Syllabus
UNE Summer Session
OPUB 1030 – 6 week – Summer Session 2 2026
Credits - 3
Description
This course introduces students to foundational concepts and frameworks that shape health outcomes across diverse populations, with a strong emphasis on the critical role of economic, social, and structural factors. Students will examine the complex interplay among behaviors, genetics, clinical care, the physical environment, and the social determinants of health. Key topics include health disparities, structural inequality, cultural humility, community-level interventions, and the use of data to identify and support marginalized and hard-to-reach populations.
Through a combination of lectures, readings, reflective exercises, videos, and discussions, students will build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for culturally responsive and equity-focused practice. The course also prepares students to participate effectively in interprofessional and multidisciplinary efforts aimed at addressing health inequities and promoting health equity across communities.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Course Outcomes
- Describe the social determinants of health and explain their influence on individual and population health outcomes.
- Apply practical tools and strategies to identify and address barriers to health among marginalized and underserved populations.
- Analyze personal values and biases and evaluate their impact on culturally responsive and equity-focused professional practice.
Assignments
For all assessments and learning activities, see Brightspace for the full assignment descriptions and instructions. Read the prompts carefully and use the rubrics to confirm how assignments and discussions will be graded.
Weekly Discussions
Weeks 1,2,3 include a discussion prompt where students are required to submit an initial post and one or two response post(s). Week 5 includes 2 discussion prompts each with requirement of initial post and response(s) post(s).
Unless otherwise specified, initial posts are due Fridays by 11:59 pm ET; responses to at least two peers are due Sundays by 11:59 pm ET.
Week 1 Assignment: Personal Reflection on Social Determinants of Health
Students will complete a template to reflect on how social determinants of health have shaped their own well-being. Using the provided framework, they’ll list five factors for each of the six domains and provide a brief explanation of how each has positively or negatively impacted their health.
Week 2 Assignment: Causes of Poverty
Students will watch a documentary and critically examine the root causes of poverty. They will then connect the film’s content to four specific causes from a provided reading. Finally, students will reflect on how the video either changed or reinforced their personal beliefs about poverty in the United States.
Week 3 Assignment: The Place You Grew Up
Students will create a presentation that reflects on how their hometown’s environment shaped their health. The presentation will integrate personal experiences with local data to explore place-based social determinants.
Week 4 Assignment: Screening and Linking
Students will develop a screening tool for assessing social determinants of health and a corresponding list of community-based organizations.
Week 5 Assignment: Plain Language in Practice
Students will evaluate existing health education materials for readability and cultural relevance using a provided toolkit and guidelines. The assignment is split into two parts: a written report critiquing the original material and a revised version of the material itself.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Learning Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussions (6 x 7 pts) | 42 |
| Assignments (5 x 10 pts) | 50 |
| Final Quiz | 8 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 93 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 92.9% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89.9% | 3.50 |
| B | 83 – 86.9% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 82.9% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79.9% | 2.50 |
| C | 73 – 76.9% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 72.9% | 1.75 |
| D | 60 – 69.9% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 59.9% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Week 1: Jul 1 – Jul 5
Week 2: Jul 6 – Jul 12
Week 3: Jul 13 – Jul 19
Week 4: Jul 20 – Jul 26
Week 5: Jul 27 – Aug 2
Week 6: Aug 3 – Aug 7 <<Friday
| Week | Assessments | Due |
| Week 1: Introduction to the Course, Conceptual Foundations, Social Determinants of Health (SDH) |
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| Week 2: Impact of Poverty |
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| Week 3: Place Matters |
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| Week 4: Clinical Approaches and Social Needs; Preventing Burnout in the Health Professions |
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| Week 5: Health Literacy & Cultural Awareness |
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| Week 6: Synthesis of Course Themes, Health Equity in Practice |
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Student Resources
Summer Session Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. If you are a current UNE undergraduate taking online Summer Session courses, please continue to work with your Advisor and include them on your outreaches.
Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.
UNE Libraries
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance and Accommodations
Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.
If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.
If you are a current UNE undergrad, please continue to work with your coordinator at bcstudentaccess@une.edu and ensure any accommodations you have in place - are put in place for your online Summer Session course(s).
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
Policies
Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation.
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. For all proctored exams, an external camera is required. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course). https://success.une.edu/science-prerequisites/honorlock/
Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.
Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar. Students in online Summer Session courses will have early access the Saturday prior to the course start date to review course content as needed.
- Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.
Late Policy
Unless stated otherwise by your faculty: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days, the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3-point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.
In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.
Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.
Unauthorized Use
Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.
Citing AI Use
If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools.
Instructor Responsibility
Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE AI Use Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.
Student Responsibility
Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.