Syllabus
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition
DCN 820: Counseling and Health Behavior Change
Credits - 3
Description
Advanced theory and strategies in healthcare counseling, coaching, and communication to support health literacy, behavior change, and health outcomes will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on culturally appropriate communication techniques and approaches, including motivational interviewing, across a variety of practice settings and patient populations. Students demonstrate their advanced counseling and coaching skills through role-play and simulations.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
DCN Program Outcomes (PLO)
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Apply adaptive and responsive leadership skills in healthcare, higher education, and community settings (depending on focus of student).
- Apply evidence-informed approaches when generating, appraising, and utilizing research.
- Lead the provision of safe, ethical, and evidence-based healthcare, higher education, and community services.
This course fulfills DCN Program Outcomes PLO 1 and PLO 3 as demonstrated through the course key assessment – Barriers to Change in Healthcare Coaching and Counseling Project.
Course Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze patient-practitioner dynamics.
- Align patient background and characteristics with culturally-appropriate and patient-centered counseling, coaching, and communication approaches.
- Implement communication strategies to enhance patient health literacy, behavior change, and health outcomes.
- Appraise and adapt communication strategies to achieve desired aims.
Assignments
Discussion Boards
You will be required to participate in weekly discussions during all weeks of the course. Initial posts are due by Sunday, and response posts are due on Tuesday. If the initial post and response posts are not submitted within the assigned discussion week, you will be given a zero. Posts submitted after the discussion week will not be graded.
Your success in the course relies on robust discussion, critical thinking, and peer response. Weekly posts responding to prompts posed are meant to facilitate a deeper understanding of the broader themes of the course as well as apply concepts you are learning through course readings, handouts, and lectures.
All posts must be written following standards of academic/professional writing and maintain a professional tone. All responses, both initial and peer, must be supported with synthesized current scholarly literature documented in AMA format.
Please be sure to follow the individual directions provided with each Discussion Board prompt, as the requirements may vary from Discussion Board to Discussion Board. Please review the DCN Discussion Guidelines for submission standards.
Assignments, Projects, and Assessments
See Brightspace for full assignment instructions, requirements, and rubrics.
In regard to all assignments, please observe the following:
- All assignments must be completed using AMA style for formatting, citation, and referencing where appropriate.
- All times related to assignment due dates refer to Eastern Time (ET).
- All questions about assignments should be sent through email to the course instructor.
- There will be no extra credit offered.
Students will receive feedback on each assignment usually within three days of the submission deadline (possibly longer for larger projects and papers, in which the course instructor will inform students). Grades and assignment feedback will be posted to the gradebook in Brightspace. Students should review assignment feedback and use the feedback to maintain or improve course performance, particularly when completing subsequent assignments. Students who earn a grade below B- (80%) on an assignment or who have a grade below B- (80%) in the course should contact the course instructor at their earliest convenience to discuss resources and strategies to improve performance.
Key Assessment
The Barriers to Change in Healthcare Coaching and Counseling Project requires students to identify a topic related to their expertise, identify challenges and barriers preventing behavior change, perform a literature review, and develop a framework of counseling or coaching to support their clients/patients using a series of evidence-based coaching and counseling strategies.
Students will identify the primary challenges or barriers that clients/patients in their practice setting frequently report as to why they are not following through on an intervention and are ultimately not able to engage in behavior change. Students will perform a literature review on the chosen topic and critically examine relevant, current primary research to identify viable strategies to facilitate behavior change using motivational interviewing and other evidence-based approaches. Students will develop a counseling/coaching plan, including scripting, to support their clients/patients in overcoming these barriers. The plan must be outcomes-driven in order to monitor and evaluate client/patient progress in specific, measurable behavior change or movement from one stage of change to another.
Students will complete and submit components of the key assessment throughout the course for the instructor to review and provide feedback.
Course Reflection and E-Portfolio
At the end of the course, students will identify one course assignment that best showcases their learning and achievement of course outcomes. The assignment will be saved as an artifact to place in their E-Portfolio at the end of the program. Students will reflect on a series of related questions to document their professional growth and development in the course.
Writing Statement
As professionals in the field, you will consistently be expected to clearly and concisely articulate advanced concepts for diverse audiences at a variety of educational levels.
Graduate students are expected to integrate and apply current scientific evidence and scholarly practice guidelines when completing assignments. Theories, ideas, concepts, and other information obtained or generated through review of the scholarly literature must be synthesized and summarized across multiple sources and correctly attributed.
Graduate students are expected to produce their best quality work, including screening their work prior to submission for clarity, grammatical, spelling, formatting and mechanical issues.
While there is often a portion of each assignment’s rubric dedicated specifically to grammar, spelling, mechanics, and formatting, it is critical to understand that failure to submit work that has been adequately proofed may result in a reduction of points in other areas of the rubric. These may include, but are not limited to, metrics rating professionalism or content knowledge and synthesis; work submitted in graduate courses should provide evidence of strategic reading, writing, and academic speaking skills essential for success in the discipline.
Please note that the Graduate Programs in Applied Nutrition, which includes the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program, holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be ordinarily used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Grade Item | Points | Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Studen Syllabus Contract | 10 | 1% |
| Week 1 Discussion: Counseling Experience Reflection | 30 | 3% |
| Week 1 Assignment: Stage of Change Case Study | 50 | 5% |
| Week 2 Discussion: Communication in Healthcare and Hidden Bias | 30 | 3% |
| Week 2 Written Discussion Post: Simulated MI Session with Focus on Culture Stigma and Bias | 30 | 3% |
| Week 2 Assignment: Topic and Barrier Identification Worksheet | 30 | 3% |
| Week 2 Assignment: Exploring Hidden Bias to Better Understand Unseen Patient-Practitioner Barriers | 50 | 5% |
| Week 3 Discussion: Health Literacy and Patient Understanding | 30 | 3% |
| Week 3 Assignment: Updated Education Material | 75 | 7.5% |
| Week 4 Discussion: Evoking with a Time Limit | 30 | 3% |
| Week 4 Assignment: Literature Search Worksheet | 50 | 5% |
| Week 4 Assignment: Practice Counseling Session Using Existing Framework | 75 | 7.5% |
| Week 5 Discussion: Shifting the Structure | 30 | 3% |
| Week 5 Assignment: Framework Worksheet | 50 | 5% |
| Week 5 Assignment: Peer Counseling Session Using Updated Framework | 75 | 7.5% |
| Week 6 Written Discussion: Technology Dialogue | 30 | 3% |
| Week 6 Peer Discussion Forum: Peer Feedback on Framework Worksheet | 30 | 3% |
| Week 6 Assignment: AI in Counseling and Coaching | 55 | 5.5% |
| Week 7 Discussion: Impact of Key Assessment Project | 30 | 3% |
| Week 7 Assignment: Key Assessment Full Project Template | 100 | 10% |
| Week 8 Discussion: Adapting and Advocating | 30 | 3% |
| Week 8 Assignment: Wrapping up with Richard | 50 | 5% |
| Week 8 Assignment: Course Reflection and E-Portfolio Piece | 30 | 3% |
| Total Points | 1000 | 100% |
The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Program follows the UNE grading system for all courses, as outlined below. Matriculated graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Any student receiving a grade below B- on any individual course has failed that course and must re-enroll and repeat the course to achieve a grade of B- or better. Any student who receives a grade of F in two or more courses is dismissed from the program. Please note: A minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required for degree conferral.
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Wednesday through 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday at 11:59 PM ET. Unless otherwise specified, all discussion comments and assignments are due on the last day of the course week in which they are assigned. Unless otherwise noted, initial responses to discussion prompts are due by the end of Sunday, and peer responses are due by the end of Tuesday.
ALL TIMES ARE IN THE EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Course Dates
Week 1: Jan 15 – Jan 21
Week 2: Jan 22 – Jan 28
Week 3: Jan 29 – Feb 4
Week 4: Feb 5 – Feb 11
Week 5: Feb 12 – Feb 18
Week 6: Feb 19 – Feb 25
Week 7: Feb 26 – Mar 4
Week 8: Mar 6 – Mar 9
Student Resources
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, resources to support academic success, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Applied Nutrition page
UNE Libraries
The University of New England Library Services are central to the intellectual life of the University community and an essential resource for doctorate students across didactic, residency, and research coursework and experiences.
UNE Library Services may be accessed through OKTA or by visiting https://library.une.edu/.
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Nutrition Resources
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
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.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
AMA Writing Style Statement
In keeping with the requirements of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course and is available at both UNE libraries under the title "AMA Manual." Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.
Online resources: AMA Style Guide
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
You can learn more about Turnitin here: Understanding the Similarity Score for Students.
Submission of Coursework for Publication or Presentation
Students interested in submitting a manuscript or other work completed in the course for publication or presentation external to UNE must obtain written approval from the course instructor and DCN Program Director prior to submission. The student should contact the course instructor or DCN Program Director to obtain a copy of the DCN Permission to Publish/Present Form which must be completed by the student per the form's instructions. Failure to follow these steps and complete the form prior to submission for publication/presentation or abide by the requirements therein will result in a professionalism violation. If granted permission to publish or present, the student is expected to indicate that the manuscript or other work was prepared as part of course and degree requirements while a student in the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition at the University of New England. University affiliation for publications, abstracts, posters, or other presentations should be listed as "Graduate Programs in Applied Nutrition, College of Professional Studies, University of New England." Please contact the DCN Program Director for UNE templates and logos that must be used for posters and presentations.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Students are responsible for ensuring continuous access to computer and technology requirements throughout their program of study. Course faculty will not routinely accept computer or other technology issues as an excuse for assignments that are not submitted per instructions, that are submitted late, or are missing a submission.
Course Participation Policy
Courses within the DCN Program are demanding and exacting. Students are expected to be present in course discussions and group activities, prepared for class, and actively engaged as evidenced by critical thinking and meaningful participation. Students are expected to schedule their personal and/or professional obligations and their course registrations so as to maintain continuous and complete participation throughout courses. Any absence from course activities will impede learning. However, circumstances may arise that cause students to be absent from active course participation on either a preplanned or an emergency basis.
Active course participation is defined as engaged participation in group activities, fulfilling discussion requirements within the published timeline, and submitting assignments within the published timeline. Absence is defined as lacking engaged participation in group activities and not fulfilling discussion requirements within the published timeline, and/or not submitting assignments within the published timeline.
Both preplanned and emergency absences are to be kept to a minimum and should not exceed, cumulatively, 10% of the assignments in a course. Exceeding this limit may result in grade reduction for the course or failing the course. Students are to make arrangements in advance of the absences with the instructor for submission of assignments and discussion participation, in accordance with specifications communicated in the course syllabus. An emergency absence is one that students do not know about in advance and often involves situations such as health issues. In this case, students are to notify the instructor as soon as possible and make arrangements for submission of assignments and discussion participation in accordance with specifications communicated in the course syllabus.
Late Policy
Assignments: Assignments submitted after the due date and time will receive a deduction of 10% of the total possible grade for each day it is late. After three days, the assignment will not be accepted. No assignments will be accepted after the course ends.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, acceptance of the discussion board is at the discretion of the faculty. Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Students are encouraged to make every effort ahead of time to contact their instructor and their student support specialist if they are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Attendance Policy
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
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. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
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 submissions 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 Program Director. 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.