will be absolutely no makeups offered for quizzes. The quizzes will be open-notes and are designed to help you familiarize yourself with exam material. Your lowest score of the semester will be dropped. Because 1 score will be dropped, there will be no other allowances made for missing a quiz for any reason.

Assignments and Discussions

There will be a program assessment, short papers, and several discussion forum assignments throughout the course. Refer to the Assignments and Discussions page within the Course Orientation module for more information. Finally, detailed instructions can be found within each of the assignment descriptions.

Exams

Exams will assess your knowledge, comprehension, and integration of lectures, discussions, and assigned reading materials. They will consist of multiple choice questions. There will be 3 regular exams and 1 cumulative final exam. Exams will be available to you within the course space all week during the week in which they are due. Refer to the course calendar for due dates.

Because exams are offered for an entire week, there will be no makeups offered except in the most severe of circumstances. It is your responsibility to ensure you have reliable internet access for the duration of the exam, and it is your responsibility to take the exam far enough ahead of the due date that any unplanned events cannot cause you to be unable to submit the exam on time.

Exams in this course are CLOSED BOOK and are proctored.

Online Exam Proctoring Service

Honorlock will proctor your exams this semester. Honorlock is an online proctoring service that allows you to take your exam from the comfort of your home. You DO NOT need to create an account or schedule an appointment in advance. Honorlock is available 24/7, and all that is required is a computer, a working webcam/microphone, your ID, and a stable internet connection. A couple of notes about this:

      • Devices: You must use the web version of Canvas, no mobile devices.
      • Ethernet Internet Connection: We strongly recommend using an Ethernet Internet connection since they are the most stable. If you do not choose to use an Ethernet Internet connection, you may experience connectivity issues (i.e., dropped or lost connections). Test your connectivity speed prior to taking the exam by using the Honorlock Speedtest. If you have reason to think your connectivity may be unstable during an exam, please alert your instructor ahead of time.

To get started, you must use Google Chrome and install the Honorlock Chrome Extension. A note about extensions:

      • Extensions: If you have an extension from another proctoring platform (e.g., Examity) installed in your Chrome browser, you must remove it before you can use Honorlock. Both extensions cannot co-exist.

Prior to taking your first exam, you will take a practice quiz to ensure you are able to access and complete a quiz using the Honorlock system. More information about Honorlock will be provided prior to the first exam.

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar, unless noted otherwise. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide Links to an external site..

⬑ Back to Top

Grading

Final grades will be assigned based on the following grading scheme. There will be NO final grade rounding (per BBH departmental policy). There will be NO special opportunities for grade enhancement unless such opportunities are provided to all students.

Course Grading Scheme
Grade Percentage
A 100% to 94%
A- <94% to 90%
B+ <90% to 87%
B <87% to 84%
B- <84% to 80%
C+ <80% to 77%
C <77% to 70%
D <70% to 60%
F <60% to 0%

⬑ Back to Top

Additional Links and Resources

Review information related to technical requirements, Penn State policies, and student resources.

  • Technical Requirements
    • This document provides guidance on the technology and software required to successfully complete this online course.  Students should familiarize themselves with the various technologies used to enhance learning and participation in this course.
  • University Policies
    • This document includes university policies about copyright, nondiscrimination and equity, disability accommodations, military accommodations, counseling, artificial intelligence, and academic integrity.
  • Digital Learning Tools
    • This document provides an overview of the common technology tools used at Penn State and includes helpful guides, tutorials, and videos to get started.
  • Student Health, Well-Being, Career, and Financial Resources
    • This document provides helpful student health and well-being resources including links and contact information for crisis, general health, disability services, sexual misconduct, college and career services, and campus life.

⬑ Back to Top

 To print this page, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL-P (PC) or CMD-P (Mac).

Course Summary:

Date Details Due