Syllabus

Undergraduate Programs

HLTH 1015: Personal Health and Wellness

Credits - 3

Description

This course explores the foundational concepts of personal health and wellness with a focus on lifelong vitality and well-being. Students will examine and apply key dimensions of wellness – emotional, social, spiritual, mental, and physical – in ways that promote sustainable, real-world habits. Through interactive discussions, self-assessments, and practical strategies, learners will develop an individualized personal wellness program designed to support long-term health. Core topics include cardiovascular health and disease prevention, nutrition and weight management, physical activity and fitness, sexual health, substance use and abuse, and the behavioral factors that influence wellness and lifestyle choices.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

As a result of participating in the learning experiences in this course, students will be able to:

• Define and describe the five core dimensions of wellness (emotional, social, spiritual, mental, and physical) and their interrelated impact on overall health.
• Assess personal lifestyle habits and health risks using evidence-based tools and self-assessment strategies.
• Demonstrate understanding of major health topics including cardiovascular health, nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, and substance use.
• Create a comprehensive and personalized wellness plan that incorporates all five components of wellness and supports long-term behavior change.
• Apply principles of behavior change and habit formation to support realistic, sustainable improvements in wellness.
• Evaluate the impact of relationships, communication, and social support on emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
• Interpret basic health information related to chronic diseases, including cancer, infection, and cardiovascular conditions, and describe prevention strategies.
• Compare conventional and complementary health approaches to wellness, prevention, and disease management.
• Develop realistic action plans using SMART goals, self-monitoring techniques, and reflective practices to support personal growth.
• Communicate health-related knowledge and wellness strategies clearly and professionally in both written and oral formats.

Assignments

Lectures and Videos:

Before you complete your assignments, please view the assigned lecture videos. The lecture videos correspond to each week’s topics.

Readings:

You will find a variety of resources to help you with your assignments.

Weekly Quizzes:

Quizzes will include questions and activities related to the content for the week.

Assignments:

You will complete reflections and application assignments that you will submit through Brightspace.

Personal Wellness Program Project:

This final project is an opportunity to develop a real-world personal wellness plan that promotes longevity, sustainable habits, and intentional behavior change. You’ll reflect on your current state of wellness, set long-term goals, build a strategy for lasting change, and design an actionable 4-week plan. You will submit a short (5-7 minutes) video presenting your plan and the goals for each domain.

You must begin your video by showing yourself full-screen, looking directly into the camera, and clearly stating your full name while holding up a piece of paper on which your full name and the date are clearly written in bold writing. If you fail to do so, the assignment will not be graded. You will have to submit it again prior to your course end date.

Discussions:

Weekly discussions will provide opportunities to connect with peers about course concepts.

Each week, you will participate in a discussion designed to help you connect with peers and engage more deeply with course concepts. These discussions are an opportunity to share strategies, insights, and personal habits that support positive health and wellness outcomes.

The focus is on learning from one another—your experiences may offer helpful ideas or inspiration to others, just as their experiences might do the same for you. You are encouraged to reflect honestly, remain open to new perspectives, and contribute to a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Midterm and Final Exam:

This course includes a Midterm and a Final Exam. The midterm exam covers concepts from Weeks 1 – 4. The final exam covers concepts from Weeks 5 – 7.

You will have two attempts for the Midterm and Final Exams. The first attempt of the midterm must be taken by the due date, while the second attempt may be taken at any time before the end of the course. However, it is encouraged to take the second attempt soon after the first, as this material is fundamental to the remaining modules.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Learning Acttivity
Academic Integrity Agreement	1
Week 1 Discussion	1.5
Week 1 Assignment	2
Week 1 Wellness Worksheet	2
Week 1 Quiz	1.5
Week 2 Discussion	1.5
Week 2 Assignment	2
Week 2 Quiz	1.5
Week 3 Discussion	1.5
Week 3 Assignment	1.5
Week 3 Wellness Worksheet	2
Week 3 Quiz	2
Week 4 Discussion	1.5
Week 4 Assignment	2
Week 4 Quiz	1.5
Week 4 Proctored Mid-term	20
Week 5 Discussion	1.5
Week 5 Assignment	2
Week 5 Wellness Worksheet	2
Week 5 Quiz	1.5
Week 6 Discussion	1.5
Week 6 Assignment	2
Week 6 Wellness Worksheet	1.5
Week 6 Quiz	2
Week 7 Discussion	1.5
Week 7 Assignment	2
Week 7 Quiz	1.5
Week 8: Assignment- Final Project	17
Week 8 Final Proctored exam	20
Total	100

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