Syllabus

Course Information
Course COM 365  Health Behavior Communication
Semester Summer 2023
On-Ground Location
Format ☐ Face-to-Face only ☒ Online only
☐ BlendEd® ☐ BlendEd® Live ☐ 7-week (Online only)

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name  Dr. Nathan T. Stewart
Email stewartn@lakeland.edu
Hours of Availability  By appointment – just ask and we’ll make it happen!

Required Textbook(s) with ISBN(s)

Glanz, K, Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health Behavior: Theory, Research, &
Practice (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9781118628980

Course Description and Prerequisite(s)

This course focuses on theories and research that identifies different motivations and influences
for health-related behavior. This course is very similar to taking a course in persuasion; the
primary difference being that the content focuses exclusively on persuasion regarding health
behaviors. The course begins by identifying different models and foundations for studying health
behavior. The next part identifies individual behavior by interrogating belief models, theory of
reasoned action, and planned behavior. The third part of the course examines interpersonal health
behaviors. This addresses topics such as the role of environment, social support, social networks,
and specific forms of communication on health behavioral outcomes. The next section focuses
on the group and community level of health behavior change. This looks at media, community
organizing, and public health interventions. The final section presents different ways to apply the
theoretical components into developing health behavior modification interventions.

Pre-requisite: Junior Standing

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 Learning Outcomes

• Describe communication theories relevant to health behavior within applicable healthcare

contexts.
• Describe approaches to studying health behavior from a communication perspective.
• Demonstrate understanding of various perspective regarding sources of individual health
behavior
• Demonstrate understanding of various perspective regarding health behavior through
interpersonal communication.
• Demonstrate understanding of various perspectives regarding influences of public and
group communication on health behavior.
• Apply health communication concepts to develop a health behavior intervention through
interpersonal means.
• Apply health communication concepts to develop a health behavior intervention through
social media.

Calendar
BlendEd®/Online Discussions
Beginning of Week Monday
End of Week Sunday
Day/Time of Class Online
Assignments Due Sundays
Semester Break(s)
Week Assigned Reading / Topics Assignments Due
Week 1 Course intro, syllabus, text, and
online learning.
Health Behavior Intervention Discussion Posts
5/30-6/4
Project

Week 2
Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Discussion Posts
6/5-6/11
Week 3
Chapters 18 and 19 Discussion Posts
6/12-6/18
Week 4
Chapters 20 and 21 Discussion Posts
6/19-6/25
Week 5
Chapters 4 and 5 Discussion Posts
6/26-7/2
Week 6 Discussion Posts
Chapter 6 and 7
7/3-7/9 Exam 1 Due Sunday (Chapters
1-5 and 18-21)
Week 7 Chapters 8, 9, and 10 Discussion Posts

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 7/10-7-16
Week 8
Chapters 11 and 12 Discussion Posts
7/17-7/23
Week 9 Discussion Posts
Chapters 14 and 15
7/24-7/30
Week 10
Chapters 16 and 17 Discussion Posts
7/31-8/6
Week 11 Exam 2 Due Sunday (Chapters
Project Work
8/7-8/13 6-12 and 14-17)
Week 12 Social Media Project due
8/14-8/18 Friday

Assignment Detail
Name of Assignment
Exams 
Description: You will have two exams with multiple-choice questions. Exams will be timed.
Exams are not cumulative. Each one evaluates your comprehension of a specific set of
chapters. See course calendar.

Health Behavior Intervention Project – Social Media

Description: See the assignment guide for more specific details. This group project requires
students to develop communication strategies/messages designed to change a specific health
behavior through a social media campaign. Students will also be required to reflect on their
choices and connect course concepts/theories to those choices.

Discussion Posts
Description: Discussion posts will be graded for weeks that we have assigned readings. Each
week’s discussion will be worth 30 points.

I will not give credit for comments/posts that do not substantively add to the conversation.
Don’t just repeat what someone else said in different words.

As a guide, discussion posts that would have a chance of getting 60%-100% should do the
following:
 Post a minimum of four different posts on at least two different days.
 You must post at least once on each chapter’s prompt.
 Your first post for each chapter’s prompt should be your initial take on the discussion
post prompt. Try to post your first response before the end of the day Thursdays to
speed up response posts.
 For each initial post of each prompt, provide a bare minimum of 300 words of
SUBSTANTIVE discourse. Again, note that minimums are just that.
 For each response post, provide a bare minimum of 200 words. You must not only
make sure to incorporate content from the course reading and apply it to the discussion,

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 but you must also provide a unique perspective to the conversation.
 No points will be given for response posts that merely state their
agreement/disagreement with the author and/or restate what the original author already
stated in different words – no matter the length. Advance the conversation.
 Discussion posts should use formal/academic/professional writing style. Posts that
have substantial issues or don’t use proper paragraph format will receive point
deductions. No giant blocks of text!
 Directly integrate content from the week’s readings in all of your discussion posts to
demonstrate your understanding. Posts that don’t demonstrate familiarity with the
reading will receive point deductions.

Grading Summary
Percent of
Name of Assignment Type Points
Total
Exam 1 150 15%
Exam 2 150 15%
Social Media Intervention 400 40%
Discussion 300 30%
Total: 1000 100%

Late Submissions and Makeup Exams

The following represents the instructor’s policy regarding exceptions for late assignments and
reduction of points:

Violations of Academic Honesty

Plagiarism Defined: If you use SEVEN (7) or more words from the same sentence of a
source without using quotation marks, you are plagiarizing!!!! If you present an idea, orally
or in writing, that you read or heard somewhere, even if it’s paraphrased, you must provide a
citation. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING WHAT CONSTITUTES
PLAGIARISM!

From Lakeland University Academic Standing Policies:

“Plagiarism and Cheating

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Lakeland University expects academic honesty from all of its students. Assumption is made all
work turned in by a student is the student’s own work. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of
academic dishonesty are violations of established university expectations and may result in
penalties ranging from failure of an assignment to dismissal from the university, dependent upon
the severity of the offense. It is the student’s responsibility to understand and avoid plagiarism
and cheating. Students who believe they have been unfairly accused or penalized may submit a
written appeal, stating the specific details of their situation, to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs. Where appropriate, the Vice President for Academic Affairs may take such appeals to
the Academic Appeals Committee for a formal hearing and decision. In matters of plagiarism
and cheating, the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.”

Double-Dipping constitutes academic dishonesty! If you attempt to reuse work already

submitted for credit in this or another class, in part or in whole, without the explicit permission
of the instructor, you are violating the academic honesty policy!

Violations of academic honesty will result in a failing grade for the assignment and a
referral to the VPAA to document the issue on your permanent record. A repeated
violation of academic honesty will result in a failing grade for the class and an additional
referral to the Provost for documentation.

Lakeland University Plagiarism Statement

What is plagiarism? The following excerpt from The Craft of Research describes some of the
general conditions under which plagiarism can occur:
You plagiarize when, intentionally or not, you use someone else’s words or ideas but fail
to credit that person. You plagiarize even when you do credit the author but use his exact
words without so indicating with quotation marks or block indentation. You also
plagiarize when you use words so close to those in your source, that if you placed your
work next to the source, you would see that you could not have written what you did
without the source… (Booth et al., 1995, p. 167)
Be sure to keep track of the sources you consult in completing your assignments and formally
reference any ideas or quotations from them using an approved citation style. Keep in mind as
well that you plagiarize when you use materials prepared by another person or agency engaged
in the selling of essays or other academic materials or inappropriately use Artificial Intelligence
(A.I.) or Multilingual and Natural Language Processing (NPL) software.

Instructors have different stances on whether you can repurpose or “recycle” your previous
writing and work for new assignments. In some cases, the practice may be encouraged as a way
to develop your thinking and level of analysis on a subject. In other cases, the behavior may be
viewed as a form of academic misconduct called “self-plagiarism.” In the course, you may not
repurpose your previous work in any form.

The work you produce for this course must be your own. Any evidence of plagiarism will result
at least in the failure of the offending assignment. Other penalties include failure of the course

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and suspension from the university. To discourage plagiarism, I am requiring that all your
assignments be uploaded to SafeAssign, a plagiarism detection program within Blackboard.
Information on using the program will be distributed in class.  
Written Assignment Requirements
I will ask that you follow these standards for written work:
1. Papers not meeting the minimum word count will lose 10% of the possible points for
that assignment. DO NOT include your name, the date, the assignment title, my name, this
course number, your astrological sign, or anything in the page header or in the document
itself. Since you are submitting your paper through your Blackboard account to a specific
assignment folder, it makes all of that information redundant. The only thing that counts
towards the minimum word requirement is the assignment contents. None of the above
content will be considered when evaluating whether or not you have reached the minimum
word count.
2. Poorly written papers (more than just a few grammar/usage problems) will lose 10% of
the possible points for that assignment. Write and rewrite your work; proofread by reading
your work aloud to yourself and/or a friend and make necessary corrections. If you know this
is your weak point, PLEASE seek help with your writing.
3. Use either MLA, APA, or Chicago style for citing sources.
4. Avoid plagiarism, over-reliance on quotation from sources or course readings (even if
properly attributed and quoted), and unattributed quotation from other texts. Papers
violating any of these requirements will automatically receive a zero for the assignment
- see the section on plagiarism for further consequences of academic dishonesty.

Disability Accommodations
Students who have a need for disability-related accommodations or services should inform the
Karen Eckhardt, ADA Coordinator. Lakeland University will provide reasonable and effective
accommodations and services to students. Requests must be made in a timely manner and
accompanied by appropriate documentation in accordance with federal, state, and Lakeland
University guidelines.

When accommodations are required for a student with a documented disability, the instructor
will receive an email notification from the Academic Resource Center listing the exact
accommodations that are required. Instructors must provide these accommodations to the
student specifically as addressed when they are applicable, which is a requirement of federal law
under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Instructors should refrain from providing additional
accommodations for students with disabilities that are not directly required, as doing so can
provide an unfair advantage or expectations on the part of the student. Questions about approved
accommodations or recommendations for additional consideration should be directed to Karen
Eckhardt, ADA Coordinator, at 920-565-1021 ext. 2115 or eckhardtkl@lakeland.edu.

Tutoring

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If you would like to improve your grade on assignments or exams, or would like help reviewing
course material for a clearer understanding, free tutors may be available for this course through
the HARC. For a list of current tutors available to you each semester:
 Go to Login.lakeland.edu and select Starfish.
 If the My Success Network page does not appear, select the menu icon in the upper left of
the screen, and select My Success Network.
 Under How can we help? Locate current tutors available to you for each subject or
course.
To Schedule a Tutor Appointment through Starfish
 Select the down arrow next to the appropriate tutor, and select Schedule.
 Select Tutoring Center, then select Tutoring, and select Continue.
 Select the date and time option when you want to meet and select Continue.
 Input information and select Confirm.
 A meeting invitation will be sent to your Outlook calendar with the details of your tutor
meeting.
* Tutors are often available outside of posted times. If you do not see tutor availability that
matches your availability, please email the tutor to identify a mutually agreeable time. Please
allow up to two business days for a tutor response.
Tutor.com
Tutor.com provides FREE online tutoring to support your academic success. To access
Tutor.com, simply click on “Tutor.Com” within your Blackboard Course Shell.

Tutors are available 24/7 for most subjects to assist you in the following topics:

 Math  Economics
 Computer Science  Accounting
 Business Administration  Nursing and Healthcare
 English  Social Sciences
 Writing  History

Title IX
Lakeland University fully adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination
at institutions of higher education. Lakeland University will not discriminate against any
employee, applicant for employment, student or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status,
ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, gender, veteran or military status,
predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected
category under applicable local, state or federal law. Gender discrimination and sexual
harassment are prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended and Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you have reason to believe that you have been
discriminated against, Lakeland University encourages immediate reporting to Lakeland

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University’s Vice President for Campus Life and Title IX Coordinator, David Simon Jr. at (920)
565-1000, Ext. 2501 or email at Simondr@lakeland.edu or to a Title IX Deputy Coordinator.
For a complete listing of Lakeland’s Deputy Coordinators, you can access their contact
information at https://lakeland.edu/title-ix. You also have the option of contacting Lakeland
University’s Department of Campus Safety at (920) 565-1126. 
Questions about Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator or to the Office of Civil
Rights (OCR, http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html) of the U.S. Department of
Education. For more information about Lakeland University’s Title IX Policy and resources
please see the following link: https://lakeland.edu/title-ix

Mental Health Support: LUSI - Lakeland University Support Initiative

Lakeland University is able to offer mental health support services for students enrolled in the
Kellett School through a program called the Lakeland University Support Initiative (LUSI).
LUSI is a virtual peer support video helpline staffed by specially-trained clinical mental health
internship graduate students from the Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) Program. The
graduate students, or peer support providers (PSPs), offer Kellett students a confidential space to
talk over their worries and concerns, whether personal, academic, or work-related. With the
LUSI program, a Kellett student can have up to four sessions per area of concern with a PSP.
Please note this is not a clinical counseling service but an extra layer of support from a peer who
is navigating a similar Kellett School path and who is trained to respond appropriately and
confidentially. At Lakeland and in the Kellett School, your personal development is as important
as your educational development.
If you are struggling in any way, feel alone or overwhelmed, or would like input on referral
sources, feel free to contact Alex Liosatos, director for counseling services, at
Liosatosa@lakeland.edu Alex is available to connect you with a PSP or provide you with more
information.
If you are experiencing more severe symptoms or have had/are having suicidal thoughts
please contact a mental health counselor, county crisis line, the National Suicide Prevention
Hotline (988), or text HOPELINE to 741741. In an emergency, call 911

COVID-19 and Classroom Instruction for the William R. Kellett School 

Please select this link for the most up to date Lakeland University Policies regarding Covid-19

Information about Coronavirus

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